Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and St. Albert, AB Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and St. Albert, AB

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,517 in Calgary versus $2,457 in St. Albert, AB.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,646 in Calgary versus $3,167 in St. Albert, AB.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,776 in Calgary versus $3,878 in St. Albert, AB.

Living in Calgary is roughly 2% more expensive than St. Albert, AB, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 87% above, St. Albert, AB 83% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.37 CA$25.65

$18.29 CA$25.54

0.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.7 CA$97.4

$65.1 CA$90.9

7.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.88 CA$15.19

$11.07 CA$15.46

-1.72%

Cappuccino

$3.69 CA$5.16

$3.75 CA$5.24

-1.60%

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

$2.03 CA$2.84

$2.15 CA$3.01

-5.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 CA$2.43

$1.83 CA$2.56

-4.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.30 CA$7.40

$5.10 CA$7.12

3.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.74 CA$9.42

$5.96 CA$8.32

13.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 CA$3.12

$2.08 CA$2.90

7.21%

White Bread (500g)

$2.68 CA$3.75

$2.75 CA$3.85

-2.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.35 CA$4.68

$3.17 CA$4.43

5.68%

Eggs

$3.33 CA$4.65

$3.35 CA$4.68

-0.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.41 CA$20.12

$13.77 CA$19.23

4.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.50 CA$17.46

$12.96 CA$18.10

-3.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.33 CA$22.81

$16.07 CA$22.45

1.62%

Apples (1kg)

$4.28 CA$5.98

$4.41 CA$6.16

-2.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.89

$1.32 CA$1.84

2.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.22

$3.88 CA$5.42

-3.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.17 CA$5.83

$4.09 CA$5.72

1.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 CA$3.58

$2.60 CA$3.63

-1.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.68 CA$3.74

$2.72 CA$3.80

-1.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.66 CA$3.71

$2.67 CA$3.73

-0.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 CA$2.62

$1.92 CA$2.68

-2.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.66 CA$20.47

$14.65 CA$20.46

0.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.23 CA$19.87

$12.42 CA$17.34

14.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.95 CA$4.12

$2.89 CA$4.03

2.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.89 CA$5.44

$3.16 CA$4.42

23.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 CA$3.79

$2.16 CA$3.02

25.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.7 CA$122

$64.4 CA$89.9

36.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.46 CA$4.83

$3.48 CA$4.86

-0.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 CA$1.81

$1.34 CA$1.87

-2.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.30 CA$39.52

$23.46 CA$32.76

20.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 CA$1.52

$1.10 CA$1.53

-0.91%

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

$25.0K CA$34.9K

$24.7K CA$34.5K

1.30%

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

$22.2K CA$31.0K

$21.9K CA$30.6K

1.57%

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

$211 CA$295

$198 CA$276

6.81%

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

$40.40 CA$56.4

$40.79 CA$57.0

-0.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.5 CA$81.7

0.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.8 CA$75.1

$40.41 CA$56.4

33.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.2

Cinema Ticket

$12.64 CA$17.66

$12.68 CA$17.70

-0.32%

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

$865 CA$1,208

$683 CA$953

26.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K CA$22.4K

$12.0K CA$16.7K

34.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 CA$81.1

$57.6 CA$80.5

0.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.18 CA$65.9

$42.17 CA$58.9

11.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.4 CA$119

$81.3 CA$114

5.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 CA$148

$107 CA$150

-1.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,416 CA$1,977

$1,297 CA$1,811

9.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,153 CA$1,611

$1,186 CA$1,656

-2.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,370 CA$3,309

$1,363 CA$1,903

73.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,864 CA$2,603

$1,173 CA$1,639

58.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,834 CA$5,354

$2,542 CA$3,551

50.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,443 CA$4,808

$2,607 CA$3,640

32.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,105 CA$4,337

$3,131 CA$4,372

-0.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.08

-6.09%

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

Last update for Calgary: June 7, 2026

Last update for St. Albert, AB: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,416 in Calgary and $1,297 in St. Albert, AB. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

St. Albert, AB pays 1% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $70.0 in Calgary vs $65.0 in St. Albert, AB for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $393 vs $387 per month, with St. Albert, AB 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 St. Albert, AB: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

St. Albert, AB is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, St. Albert, AB earns 1% 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: $1,416 in Calgary versus $1,297 in St. Albert, AB. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in St. Albert, AB – a meal for two runs $65.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,517 per month in Calgary versus $2,457 in St. Albert, AB – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,457 in St. Albert, AB versus $2,517 in Calgary, a $2,000 budget is realistic in St. Albert, AB but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes St. Albert, AB 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 St. Albert, AB gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.