Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Sault Ste. Marie Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Sault Ste. Marie

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,481 in Calgary versus $1,980 in Sault Ste. Marie.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,599 in Calgary versus $2,992 in Sault Ste. Marie.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,716 in Calgary versus $4,004 in Sault Ste. Marie.

Living in Calgary is roughly 25% more expensive than in Sault Ste. Marie, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 86% above, Sault Ste. Marie 49% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.64 CA$26.12

$16.99 CA$23.81

9.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.3 CA$98.5

$73.6 CA$103

-4.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.26 CA$15.78

$9.97 CA$13.98

12.94%

Cappuccino

$3.70 CA$5.19

$3.62 CA$5.08

2.21%

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

$2.05 CA$2.88

$1.76 CA$2.47

16.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.34

$1.30 CA$1.82

28.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.26 CA$7.37

$4.45 CA$6.24

18.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.74 CA$9.44

$5.51 CA$7.72

22.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 CA$3.12

$2.65 CA$3.71

-15.85%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 CA$3.86

$2.38 CA$3.33

15.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.28 CA$4.60

$3.89 CA$5.46

-15.68%

Eggs

$3.40 CA$4.77

$2.81 CA$3.94

21.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.45 CA$20.25

$8.76 CA$12.28

64.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.58 CA$17.63

$10.29 CA$14.42

22.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.85 CA$22.20

$11.51 CA$16.13

37.71%

Apples (1kg)

$4.42 CA$6.19

$3.04 CA$4.26

45.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.88

$1.15 CA$1.62

16.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.84 CA$5.38

$3.05 CA$4.27

25.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.33 CA$6.07

$3.53 CA$4.95

22.66%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 CA$3.57

$2.29 CA$3.21

10.92%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 CA$3.83

$1.59 CA$2.23

71.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 CA$3.77

$2.63 CA$3.68

2.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 CA$2.66

$1.59 CA$2.22

19.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.81 CA$20.75

$11.72 CA$16.42

26.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.43 CA$20.22

$10.56 CA$14.80

36.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.94 CA$4.12

$1.96 CA$2.75

50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 CA$5.58

$2.45 CA$3.44

62.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.70 CA$3.79

$2.33 CA$3.27

15.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$88.3 CA$124

$60.0 CA$84.1

47.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.42 CA$4.80

$3.41 CA$4.78

0.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 CA$1.84

$1.87 CA$2.62

-29.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.41 CA$39.82

$24.10 CA$33.78

17.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.57

$1.16 CA$1.62

-3.45%

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

$24.9K CA$34.9K

$25.1K CA$35.2K

-0.77%

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

$21.7K CA$30.4K

$20.1K CA$28.1K

8.34%

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

$210 CA$295

$166 CA$232

27.05%

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

$41.33 CA$57.9

$41.65 CA$58.4

-0.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.8 CA$81.1

$71.0 CA$99.5

-18.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.3 CA$77.5

$33.07 CA$46.33

67.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.2 CA$73.2

$18.35 CA$25.72

184.69%

Cinema Ticket

$12.47 CA$17.47

$12.63 CA$17.70

-1.27%

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

$886 CA$1,242

$515 CA$722

72.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.4K

$5,193 CA$7,277

207.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.1 CA$82.8

$46.69 CA$65.4

26.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.08 CA$66.0

$37.31 CA$52.3

26.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.1 CA$122

$63.3 CA$88.7

37.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 CA$153

$125 CA$175

-12.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,415 CA$1,982

$903 CA$1,265

56.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,180 CA$1,654

$915 CA$1,282

29.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,374 CA$3,327

$1,512 CA$2,119

57.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,855 CA$2,599

$1,488 CA$2,085

24.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,755 CA$5,262

$1,836 CA$2,573

104.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,479 CA$4,875

$5,613 CA$7,865

-38.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,035 CA$4,253

$3,018 CA$4,228

0.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.67

-14.39%

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

Last update for Calgary: July 27, 2026

Last update for Sault Ste. Marie: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,415 in Calgary and $903 in Sault Ste. Marie. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 1% 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 $74.0 in Sault Ste. Marie. Groceries flip the comparison at $396 vs $317, with Sault Ste. Marie cheaper for home cooking.

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 Sault Ste. Marie: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sault Ste. Marie is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 1% 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: $1,415 in Calgary versus $903 in Sault Ste. Marie. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Sault Ste. Marie – a meal for two runs $74.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,481 per month in Calgary versus $1,980 in Sault Ste. Marie – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,980 in Sault Ste. Marie versus $2,481 in Calgary, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Sault Ste. Marie but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Sault Ste. Marie 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 Sault Ste. Marie gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.