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: $2,523 in Calgary versus $2,729 in Squamish, BC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,652 in Calgary versus $4,148 in Squamish, BC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,780 in Calgary versus $5,567 in Squamish, BC.

Living in Calgary costs roughly 8% less than in Squamish, BC, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 88% above, Squamish, BC 104% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.59 CA$25.83

$15.75 CA$21.89

18.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.0 CA$97.3

$73.0 CA$101

-4.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.96 CA$15.22

$10.85 CA$15.07

1.01%

Cappuccino

$3.73 CA$5.19

$4.14 CA$5.75

-9.90%

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

$1.99 CA$2.76

$1.97 CA$2.74

1.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 CA$2.39

$1.49 CA$2.07

15.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.01 CA$6.97

$5.78 CA$8.03

-13.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.50 CA$9.04

$5.92 CA$8.23

9.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 CA$3.09

$1.84 CA$2.56

20.65%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 CA$3.71

$2.73 CA$3.80

-2.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 CA$4.53

$3.62 CA$5.04

-9.94%

Eggs

$3.35 CA$4.66

$3.64 CA$5.06

-7.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 CA$20.14

$10.22 CA$14.20

41.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.95 CA$17.99

$11.75 CA$16.32

10.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.15 CA$22.44

$20.46 CA$28.43

-21.07%

Apples (1kg)

$4.32 CA$6.00

$3.51 CA$4.88

23.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.88

$1.22 CA$1.70

10.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.83 CA$5.32

$2.96 CA$4.11

29.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 CA$5.81

$3.53 CA$4.90

18.41%

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 CA$3.68

$2.47 CA$3.44

7.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 CA$3.81

$2.02 CA$2.81

35.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.76 CA$3.84

$2.45 CA$3.41

12.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.71

$1.99 CA$2.76

-2.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.98 CA$20.81

$14.70 CA$20.43

1.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.67 CA$20.38

$10.88 CA$15.11

34.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 CA$3.95

$3.01 CA$4.19

-5.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 CA$5.58

$3.62 CA$5.04

11.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.80 CA$3.89

$1.45 CA$2.01

93.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.2 CA$120

$31.49 CA$43.76

173.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.00

$2.78 CA$3.86

29.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 CA$1.83

$1.53 CA$2.13

-13.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.01 CA$40.31

$28.82 CA$40.04

0.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.56

$1.25 CA$1.74

-10.40%

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

$24.9K CA$34.5K

$25.2K CA$35.0K

-1.26%

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

$22.0K CA$30.5K

$20.0K CA$27.8K

9.87%

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

$217 CA$302

$123 CA$172

75.92%

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

$41.55 CA$57.7

$41.85 CA$58.2

-0.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.1 CA$80.7

$65.6 CA$91.2

-11.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 CA$76.0

$51.8 CA$72.0

5.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.8 CA$73.4

Cinema Ticket

$12.77 CA$17.74

$12.46 CA$17.32

2.49%

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

$874 CA$1,214

$1,115 CA$1,549

-21.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.1K

$12.4K CA$17.3K

28.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 CA$81.7

$55.7 CA$77.4

5.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.47 CA$64.6

$43.96 CA$61.1

5.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 CA$121

$104 CA$144

-15.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CA$151

$96.7 CA$134

12.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,414 CA$1,964

$1,666 CA$2,314

-15.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,172 CA$1,629

$1,590 CA$2,210

-26.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,319 CA$3,222

$3,320 CA$4,612

-30.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,886 CA$2,621

$2,933 CA$4,076

-35.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,892 CA$5,407

$5,982 CA$8,312

-34.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,503 CA$4,867

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,149 CA$4,375

$3,216 CA$4,468

-2.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.54

-12.69%

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

Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026

Last update for Squamish, BC: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,414 in Calgary and $1,666 in Squamish, BC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Squamish, BC pays 2% 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 $73.0 in Squamish, BC. Groceries flip the comparison at $397 vs $369, with Squamish, BC 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 Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Squamish, BC earns 2% less. 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: $1,414 in Calgary versus $1,666 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 $70.0 versus $73.0 in Squamish, BC. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,523 per month in Calgary versus $2,729 in Squamish, BC – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Calgary is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 8% less than in Squamish, BC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.