Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Sudbury Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Sudbury

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,462 in Calgary versus $2,223 in Sudbury.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,628 in Calgary versus $3,350 in Sudbury.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,795 in Calgary versus $4,477 in Sudbury.

Living in Calgary is roughly 11% more expensive than in Sudbury, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 84% above, Sudbury 66% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.33 CA$25.79

$18.23 CA$25.66

0.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.9 CA$98.3

$60.0 CA$84.4

16.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.95 CA$15.41

$12.28 CA$17.28

-10.83%

Cappuccino

$3.74 CA$5.26

$3.54 CA$4.97

5.65%

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

$2.04 CA$2.87

$1.89 CA$2.66

7.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.35

$1.79 CA$2.51

-6.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.20 CA$7.32

$5.49 CA$7.72

-5.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 CA$9.45

$5.73 CA$8.07

17.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 CA$3.16

$1.98 CA$2.78

13.64%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 CA$3.87

$2.03 CA$2.86

35.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.23 CA$4.54

$3.93 CA$5.53

-17.81%

Eggs

$3.45 CA$4.85

$3.04 CA$4.28

13.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 CA$20.26

$12.73 CA$17.91

13.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.89 CA$18.13

$15.86 CA$22.31

-18.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 CA$22.32

$12.88 CA$18.13

23.14%

Apples (1kg)

$4.30 CA$6.05

$3.66 CA$5.15

17.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.89

$1.33 CA$1.88

0.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.85 CA$5.42

$2.90 CA$4.08

32.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.99

$4.58 CA$6.45

-7.21%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 CA$3.58

$1.74 CA$2.45

46.55%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.69

$3.05 CA$4.29

-14.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 CA$3.94

$2.15 CA$3.02

30.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.74

$2.92 CA$4.10

-33.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.97 CA$21.06

$11.68 CA$16.43

28.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.90 CA$19.57

$14.10 CA$19.84

-1.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 CA$4.11

$2.41 CA$3.39

21.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 CA$5.50

$2.14 CA$3.01

82.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.85

$3.02 CA$4.25

-9.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.8 CA$124

$73.1 CA$103

20.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.06

$3.36 CA$4.73

7.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 CA$1.83

$2.17 CA$3.05

-40.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.70 CA$40.39

$36.04 CA$50.7

-20.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.57

$1.09 CA$1.53

2.75%

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

$25.5K CA$35.8K

$24.6K CA$34.6K

3.47%

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

$21.7K CA$30.6K

$20.6K CA$29.0K

5.54%

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

$213 CA$300

$105 CA$148

102.12%

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

$40.96 CA$57.6

$48.26 CA$67.9

-15.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 CA$81.5

$75.7 CA$107

-23.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 CA$76.2

$48.86 CA$68.8

10.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.6

$14.62 CA$20.57

267.65%

Cinema Ticket

$12.63 CA$17.77

$11.07 CA$15.57

14.09%

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

$874 CA$1,230

$722 CA$1,017

21.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.3K

$8,817 CA$12.4K

80.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 CA$82.5

$62.7 CA$88.2

-6.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.01 CA$66.2

$39.85 CA$56.1

17.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 CA$120

$107 CA$150

-20.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$151

$115 CA$162

-6.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,380 CA$1,942

$1,026 CA$1,444

34.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,159 CA$1,631

$1,046 CA$1,472

10.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,324 CA$3,270

$1,682 CA$2,367

38.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,905 CA$2,680

$1,744 CA$2,453

9.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,786 CA$5,327

$2,647 CA$3,725

43.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,511 CA$4,940

$1,927 CA$2,711

82.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,940 CA$4,136

$2,878 CA$4,050

2.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.59

-13.35%

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

Last update for Calgary: July 13, 2026

Last update for Sudbury: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,380 in Calgary and $1,026 in Sudbury. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary 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 $60.0 in Sudbury for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $396 vs $384 per month, with Sudbury 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 Sudbury: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sudbury is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 2% 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: $1,380 in Calgary versus $1,026 in Sudbury. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Sudbury – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,462 per month in Calgary versus $2,223 in Sudbury – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,223 in Sudbury versus $2,462 in Calgary, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Sudbury but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Sudbury 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 Sudbury gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.