Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Somerset, NJ

For one person, living is cheaper in Calgary: $2,223 a month against $3,865 in Somerset, NJ, rent and utilities included – about $19,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Calgary
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,223
/mo nomad
Somerset, NJ
🇺🇸 United States
$3,865
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Calgary and in Somerset, NJ

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Calgary and in Somerset, NJ actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,223 in Calgary versus $3,865 in Somerset, NJ.

  • Calgary $2,223
  • Somerset, NJ $3,865

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,301 in Calgary versus $4,297 in Somerset, NJ.

  • Calgary $3,301
  • Somerset, NJ $4,297

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,379 in Calgary versus $4,728 in Somerset, NJ.

  • Calgary $4,379
  • Somerset, NJ $4,728

Living in Calgary costs roughly 42% less than in Somerset, NJ, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 65% above, Somerset, NJ 186% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Calgary
Somerset, NJ
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.22 CA$24.34
$18.26 $18.26
-5.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.1 CA$100
$39.28 $39.28
80.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.53 CA$14.89
$8.16 $8.16
29.04%
Cappuccino
$3.66 CA$5.18
$4.89 $4.89
-25.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 CA$2.80
$1.96 $1.96
1.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 CA$2.74
$1.47 $1.47
31.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.95 CA$7.00
$7.84 $7.84
-36.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.57 CA$7.87
$7.13 $7.13
-21.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Calgary
Somerset, NJ
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 CA$2.65
$1.32 $1.32
42.42%
White Bread (500g)
$2.67 CA$3.78
$4.38 $4.38
-39.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.32 CA$7.52
$6.12 $6.12
-13.07%
Eggs
$3.79 CA$5.35
$2.02 $2.02
87.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.09 CA$15.68
$13.28 $13.28
-16.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.36 CA$16.05
$10.19 $10.19
11.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.40 CA$26.01
$19.45 $19.45
-5.40%
Apples (1kg)
$4.56 CA$6.45
$6.07 $6.07
-24.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 CA$2.04
$3.49 $3.49
-58.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.08 CA$5.76
$4.32 $4.32
-5.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.89 CA$5.50
$5.43 $5.43
-28.36%
Potato (1kg)
$2.64 CA$3.73
$3.04 $3.04
-13.16%
Onion (1kg)
$2.64 CA$3.73
$3.04 $3.04
-13.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.50 CA$3.54
$2.43 $2.43
2.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 CA$2.12
$2.97 $2.97
-49.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.05 CA$19.86
$17.39 $17.39
-19.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.70 CA$22.20
$15.25 $15.25
2.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.44 CA$3.45
$1.78 $1.78
37.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09 CA$4.37
$3.52 $3.52
-12.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Calgary
Somerset, NJ
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.82 CA$3.99
$1.95 $1.95
44.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$88.6 CA$125
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.12 CA$4.41
$2.94 $2.94
6.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 CA$1.91
$2.23 $2.23
-39.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.02 CA$38.20
$41.34 $41.34
-34.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 CA$1.64
$1.10 $1.10
5.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K CA$39.5K
$36.0K $36.0K
-22.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K CA$28.8K
$25.3K $25.3K
-19.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calgary
Somerset, NJ
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$161 CA$227
$173 $173
-7.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.13 CA$53.9
$50.0 $50.0
-23.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.0 CA$70.7
$49.14 $49.14
1.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Calgary
Somerset, NJ
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.5 CA$72.8
$40.91 $40.91
25.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.14 CA$25.64
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.82 CA$19.54
$20.32 $20.32
-31.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Calgary
Somerset, NJ
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$786 CA$1,111
$2,016 $2,016
-61.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.5K CA$21.8K
$16.3K $16.3K
-5.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Calgary
Somerset, NJ
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3 CA$82.4
$50.2 $50.2
16.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.27 CA$55.5
$40.93 $40.93
-4.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.8 CA$127
$85.3 $85.3
5.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 CA$155
$104 $104
5.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Calgary
Somerset, NJ
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,229 CA$1,737
$1,599 $1,599
-23.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,001 CA$1,415
$2,626 $2,626
-61.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,921 CA$2,716
$2,527 $2,527
-23.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,621 CA$2,292
$2,114 $2,114
-23.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,549 CA$5,018
$2,767 $2,767
28.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,335 CA$4,715
$2,399 $2,399
39.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Calgary
Somerset, NJ
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,165 CA$4,474
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.51
6.8
-33.68%

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

Last update for Calgary: October 13, 2026

Last update for Somerset, NJ: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Calgary
$1K
Somerset, NJ
$2.6K 162% $1.6K
Groceries & Markets
Calgary
$385
Somerset, NJ
$441 14.6% $56
Eating Out
Calgary
$265
Somerset, NJ
$296 11.9% $32
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calgary
$249
Somerset, NJ
$272 9.4% $23
Clothing & Footwear
Calgary
$134
Somerset, NJ
$126 5.7% $7.6
Getting Around
Calgary
$110
Somerset, NJ
$22 * 80.1% $88
Sport & Entertainment
Calgary
$79
Somerset, NJ
$82 3.1% $2.4

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,229 in Calgary and $1,599 in Somerset, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $71.0 in Calgary vs $39.00 in Somerset, NJ. Groceries flip the comparison at $385 vs $441, with Calgary cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Calgary
🇺🇸 Somerset, NJ
🕒 Local time
10:08 10:08 AM
12:08 12:08 PM
2 h ahead of Calgary
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,267,344
11,924
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Calgary Somerset, NJ 3,240 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Calgary
  • Somerset, NJ

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Somerset, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Somerset, NJ cheaper than Calgary?
Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and utilities. The 74% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,335 in Calgary and $5,798 in Somerset, NJ to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Calgary and Somerset, NJ?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,229 in Calgary versus $1,599 in Somerset, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $786 in Calgary versus $2,016 in Somerset, NJ. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Calgary or in Somerset, NJ?
Dining out is cheaper in Calgary – a meal for two runs $71.0 versus $39.00 in Somerset, NJ. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Calgary or in Somerset, NJ?
At $2,223 in Calgary versus $3,865 in Somerset, NJ, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in Somerset, NJ. The gap between the two cities makes Calgary the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Calgary or in Somerset, NJ?
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.
Which city is safer, Calgary or Somerset, NJ?
Safety-wise, Calgary and Somerset, NJ are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Calgary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 74% less than in Somerset, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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