😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,433 in Calgary versus $2,387 in Stephenville.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,642 in Calgary versus $3,456 in Stephenville.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,850 in Calgary versus $4,525 in Stephenville.
😐Living in Calgary is roughly 2% more expensive than Stephenville, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary81% above, Stephenville77% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Calgary
Stephenville
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.20CA$24.93
$16.60CA$22.75
9.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.0CA$95.9
$70.6CA$96.7
-0.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.01CA$15.09
$10.97CA$15.03
0.36%
Cappuccino
$3.73CA$5.11
$3.74CA$5.13
-0.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98CA$2.71
$1.99CA$2.73
-0.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65CA$2.26
$1.64CA$2.24
0.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.27CA$7.22
$5.40CA$7.39
-2.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.65CA$9.11
$5.72CA$7.84
16.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Calgary
Stephenville
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15CA$2.94
$2.63CA$3.60
-18.25%
White Bread(500g)
$2.68CA$3.67
$2.69CA$3.68
-0.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.40CA$4.66
$3.53CA$4.84
-3.68%
Eggs
$3.28CA$4.49
$3.45CA$4.72
-4.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.65CA$20.07
$11.34CA$15.54
29.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.61CA$17.28
$11.56CA$15.83
9.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.13CA$22.10
$14.61CA$20.02
10.40%
Apples(1kg)
$4.46CA$6.11
$4.04CA$5.53
10.40%
Banana(1kg)
$1.34CA$1.84
$1.43CA$1.96
-6.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.73CA$5.11
$3.77CA$5.17
-1.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.29CA$5.88
$3.68CA$5.04
16.58%
Potato(1kg)
$2.67CA$3.65
$2.51CA$3.43
6.37%
Onion(1kg)
$2.61CA$3.57
$2.58CA$3.53
1.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.74CA$3.76
$4.36CA$5.97
-37.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.90CA$2.60
$1.77CA$2.43
7.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.98CA$20.52
$13.84CA$18.96
8.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.30CA$19.59
$11.09CA$15.19
28.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90CA$3.97
$2.83CA$3.87
2.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97CA$5.44
$3.08CA$4.21
28.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Calgary
Stephenville
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.68CA$3.67
$2.41CA$3.31
11.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.9CA$120
$62.5CA$85.6
40.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.57CA$4.88
$3.19CA$4.37
11.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34CA$1.84
$1.45CA$1.98
-7.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.30CA$40.15
$25.49CA$34.92
14.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13CA$1.55
$1.13CA$1.55
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1KCA$34.4K
$24.7KCA$33.9K
1.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2KCA$30.4K
$20.5KCA$28.0K
8.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calgary
Stephenville
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$218CA$299
$141CA$193
54.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.44CA$56.8
$42.98CA$58.9
-3.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.2CA$79.7
$63.4CA$86.8
-8.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Calgary
Stephenville
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.7CA$73.6
$41.24CA$56.5
30.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$52.4CA$71.8
$36.38CA$49.84
43.98%
Cinema Ticket
$12.66CA$17.34
$11.47CA$15.71
10.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Calgary
Stephenville
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$885CA$1,212
$735CA$1,008
20.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1KCA$22.0K
$12.0KCA$16.4K
34.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Calgary
Stephenville
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1CA$79.6
$54.9CA$75.2
5.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.22CA$66.1
$39.40CA$54.0
22.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.4CA$121
$85.6CA$117
3.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106CA$146
$108CA$148
-1.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Calgary
Stephenville
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,396CA$1,913
$1,323CA$1,813
5.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,186CA$1,625
$1,156CA$1,583
2.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,293CA$3,142
$2,055CA$2,815
11.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,859CA$2,547
$1,795CA$2,459
3.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779CA$5,178
$3,891CA$5,331
-2.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,509CA$4,808
$3,530CA$4,836
-0.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Calgary
Stephenville
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,117CA$4,271
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.71
6.46
-11.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Calgary: April 14, 2026
Last update for Stephenville: April 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,396 in Calgary and $1,323 in Stephenville. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $70 in Calgary vs $71 in Stephenville. Groceries flip the comparison at $395 vs $373, with Stephenville 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 Stephenville: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stephenville cheaper than Calgary?
Stephenville 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.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,650 in Calgary and $3,581 in Stephenville 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 Stephenville?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,396 in Calgary versus $1,323 in Stephenville. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Calgary or Stephenville?
Dining out is cheaper in Stephenville – a meal for two runs $71.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Calgary vs Stephenville?
All in, you'll spend $2,433 per month in Calgary versus $2,387 in Stephenville – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Calgary or Stephenville?
At $2,387 in Stephenville versus $2,433 in Calgary, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Stephenville but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Stephenville the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Calgary or Stephenville?
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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Stephenville 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.