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: $2,344 in Calgary versus $2,002 in Sarnia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,470 in Calgary versus $2,834 in Sarnia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,597 in Calgary versus $3,666 in Sarnia.

Living in Calgary is roughly 17% more expensive than in Sarnia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 71% above, Sarnia 46% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.68 CA$24.74

$13.79 CA$19.29

28.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.2 CA$99.6

$46.65 CA$65.3

52.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.85 CA$15.18

$10.15 CA$14.21

6.90%

Cappuccino

$3.85 CA$5.39

$3.03 CA$4.24

27.06%

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

$1.95 CA$2.73

$1.98 CA$2.77

-1.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 CA$2.51

$1.40 CA$1.96

27.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.97 CA$6.95

$4.20 CA$5.87

18.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 CA$8.25

$5.73 CA$8.02

2.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 CA$2.58

$2.04 CA$2.86

-9.80%

White Bread (500g)

$2.73 CA$3.82

$2.39 CA$3.34

14.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.44 CA$7.60

$2.41 CA$3.37

125.73%

Eggs

$3.63 CA$5.07

$2.82 CA$3.94

28.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.55 CA$16.15

$11.46 CA$16.03

0.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.57 CA$16.19

$11.16 CA$15.61

3.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.94 CA$26.50

$14.21 CA$19.87

33.29%

Apples (1kg)

$4.95 CA$6.92

$3.76 CA$5.26

31.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 CA$1.98

$1.21 CA$1.69

17.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.22 CA$5.90

$3.60 CA$5.03

17.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.09 CA$5.72

$3.60 CA$5.03

13.61%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 CA$3.58

$1.39 CA$1.95

84.17%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 CA$3.95

$1.89 CA$2.64

49.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.57 CA$3.59

$1.74 CA$2.43

47.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 CA$2.16

$1.27 CA$1.78

22.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.59 CA$20.41

$12.38 CA$17.32

17.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.60 CA$21.83

$10.24 CA$14.33

52.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 CA$3.61

$2.51 CA$3.52

2.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 CA$4.52

$2.78 CA$3.89

16.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.96 CA$4.14

$2.37 CA$3.31

24.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$91.1 CA$127

$56.8 CA$79.4

60.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 CA$4.43

$2.48 CA$3.46

27.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 CA$1.95

$1.76 CA$2.46

-21.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.67 CA$38.70

$28.60 CA$40.01

-3.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 CA$1.75

$1.14 CA$1.60

9.65%

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

$28.3K CA$39.6K

$28.3K CA$39.5K

0.20%

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

$21.3K CA$29.8K

$19.1K CA$26.7K

11.59%

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

$178 CA$249

$145 CA$203

22.67%

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

$39.31 CA$55.0

$30.23 CA$42.29

30.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.9 CA$71.2

$47.48 CA$66.4

7.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 CA$76.5

$23.60 CA$33.02

131.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.77 CA$26.25

$17.71 CA$24.77

5.99%

Cinema Ticket

$14.55 CA$20.36

$11.60 CA$16.23

25.43%

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

$812 CA$1,135

$360 CA$504

125.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.4K CA$23.0K

$16.4K CA$22.9K

0.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.4 CA$83.1

$55.4 CA$77.4

7.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 CA$56.4

$30.70 CA$42.94

31.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.2 CA$129

$67.6 CA$94.5

36.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 CA$158

$74.8 CA$105

50.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,284 CA$1,796

$1,390 CA$1,945

-7.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,018 CA$1,424

$1,035 CA$1,448

-1.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,977 CA$2,766

$2,571 CA$3,597

-23.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,746 CA$2,443

$1,511 CA$2,114

15.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,571 CA$4,995

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,359 CA$4,698

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,213 CA$4,495

$3,067 CA$4,291

4.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.48

5.09

-11.98%

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

Last update for Calgary: September 12, 2026

Last update for Sarnia: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,284 in Calgary and $1,390 in Sarnia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 5% 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 $47.00 in Sarnia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $395 vs $325 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 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 5% 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: $1,284 in Calgary versus $1,390 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 $71.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,344 per month in Calgary versus $2,002 in Sarnia – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,002 in Sarnia versus $2,344 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 17% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.