Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Swift Current Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Swift Current

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,462 in Calgary versus $2,371 in Swift Current.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,628 in Calgary versus $3,353 in Swift Current.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,795 in Calgary versus $4,335 in Swift Current.

Living in Calgary is roughly 4% more expensive than in Swift Current, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 84% above, Swift Current 77% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.33 CA$25.79

$16.78 CA$23.61

9.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.9 CA$98.3

$58.3 CA$82.1

19.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.95 CA$15.41

$10.29 CA$14.48

6.41%

Cappuccino

$3.74 CA$5.26

$3.70 CA$5.20

1.08%

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

$2.04 CA$2.87

$1.82 CA$2.56

12.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.35

$1.80 CA$2.53

-7.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.20 CA$7.32

$6.04 CA$8.50

-13.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 CA$9.45

$7.04 CA$9.91

-4.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 CA$3.16

$2.72 CA$3.83

-17.28%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 CA$3.87

$1.92 CA$2.71

43.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.23 CA$4.54

$5.44 CA$7.66

-40.63%

Eggs

$3.45 CA$4.85

$3.37 CA$4.74

2.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 CA$20.26

$8.77 CA$12.34

64.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.89 CA$18.13

$8.83 CA$12.42

45.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 CA$22.32

$11.23 CA$15.81

41.23%

Apples (1kg)

$4.30 CA$6.05

$2.15 CA$3.02

100.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.89

$0.98 CA$1.38

36.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.85 CA$5.42

$2.23 CA$3.13

72.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.99

$2.49 CA$3.50

70.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 CA$3.58

$2.96 CA$4.17

-13.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.69

$2.19 CA$3.08

19.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 CA$3.94

$2.17 CA$3.06

29.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.74

$1.21 CA$1.70

61.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.97 CA$21.06

$14.70 CA$20.69

1.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.90 CA$19.57

$13.60 CA$19.14

2.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 CA$4.11

$3.25 CA$4.58

-10.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 CA$5.50

$3.39 CA$4.77

15.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.85

$2.34 CA$3.29

17.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.8 CA$124

$62.2 CA$87.5

41.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.06

$3.57 CA$5.03

0.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 CA$1.83

$1.24 CA$1.74

4.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.70 CA$40.39

$14.77 CA$20.78

94.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.57

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

$25.5K CA$35.8K

$25.2K CA$35.4K

1.24%

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

$21.7K CA$30.6K

$20.6K CA$29.0K

5.53%

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

$213 CA$300

-0.13%

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

$40.96 CA$57.6

$59.1 CA$83.2

-30.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 CA$81.5

$52.1 CA$73.2

11.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 CA$76.2

$41.86 CA$58.9

29.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.6

Cinema Ticket

$12.63 CA$17.77

$9.04 CA$12.73

39.71%

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

$874 CA$1,230

$525 CA$739

66.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.3K

$15.4K CA$21.6K

3.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 CA$82.5

$67.5 CA$95.0

-13.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.01 CA$66.2

$59.3 CA$83.5

-20.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 CA$120

$74.0 CA$104

14.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$151

$115 CA$161

-6.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,380 CA$1,942

$1,327 CA$1,867

4.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,159 CA$1,631

$1,201 CA$1,690

-3.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,324 CA$3,270

$2,046 CA$2,879

13.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,905 CA$2,680

$1,839 CA$2,588

3.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,786 CA$5,327

$4,154 CA$5,845

-8.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,511 CA$4,940

$3,810 CA$5,361

-7.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,940 CA$4,136

$1,796 CA$2,528

63.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

5.25

8.76%

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

Last update for Calgary: July 13, 2026

Last update for Swift Current: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,380 in Calgary and $1,327 in Swift Current. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 64% 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 $58.0 in Swift Current for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $396 vs $311 per month, with Swift Current 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 Swift Current: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Swift Current is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 64% 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 $1,327 in Swift Current. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Swift Current – 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.

All in, you'll spend $2,462 per month in Calgary versus $2,371 in Swift Current – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,371 in Swift Current versus $2,462 in Calgary, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Swift Current but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Swift Current 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 Swift Current gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.