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: $2,462 in Calgary versus $1,978 in Sarnia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,628 in Calgary versus $2,881 in Sarnia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,795 in Calgary versus $3,783 in Sarnia.

Living in Calgary is roughly 24% more expensive than in Sarnia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 84% above, Sarnia 48% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.33 CA$25.79

$14.66 CA$20.63

25.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.9 CA$98.3

$47.75 CA$67.2

46.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.95 CA$15.41

$9.69 CA$13.63

13.00%

Cappuccino

$3.74 CA$5.26

$2.56 CA$3.60

46.09%

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

$2.04 CA$2.87

$1.49 CA$2.09

36.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.35

$1.56 CA$2.20

7.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.20 CA$7.32

$4.76 CA$6.70

9.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 CA$9.45

$6.08 CA$8.56

10.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 CA$3.16

$2.24 CA$3.15

0.45%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 CA$3.87

$2.23 CA$3.14

23.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.23 CA$4.54

$2.55 CA$3.59

26.67%

Eggs

$3.45 CA$4.85

$3.11 CA$4.38

10.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 CA$20.26

$8.23 CA$11.59

74.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.89 CA$18.13

$14.05 CA$19.77

-8.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 CA$22.32

$13.81 CA$19.44

14.84%

Apples (1kg)

$4.30 CA$6.05

$3.98 CA$5.61

8.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.89

$1.18 CA$1.65

13.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.85 CA$5.42

$3.21 CA$4.52

19.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.99

$3.73 CA$5.25

13.94%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 CA$3.58

$2.39 CA$3.36

6.69%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.69

$2.74 CA$3.86

-4.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 CA$3.94

$2.01 CA$2.83

39.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.74

$1.26 CA$1.77

54.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.97 CA$21.06

$11.11 CA$15.63

34.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.90 CA$19.57

$9.60 CA$13.51

44.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 CA$4.11

$2.44 CA$3.43

19.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 CA$5.50

$3.04 CA$4.28

28.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.85

$2.27 CA$3.20

20.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.8 CA$124

$54.1 CA$76.2

62.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.06

$2.60 CA$3.65

38.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 CA$1.83

$1.76 CA$2.47

-26.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.70 CA$40.39

$28.87 CA$40.62

-0.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.57

$1.14 CA$1.60

-1.75%

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

$25.5K CA$35.8K

$25.1K CA$35.4K

1.37%

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

$21.7K CA$30.6K

$19.9K CA$28.0K

9.09%

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

$213 CA$300

$142 CA$200

50.07%

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

$40.96 CA$57.6

$36.03 CA$50.7

13.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 CA$81.5

$55.6 CA$78.2

4.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 CA$76.2

$21.87 CA$30.77

147.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.6

$18.53 CA$26.07

190.07%

Cinema Ticket

$12.63 CA$17.77

$11.84 CA$16.65

6.67%

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

$874 CA$1,230

$293 CA$412

198.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.3K

$10.4K CA$14.6K

53.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 CA$82.5

$52.7 CA$74.2

11.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.01 CA$66.2

$25.46 CA$35.82

84.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 CA$120

$70.1 CA$98.6

21.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$151

$88.1 CA$124

22.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,380 CA$1,942

$1,272 CA$1,790

8.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,159 CA$1,631

$975 CA$1,371

18.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,324 CA$3,270

$2,361 CA$3,323

-1.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,905 CA$2,680

$1,473 CA$2,072

29.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,786 CA$5,327

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,511 CA$4,940

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,940 CA$4,136

$3,013 CA$4,239

-2.42%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Sarnia: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,380 in Calgary and $1,272 in Sarnia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sarnia pays 2% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $70.0 in Calgary vs $48.00 in Sarnia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $396 vs $335 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 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 2% lower in Sarnia. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,380 in Calgary versus $1,272 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 $48.00 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,462 per month in Calgary versus $1,978 in Sarnia – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,978 in Sarnia versus $2,462 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 24% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.