Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Summerland Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Summerland

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,462 in Calgary versus $2,260 in Summerland.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,628 in Calgary versus $3,277 in Summerland.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,795 in Calgary versus $4,294 in Summerland.

Living in Calgary is roughly 9% more expensive than in Summerland, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 84% above, Summerland 69% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Calgary
Summerland
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.33 CA$25.79
$10.95 CA$15.41
67.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.9 CA$98.3
$57.7 CA$81.2
21.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.95 CA$15.41
$9.36 CA$13.17
16.99%
Cappuccino
$3.74 CA$5.26
$3.61 CA$5.08
3.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 CA$2.87
$1.95 CA$2.74
4.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 CA$2.35
$1.46 CA$2.06
14.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.20 CA$7.32
$6.19 CA$8.71
-15.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.71 CA$9.45
$5.85 CA$8.23
14.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Calgary
Summerland
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.25 CA$3.16
$2.29 CA$3.23
-1.75%
White Bread (500g)
$2.75 CA$3.87
$2.67 CA$3.76
3.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.23 CA$4.54
$4.41 CA$6.20
-26.76%
Eggs
$3.45 CA$4.85
$3.48 CA$4.90
-0.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.40 CA$20.26
$14.00 CA$19.71
2.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.89 CA$18.13
$11.94 CA$16.80
7.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.86 CA$22.32
$19.32 CA$27.19
-17.91%
Apples (1kg)
$4.30 CA$6.05
$4.65 CA$6.55
-7.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.34 CA$1.89
$1.14 CA$1.60
17.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.85 CA$5.42
$5.24 CA$7.37
-26.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.25 CA$5.99
$3.81 CA$5.36
11.55%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 CA$3.58
$1.66 CA$2.33
53.61%
Onion (1kg)
$2.62 CA$3.69
$3.07 CA$4.32
-14.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.80 CA$3.94
$2.71 CA$3.81
3.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 CA$2.74
$2.15 CA$3.02
-9.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.97 CA$21.06
$16.27 CA$22.89
-7.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.90 CA$19.57
$10.45 CA$14.70
33.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 CA$4.11
$4.20 CA$5.91
-30.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 CA$5.50
$3.90 CA$5.48
0.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Calgary
Summerland
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.74 CA$3.85
$2.36 CA$3.32
16.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$87.8 CA$124
$62.0 CA$87.3
41.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.60 CA$5.06
$3.69 CA$5.20
-2.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.30 CA$1.83
$1.66 CA$2.34
-21.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.70 CA$40.39
$26.07 CA$36.68
10.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 CA$1.57
$1.18 CA$1.66
-5.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5K CA$35.8K
$25.1K CA$35.3K
1.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K CA$30.6K
$19.2K CA$27.0K
13.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calgary
Summerland
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$213 CA$300
$115 CA$162
85.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.96 CA$57.6
$36.13 CA$50.8
13.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.9 CA$81.5
$57.1 CA$80.4
1.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Calgary
Summerland
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.2 CA$76.2
$41.18 CA$57.9
31.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$53.8 CA$75.6
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.63 CA$17.77
$7.54 CA$10.60
67.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Calgary
Summerland
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$874 CA$1,230
$548 CA$772
59.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K CA$22.3K
$8,074 CA$11.4K
96.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Calgary
Summerland
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6 CA$82.5
$47.55 CA$66.9
23.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.01 CA$66.2
$35.63 CA$50.1
31.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 CA$120
$82.3 CA$116
3.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 CA$151
$105 CA$148
2.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Calgary
Summerland
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,380 CA$1,942
$1,302 CA$1,832
6.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,159 CA$1,631
$1,155 CA$1,625
0.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,324 CA$3,270
$2,027 CA$2,853
14.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,905 CA$2,680
$1,793 CA$2,522
6.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,786 CA$5,327
$4,769 CA$6,710
-20.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,511 CA$4,940
$3,825 CA$5,383
-8.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Calgary
Summerland
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,940 CA$4,136
$3,422 CA$4,816
-14.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.71
6.86
-16.76%

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

Last update for Calgary: July 13, 2026

Last update for Summerland: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,380 in Calgary and $1,302 in Summerland. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Summerland pays 16% 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 $58.0 in Summerland. Groceries flip the comparison at $396 vs $408, with Calgary 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 Summerland: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Summerland cheaper than Calgary?
Summerland is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Calgary or Summerland?
On paper, salaries run 16% lower in Summerland. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Calgary and Summerland?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,380 in Calgary versus $1,302 in Summerland. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Calgary or in Summerland?
Dining out is cheaper in Summerland – a meal for two runs $58.0 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 and in Summerland?
All in, you'll spend $2,462 per month in Calgary versus $2,260 in Summerland – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Calgary or in Summerland?
At $2,260 in Summerland versus $2,462 in Calgary, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Summerland but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Summerland the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Calgary or in Summerland?
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 Summerland gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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