Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Squamish, BC Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Squamish, BC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,344 in Calgary versus $2,606 in Squamish, BC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,470 in Calgary versus $3,941 in Squamish, BC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,597 in Calgary versus $5,275 in Squamish, BC.

Living in Calgary costs roughly 10% less than in Squamish, BC, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 71% above, Squamish, BC 91% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.68 CA$24.74

$14.98 CA$20.96

18.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.2 CA$99.6

$56.5 CA$79.0

26.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.85 CA$15.18

$10.50 CA$14.69

3.33%

Cappuccino

$3.85 CA$5.39

$3.94 CA$5.51

-2.28%

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

$1.95 CA$2.73

$1.87 CA$2.61

4.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 CA$2.51

$1.49 CA$2.08

20.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.97 CA$6.95

$5.86 CA$8.20

-15.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 CA$8.25

$5.66 CA$7.92

4.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 CA$2.58

$1.70 CA$2.38

8.24%

White Bread (500g)

$2.73 CA$3.82

$2.25 CA$3.15

21.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.44 CA$7.60

$3.68 CA$5.15

47.83%

Eggs

$3.63 CA$5.07

$3.25 CA$4.54

11.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.55 CA$16.15

$12.91 CA$18.06

-10.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.57 CA$16.19

$15.12 CA$21.16

-23.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.94 CA$26.50

$19.92 CA$27.87

-4.92%

Apples (1kg)

$4.95 CA$6.92

$5.66 CA$7.91

-12.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 CA$1.98

$1.25 CA$1.74

13.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.22 CA$5.90

$3.76 CA$5.26

12.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.09 CA$5.72

$3.68 CA$5.15

11.14%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 CA$3.58

$4.21 CA$5.89

-39.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 CA$3.95

$2.55 CA$3.57

10.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.57 CA$3.59

$2.53 CA$3.53

1.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 CA$2.16

$1.85 CA$2.59

-16.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.59 CA$20.41

$16.11 CA$22.53

-9.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.60 CA$21.83

$10.81 CA$15.13

44.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 CA$3.61

$2.95 CA$4.12

-12.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 CA$4.52

$3.53 CA$4.94

-8.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.96 CA$4.14

$1.41 CA$1.97

109.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$91.1 CA$127

$30.81 CA$43.10

195.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 CA$4.43

$3.51 CA$4.91

-9.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 CA$1.95

$1.48 CA$2.07

-6.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.67 CA$38.70

$25.51 CA$35.68

8.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 CA$1.75

$1.15 CA$1.60

8.70%

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

$28.3K CA$39.6K

$27.0K CA$37.7K

5.01%

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

$21.3K CA$29.8K

$19.1K CA$26.7K

11.69%

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

$178 CA$249

$118 CA$166

50.23%

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

$39.31 CA$55.0

$44.30 CA$62.0

-11.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.9 CA$71.2

$66.0 CA$92.3

-22.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 CA$76.5

$51.4 CA$72.0

6.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.77 CA$26.25

Cinema Ticket

$14.55 CA$20.36

$11.33 CA$15.85

28.42%

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

$812 CA$1,135

$373 CA$522

117.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.4K CA$23.0K

$7,899 CA$11.1K

107.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.4 CA$83.1

$53.5 CA$74.8

11.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 CA$56.4

$35.05 CA$49.03

15.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.2 CA$129

$81.5 CA$114

13.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 CA$158

$101 CA$141

12.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,284 CA$1,796

$1,629 CA$2,278

-21.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,018 CA$1,424

$1,538 CA$2,152

-33.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,977 CA$2,766

$3,202 CA$4,479

-38.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,746 CA$2,443

$2,882 CA$4,032

-39.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,571 CA$4,995

$6,057 CA$8,473

-41.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,359 CA$4,698

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,213 CA$4,495

$3,093 CA$4,327

3.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.48

4.72

-5.08%

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

Last update for Calgary: September 12, 2026

Last update for Squamish, BC: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,284 in Calgary and $1,629 in Squamish, BC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $71.0 in Calgary vs $56.0 in Squamish, BC. Groceries flip the comparison at $395 vs $404, with Calgary 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 Squamish, BC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 4% 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 $1,629 in Squamish, BC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Calgary – a meal for two runs $71.0 versus $56.0 in Squamish, BC. 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 $2,606 in Squamish, BC – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,344 in Calgary versus $2,606 in Squamish, BC, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in Squamish, BC. The gap between the two cities makes Calgary 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 Calgary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Squamish, BC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.