Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Surrey Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Surrey

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,517 in Calgary versus $2,737 in Surrey.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,646 in Calgary versus $4,155 in Surrey.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,776 in Calgary versus $5,573 in Surrey.

Living in Calgary costs roughly 8% less than in Surrey, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 87% above, Surrey 104% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.37 CA$25.65

$18.61 CA$25.99

-1.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.7 CA$97.4

$79.9 CA$112

-12.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.88 CA$15.19

$10.92 CA$15.25

-0.37%

Cappuccino

$3.69 CA$5.16

$4.14 CA$5.78

-10.87%

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

$2.03 CA$2.84

$2.04 CA$2.85

-0.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 CA$2.43

$1.73 CA$2.42

0.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.30 CA$7.40

$5.84 CA$8.16

-9.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.74 CA$9.42

$7.19 CA$10.04

-6.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 CA$3.12

$2.65 CA$3.71

-15.85%

White Bread (500g)

$2.68 CA$3.75

$2.64 CA$3.69

1.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.35 CA$4.68

$5.56 CA$7.77

-39.75%

Eggs

$3.33 CA$4.65

$3.59 CA$5.02

-7.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.41 CA$20.12

$10.42 CA$14.55

38.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.50 CA$17.46

$11.79 CA$16.47

6.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.33 CA$22.81

$24.99 CA$34.90

-34.65%

Apples (1kg)

$4.28 CA$5.98

$3.46 CA$4.83

23.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.89

$1.34 CA$1.87

0.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.22

$3.08 CA$4.30

21.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.17 CA$5.83

$3.53 CA$4.92

18.13%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 CA$3.58

$2.40 CA$3.35

6.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.68 CA$3.74

$2.02 CA$2.82

32.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.66 CA$3.71

$2.48 CA$3.47

7.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 CA$2.62

$2.03 CA$2.83

-7.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.66 CA$20.47

$14.57 CA$20.35

0.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.23 CA$19.87

$14.30 CA$19.98

-0.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.95 CA$4.12

$3.82 CA$5.33

-22.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.89 CA$5.44

$3.98 CA$5.55

-2.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 CA$3.79

$3.09 CA$4.32

-12.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.7 CA$122

$129 CA$181

-32.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.46 CA$4.83

$2.69 CA$3.76

28.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 CA$1.81

$1.47 CA$2.06

-11.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.30 CA$39.52

$28.31 CA$39.53

-0.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 CA$1.52

$1.35 CA$1.89

-19.26%

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

$25.0K CA$34.9K

$24.7K CA$34.5K

1.32%

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

$22.2K CA$31.0K

$20.7K CA$29.0K

7.16%

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

$211 CA$295

$188 CA$263

12.17%

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

$40.40 CA$56.4

$42.02 CA$58.7

-3.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.5 CA$81.7

$67.8 CA$94.7

-13.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.8 CA$75.1

$44.10 CA$61.6

21.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.2

$18.11 CA$25.29

197.18%

Cinema Ticket

$12.64 CA$17.66

$12.33 CA$17.22

2.51%

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

$865 CA$1,208

$907 CA$1,267

-4.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K CA$22.4K

$12.6K CA$17.5K

27.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 CA$81.1

$57.0 CA$79.5

1.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.18 CA$65.9

$53.6 CA$74.8

-11.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.4 CA$119

$105 CA$147

-18.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 CA$148

$94.8 CA$132

11.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,416 CA$1,977

$1,631 CA$2,278

-13.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,153 CA$1,611

$1,363 CA$1,904

-15.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,370 CA$3,309

$3,112 CA$4,346

-23.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,864 CA$2,603

$2,444 CA$3,413

-23.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,834 CA$5,354

$9,608 CA$13.4K

-60.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,443 CA$4,808

$8,793 CA$12.3K

-60.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,105 CA$4,337

$3,153 CA$4,403

-1.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.54

-12.69%

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

Last update for Calgary: June 7, 2026

Last update for Surrey: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,416 in Calgary and $1,631 in Surrey. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Surrey 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 $80.0 in Surrey for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $393 vs $411 per month, with Calgary 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 Surrey: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Surrey earns 2% 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 $1,631 in Surrey. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Calgary – a meal for two runs $70.0 versus $80.0 in Surrey. 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 $2,737 in Surrey – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Calgary is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 Calgary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Surrey. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.