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: $2,523 in Calgary versus $2,080 in Saint John, New Brunswick.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,652 in Calgary versus $3,071 in Saint John, New Brunswick.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,780 in Calgary versus $4,062 in Saint John, New Brunswick.

Living in Calgary is roughly 21% more expensive than Saint John, New Brunswick, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 88% above, Saint John, New Brunswick 55% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.59 CA$25.86

$22.24 CA$30.93

-16.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.0 CA$97.4

$61.4 CA$85.3

14.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.96 CA$15.24

$10.29 CA$14.31

6.51%

Cappuccino

$3.73 CA$5.19

$3.13 CA$4.35

19.17%

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

$1.99 CA$2.77

$1.67 CA$2.32

19.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 CA$2.40

$1.17 CA$1.63

47.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.01 CA$6.97

$4.39 CA$6.11

14.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.50 CA$9.05

$5.11 CA$7.10

27.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 CA$3.09

$2.00 CA$2.78

11.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 CA$3.71

$2.89 CA$4.02

-7.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 CA$4.54

$1.81 CA$2.52

80.11%

Eggs

$3.35 CA$4.66

$3.57 CA$4.97

-6.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 CA$20.16

$11.72 CA$16.30

23.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.95 CA$18.01

$9.08 CA$12.63

42.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.15 CA$22.46

$16.22 CA$22.56

-0.43%

Apples (1kg)

$4.32 CA$6.01

$4.06 CA$5.65

6.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.88

$1.45 CA$2.01

-6.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.83 CA$5.32

$3.58 CA$4.98

6.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 CA$5.81

$4.42 CA$6.15

-5.43%

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 CA$3.68

$2.07 CA$2.88

28.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 CA$3.81

$2.10 CA$2.92

30.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.76 CA$3.84

$2.65 CA$3.68

4.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.71

$1.45 CA$2.01

34.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.98 CA$20.83

$18.72 CA$26.03

-19.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.67 CA$20.40

$10.00 CA$13.91

46.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 CA$3.95

$3.34 CA$4.65

-14.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 CA$5.59

$3.33 CA$4.63

20.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.80 CA$3.90

$2.15 CA$3.00

30.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.2 CA$120

$59.0 CA$82.0

46.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.01

$3.77 CA$5.24

-4.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 CA$1.83

$1.17 CA$1.63

12.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.01 CA$40.35

$29.32 CA$40.77

-1.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.56

$1.22 CA$1.70

-8.20%

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

$24.9K CA$34.6K

$25.2K CA$35.0K

-1.28%

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

$22.0K CA$30.6K

$20.1K CA$27.9K

9.47%

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

$217 CA$302

$127 CA$177

70.37%

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

$41.55 CA$57.8

$37.17 CA$51.7

11.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.1 CA$80.8

$63.0 CA$87.6

-7.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 CA$76.1

$42.12 CA$58.6

29.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.8 CA$73.5

$36.97 CA$51.4

42.87%

Cinema Ticket

$12.77 CA$17.75

$10.97 CA$15.25

16.41%

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

$874 CA$1,215

$164 CA$228

432.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.2K

$11.7K CA$16.3K

35.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 CA$81.8

$41.72 CA$58.0

41.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.47 CA$64.6

$41.98 CA$58.4

10.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 CA$121

$87.5 CA$122

-0.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CA$151

$122 CA$169

-10.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,414 CA$1,966

$1,053 CA$1,464

34.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,172 CA$1,630

$944 CA$1,313

24.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,319 CA$3,225

$1,611 CA$2,241

43.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,886 CA$2,623

$1,400 CA$1,948

34.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,892 CA$5,413

$2,090 CA$2,907

86.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,503 CA$4,872

$2,159 CA$3,002

62.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,149 CA$4,380

$2,682 CA$3,729

17.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.18

-7.61%

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

Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,414 in Calgary and $1,053 in Saint John, New Brunswick. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 17% 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: $70.0 in Calgary vs $61.0 in Saint John, New Brunswick for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $397 vs $347 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, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Calgary pays 17% more on average, 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: $1,414 in Calgary versus $1,053 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 $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,523 per month in Calgary versus $2,080 in Saint John, New Brunswick – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,080 in Saint John, New Brunswick versus $2,523 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 21% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.