Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Saint John, New Brunswick Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Saint John, New Brunswick

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,353 in Calgary versus $1,970 in Saint John, New Brunswick.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,488 in Calgary versus $2,928 in Saint John, New Brunswick.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,622 in Calgary versus $3,887 in Saint John, New Brunswick.

Living in Calgary is roughly 19% more expensive than in Saint John, New Brunswick, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 71% above, Saint John, New Brunswick 43% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.94 CA$24.82

$19.25 CA$26.64

-6.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.5 CA$97.6

$60.6 CA$83.8

16.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.69 CA$14.79

$10.92 CA$15.12

-2.11%

Cappuccino

$3.79 CA$5.24

$3.16 CA$4.37

19.94%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 CA$2.77

$1.81 CA$2.51

10.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 CA$2.73

$1.10 CA$1.52

80.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.19 CA$7.18

$4.59 CA$6.35

13.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 CA$8.11

$5.14 CA$7.11

14.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 CA$2.70

$2.19 CA$3.03

-10.96%

White Bread (500g)

$2.82 CA$3.91

$2.70 CA$3.74

4.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 CA$7.77

$3.22 CA$4.45

74.22%

Eggs

$3.75 CA$5.19

$3.69 CA$5.11

1.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.50 CA$15.91

$13.85 CA$19.17

-16.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.46 CA$15.86

$10.81 CA$14.96

6.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.95 CA$26.23

$13.14 CA$18.18

44.22%

Apples (1kg)

$4.83 CA$6.69

$5.15 CA$7.13

-6.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 CA$1.89

$1.54 CA$2.12

-11.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.88

$4.31 CA$5.96

-1.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.15 CA$5.74

$4.06 CA$5.62

2.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.70 CA$3.74

$2.13 CA$2.94

26.76%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 CA$3.91

$2.24 CA$3.10

26.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.64 CA$3.65

$2.66 CA$3.67

-0.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 CA$2.09

$1.47 CA$2.04

2.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.60 CA$20.21

$14.66 CA$20.29

-0.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.76 CA$21.80

$9.98 CA$13.81

57.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 CA$3.59

$1.85 CA$2.56

40.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 CA$4.26

$2.13 CA$2.94

44.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.93 CA$4.05

$2.19 CA$3.03

33.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.3 CA$124

$57.8 CA$80.0

54.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 CA$4.59

$2.95 CA$4.09

12.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 CA$1.98

$1.22 CA$1.68

17.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.71 CA$38.34

$21.97 CA$30.41

26.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 CA$1.74

$1.21 CA$1.68

4.13%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.9K CA$40.0K

$25.4K CA$35.2K

13.81%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.3K CA$29.5K

$19.4K CA$26.9K

9.88%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$183 CA$253

$124 CA$172

47.20%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$38.31 CA$53.0

$41.81 CA$57.9

-8.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.7 CA$71.5

$65.4 CA$90.5

-20.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.9 CA$75.9

$54.6 CA$75.5

0.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 CA$25.82

$35.76 CA$49.49

-47.82%

Cinema Ticket

$14.26 CA$19.73

$12.76 CA$17.65

11.76%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$828 CA$1,146

$384 CA$531

116.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.0K

$11.5K CA$15.9K

38.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.6 CA$82.4

$51.5 CA$71.2

15.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.47 CA$54.6

$35.92 CA$49.70

9.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 CA$131

$106 CA$147

-11.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 CA$156

$110 CA$153

2.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,265 CA$1,750

$1,011 CA$1,399

25.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,051 CA$1,454

$841 CA$1,163

25.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,934 CA$2,676

$1,637 CA$2,265

18.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,700 CA$2,352

$1,335 CA$1,847

27.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,680 CA$5,092

$2,072 CA$2,867

77.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,333 CA$4,613

$2,192 CA$3,033

52.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,276 CA$4,533

$2,491 CA$3,447

31.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.4

4.69

-6.18%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Calgary: September 1, 2026

Last update for Saint John, New Brunswick: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,265 in Calgary and $1,011 in Saint John, New Brunswick. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 32% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $71.0 in Calgary vs $61.0 in Saint John, New Brunswick for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $397 vs $357 per month, with Saint John, New Brunswick cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Calgary vs Saint John, New Brunswick: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saint John, New Brunswick is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 32% higher in Calgary, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,265 in Calgary versus $1,011 in Saint John, New Brunswick. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Saint John, New Brunswick – a meal for two runs $61.0 versus $71.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,353 per month in Calgary versus $1,970 in Saint John, New Brunswick – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,970 in Saint John, New Brunswick versus $2,353 in Calgary, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Saint John, New Brunswick but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Saint John, New Brunswick the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Saint John, New Brunswick gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.