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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,523 in Calgary versus $1,998 in Sarnia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,652 in Calgary versus $2,894 in Sarnia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,780 in Calgary versus $3,791 in Sarnia.

Living in Calgary is roughly 26% more expensive than Sarnia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 88% above, Sarnia 49% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.59 CA$25.83

$14.76 CA$20.51

25.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.0 CA$97.3

$47.14 CA$65.5

48.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.96 CA$15.22

$9.38 CA$13.04

16.84%

Cappuccino

$3.73 CA$5.19

$2.57 CA$3.58

45.14%

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

$1.99 CA$2.76

$1.55 CA$2.15

28.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 CA$2.39

$1.60 CA$2.22

7.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.01 CA$6.97

$4.77 CA$6.63

5.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.50 CA$9.04

$5.91 CA$8.22

9.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 CA$3.09

$2.12 CA$2.94

4.72%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 CA$3.71

$2.35 CA$3.27

13.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 CA$4.53

$2.58 CA$3.59

26.36%

Eggs

$3.35 CA$4.66

$3.16 CA$4.39

6.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 CA$20.14

$8.24 CA$11.44

75.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.95 CA$17.99

$14.39 CA$20.00

-10.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.15 CA$22.44

$13.66 CA$18.98

18.23%

Apples (1kg)

$4.32 CA$6.00

$4.12 CA$5.73

4.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.88

$1.18 CA$1.64

14.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.83 CA$5.32

$3.27 CA$4.54

17.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 CA$5.81

$3.70 CA$5.14

12.97%

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 CA$3.68

$2.35 CA$3.27

12.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 CA$3.81

$2.81 CA$3.91

-2.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.76 CA$3.84

$1.95 CA$2.71

41.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.71

$1.20 CA$1.67

62.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.98 CA$20.81

$10.82 CA$15.03

38.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.67 CA$20.38

$10.06 CA$13.98

45.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 CA$3.95

$2.44 CA$3.39

16.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 CA$5.58

$2.96 CA$4.11

35.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.80 CA$3.89

$2.19 CA$3.04

27.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.2 CA$120

$55.4 CA$77.0

55.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.00

$2.55 CA$3.54

41.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 CA$1.83

$1.72 CA$2.38

-23.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.01 CA$40.31

$29.94 CA$41.60

-3.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.56

$1.08 CA$1.51

3.70%

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

$24.9K CA$34.5K

$24.7K CA$34.3K

0.55%

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

$22.0K CA$30.5K

$19.9K CA$27.7K

10.24%

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

$217 CA$302

$146 CA$203

48.43%

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

$41.55 CA$57.7

$37.40 CA$52.0

11.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.1 CA$80.7

$55.0 CA$76.5

5.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 CA$76.0

$22.45 CA$31.19

143.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.8 CA$73.4

$18.49 CA$25.69

185.67%

Cinema Ticket

$12.77 CA$17.74

$12.07 CA$16.77

5.80%

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

$874 CA$1,214

$293 CA$407

197.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.1K

$10.4K CA$14.5K

53.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 CA$81.7

$54.2 CA$75.3

8.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.47 CA$64.6

$25.82 CA$35.88

79.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 CA$121

$70.9 CA$98.5

22.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CA$151

$86.6 CA$120

25.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,414 CA$1,964

$1,284 CA$1,785

10.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,172 CA$1,629

$949 CA$1,319

23.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,319 CA$3,222

$2,415 CA$3,356

-3.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,886 CA$2,621

$1,501 CA$2,086

25.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,892 CA$5,407

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,503 CA$4,867

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,149 CA$4,375

$3,053 CA$4,242

3.15%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Sarnia: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,414 in Calgary and $1,284 in Sarnia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 3% 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 $47.00 in Sarnia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $397 vs $338 per month, with Sarnia 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 Sarnia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sarnia is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 26% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Calgary pays 3% 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 $1,284 in Sarnia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Sarnia – a meal for two runs $47.00 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 $1,998 in Sarnia – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,998 in Sarnia versus $2,523 in Calgary, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Sarnia but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Sarnia 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 Sarnia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.