Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

For one person, living is cheaper in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador: $2,128 a month against $2,303 in Calgary, rent and utilities included – about $2,100 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Calgary outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Calgary, Canada
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Calgary
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,303
/mo nomad
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,128
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Calgary and in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

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 St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,303 in Calgary versus $2,128 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.

  • Calgary $2,303
  • St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador $2,128

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,366 in Calgary versus $3,149 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.

  • Calgary $3,366
  • St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador $3,149

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,428 in Calgary versus $4,170 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.

  • Calgary $4,428
  • St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador $4,170

Living in Calgary is roughly 8% more expensive than in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 69% above, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador 56% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Calgary
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.55 CA$24.55
$17.60 CA$24.62
-0.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.4 CA$98.5
$72.0 CA$101
-2.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.69 CA$14.95
$11.73 CA$16.41
-8.87%
Cappuccino
$3.89 CA$5.44
$4.03 CA$5.64
-3.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 CA$2.85
$2.59 CA$3.62
-21.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 CA$2.63
$2.20 CA$3.08
-14.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.90 CA$6.85
$4.87 CA$6.82
0.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.78 CA$8.09
$5.43 CA$7.59
6.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Calgary
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.96 CA$2.75
$2.77 CA$3.88
-29.24%
White Bread (500g)
$2.74 CA$3.83
$3.07 CA$4.30
-10.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.46 CA$7.64
$4.28 CA$5.99
27.57%
Eggs
$3.69 CA$5.16
$3.87 CA$5.42
-4.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.24 CA$15.73
$11.53 CA$16.13
-2.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.54 CA$16.14
$13.32 CA$18.63
-13.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.38 CA$25.70
$11.81 CA$16.53
55.63%
Apples (1kg)
$4.90 CA$6.86
$4.85 CA$6.78
1.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 CA$1.99
$3.09 CA$4.33
-54.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.21 CA$5.89
$4.80 CA$6.71
-12.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.02 CA$5.63
$3.08 CA$4.30
30.52%
Potato (1kg)
$2.69 CA$3.77
$2.65 CA$3.70
1.51%
Onion (1kg)
$2.66 CA$3.72
$2.31 CA$3.23
15.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.61 CA$3.66
$2.86 CA$4.00
-8.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 CA$2.23
$2.02 CA$2.82
-20.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.00 CA$19.58
$13.80 CA$19.30
1.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.40 CA$21.54
$16.10 CA$22.52
-4.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.50 CA$3.49
$4.19 CA$5.87
-40.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09 CA$4.32
$4.33 CA$6.06
-28.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Calgary
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.93 CA$4.10
$1.83 CA$2.56
60.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$89.3 CA$125
$55.7 CA$77.9
60.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.27 CA$4.57
$3.22 CA$4.51
1.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 CA$1.89
$1.75 CA$2.45
-22.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.39 CA$38.31
$28.39 CA$39.71
-3.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 CA$1.64
$1.39 CA$1.94
-15.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K CA$39.1K
$28.6K CA$40.1K
-2.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.0K CA$29.4K
$23.8K CA$33.4K
-11.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calgary
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$167 CA$233
$182 CA$255
-8.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.27 CA$53.5
$41.72 CA$58.4
-8.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.9 CA$71.2
$76.6 CA$107
-33.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Calgary
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.0 CA$71.3
$68.1 CA$95.3
-25.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.17 CA$25.42
$19.14 CA$26.77
-5.07%
Cinema Ticket
$14.44 CA$20.20
$10.63 CA$14.87
35.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Calgary
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$545 CA$763
$535 CA$748
1.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.2K CA$22.7K
$9,862 CA$13.8K
64.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Calgary
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.9 CA$82.4
$66.9 CA$93.6
-12.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.75 CA$55.6
$51.5 CA$72.0
-22.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.4 CA$131
$81.7 CA$114
14.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 CA$154
$96.2 CA$135
14.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Calgary
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,254 CA$1,754
$1,041 CA$1,457
20.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,056 CA$1,478
$836 CA$1,169
26.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,022 CA$2,828
$1,540 CA$2,153
31.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,629 CA$2,278
$1,322 CA$1,849
23.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,600 CA$5,036
$2,435 CA$3,405
47.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,243 CA$4,535
$1,776 CA$2,484
82.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Calgary
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,115 CA$4,357
$2,823 CA$3,949
10.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.51
4.57
-1.31%

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

Last update for Calgary: October 26, 2026

Last update for St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Calgary
$1.1K
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
$836 20.9% $221
Groceries & Markets
Calgary
$393
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
$415 5.7% $22
Eating Out
Calgary
$271
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
$279 2.9% $7.9
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calgary
$256
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
$300 17.4% $45
Clothing & Footwear
Calgary
$136
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
$133 1.9% $2.6
Getting Around
Calgary
$111
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
$75 32.5% $36
Sport & Entertainment
Calgary
$80
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
$89 12% $9.6

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,254 in Calgary and $1,041 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 10% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $70 in Calgary vs $72 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $393 vs $415 per month, with Calgary cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Calgary
🇨🇦 St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
🕒 Local time
21:20 9:20 PM
00:50 12:50 AM
3 h 30 min ahead of Calgary
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,267,344
110,525
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.715 USD). 1 EUR = 1.56 CAD (1 CAD = 0.642 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Calgary St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador 4,330 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Calgary
  • St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

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 St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador cheaper than Calgary?
St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador is about 8% cheaper overall, especially in transport. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Calgary or St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador?
Average pay runs 10% higher in Calgary, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Calgary and St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,254 in Calgary versus $1,041 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Calgary or in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador?
Dining out is cheaper in Calgary – a meal for two runs $70 versus $72 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Calgary and in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador?
All in, you’ll spend $2,303 per month in Calgary versus $2,128 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador – St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador is about 8% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador wins on affordability, Calgary on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

Calgary vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?