Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Sarnia Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Sarnia

😐 Solo nomad: Calgary is 29.3% more expensive than Sarnia without rent, and 27.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Calgary is 32.9% more expensive than Sarnia without rent, and 26.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Calgary
Sarnia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.57 CA$25.44
$14.85 CA$20.35
25.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.2 CA$96.1
$48.72 CA$66.8
43.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.98 CA$15.04
$9.38 CA$12.85
17.06%
Cappuccino
$3.86 CA$5.29
$2.67 CA$3.65
44.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 CA$2.81
$1.54 CA$2.11
33.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 CA$2.30
$1.55 CA$2.13
8.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.07 CA$6.94
$4.80 CA$6.58
5.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.55 CA$8.97
$6.15 CA$8.42
6.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Calgary
Sarnia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.22 CA$3.04
$2.15 CA$2.94
3.26%
White Bread (500g)
$2.76 CA$3.79
$2.28 CA$3.12
21.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.36 CA$4.60
$2.68 CA$3.67
25.37%
Eggs
$3.36 CA$4.60
$3.17 CA$4.35
5.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.46 CA$19.81
$8.25 CA$11.31
75.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.88 CA$17.64
$14.02 CA$19.20
-8.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.88 CA$21.75
$14.15 CA$19.39
12.23%
Apples (1kg)
$4.26 CA$5.84
$3.97 CA$5.43
7.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.30 CA$1.78
$1.23 CA$1.69
5.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.73 CA$5.12
$3.25 CA$4.45
14.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.24 CA$5.81
$3.70 CA$5.07
14.59%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 CA$3.54
$2.39 CA$3.27
7.95%
Onion (1kg)
$2.62 CA$3.58
$2.77 CA$3.80
-5.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.65 CA$3.63
$2.04 CA$2.80
29.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.85 CA$2.54
$1.20 CA$1.65
54.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.61 CA$20.02
$10.88 CA$14.91
34.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.51 CA$19.88
$10.39 CA$14.23
39.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 CA$3.97
$2.43 CA$3.33
19.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.04 CA$5.54
$3.03 CA$4.15
33.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Calgary
Sarnia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.71 CA$3.72
$2.25 CA$3.09
20.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$87.6 CA$120
$56.1 CA$76.9
56.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.60 CA$4.93
$2.51 CA$3.44
43.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 CA$1.87
$1.71 CA$2.34
-19.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.89 CA$39.58
$30.02 CA$41.13
-3.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 CA$1.53
$1.09 CA$1.50
2.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K CA$34.0K
$24.6K CA$33.7K
0.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K CA$29.8K
$20.0K CA$27.4K
8.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calgary
Sarnia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$215 CA$295
$143 CA$196
50.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.83 CA$55.9
$36.66 CA$50.2
11.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.1 CA$79.7
$54.4 CA$74.5
6.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Calgary
Sarnia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.5 CA$73.3
$22.24 CA$30.47
140.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$52.7 CA$72.1
$18.46 CA$25.28
185.21%
Cinema Ticket
$12.33 CA$16.89
$11.89 CA$16.29
3.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Calgary
Sarnia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$875 CA$1,198
$300 CA$411
191.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.2K CA$22.2K
$10.2K CA$14.0K
58.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Calgary
Sarnia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.4 CA$80.0
$53.8 CA$73.7
8.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.38 CA$64.9
$26.02 CA$35.65
82.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.2 CA$118
$70.8 CA$96.9
21.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 CA$146
$87.4 CA$120
21.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Calgary
Sarnia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,366 CA$1,871
$1,292 CA$1,770
5.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,174 CA$1,609
$967 CA$1,325
21.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,354 CA$3,225
$2,381 CA$3,261
-1.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,868 CA$2,560
$1,469 CA$2,013
27.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,793 CA$5,197
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,599 CA$4,931
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Calgary
Sarnia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,114 CA$4,266
$3,162 CA$4,332
-1.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.71
6.33
-9.79%

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

Last update for Calgary: March 1, 2026

Last update for Sarnia: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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