Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Sydney, NS Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Sydney, NS

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,353 in Calgary versus $1,673 in Sydney, NS.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,488 in Calgary versus $2,593 in Sydney, NS.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,622 in Calgary versus $3,513 in Sydney, NS.

Living in Calgary is roughly 41% more expensive than in Sydney, NS, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 71% above, Sydney, NS 22% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.94 CA$24.82

$11.47 CA$15.87

56.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.5 CA$97.6

$65.9 CA$91.2

7.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.69 CA$14.79

$7.71 CA$10.67

38.65%

Cappuccino

$3.79 CA$5.24

$2.87 CA$3.97

32.06%

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

$2.00 CA$2.77

$2.31 CA$3.20

-13.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 CA$2.73

$2.17 CA$3.01

-8.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.19 CA$7.18

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 CA$8.11

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 CA$2.70

$2.28 CA$3.16

-14.47%

White Bread (500g)

$2.82 CA$3.91

$2.56 CA$3.54

10.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 CA$7.77

$2.46 CA$3.40

128.05%

Eggs

$3.75 CA$5.19

$3.40 CA$4.70

10.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.50 CA$15.91

$6.37 CA$8.81

80.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.46 CA$15.86

$8.42 CA$11.65

36.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.95 CA$26.23

$13.16 CA$18.21

44.00%

Apples (1kg)

$4.83 CA$6.69

$7.05 CA$9.76

-31.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 CA$1.89

$1.22 CA$1.69

12.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.88

Tomato (1kg)

$4.15 CA$5.74

$1.40 CA$1.94

196.43%

Potato (1kg)

$2.70 CA$3.74

$0.82 CA$1.13

229.27%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 CA$3.91

$2.00 CA$2.77

41.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.64 CA$3.65

$6.35 CA$8.79

-58.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 CA$2.09

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.60 CA$20.21

$17.82 CA$24.66

-18.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.76 CA$21.80

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 CA$3.59

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 CA$4.26

$4.29 CA$5.94

-28.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.93 CA$4.05

$1.10 CA$1.53

166.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.3 CA$124

$48.95 CA$67.7

82.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 CA$4.59

$4.28 CA$5.92

-22.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 CA$1.98

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.71 CA$38.34

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 CA$1.74

$1.16 CA$1.60

8.62%

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

$28.9K CA$40.0K

$26.9K CA$37.2K

7.62%

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

$21.3K CA$29.5K

$19.1K CA$26.4K

11.94%

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

$183 CA$253

$90.6 CA$125

101.88%

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

$38.31 CA$53.0

$35.48 CA$49.10

7.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.7 CA$71.5

$74.8 CA$104

-30.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.9 CA$75.9

$49.57 CA$68.6

10.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 CA$25.82

$3.63 CA$5.03

414.05%

Cinema Ticket

$14.26 CA$19.73

$7.14 CA$9.87

99.72%

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

$828 CA$1,146

$721 CA$998

14.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.6 CA$82.4

$69.1 CA$95.6

-13.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.47 CA$54.6

$68.5 CA$94.7

-42.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 CA$131

$102 CA$141

-7.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 CA$156

$108 CA$150

4.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,265 CA$1,750

$920 CA$1,272

37.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,051 CA$1,454

$726 CA$1,005

44.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,934 CA$2,676

$1,829 CA$2,530

5.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,700 CA$2,352

$1,412 CA$1,954

20.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,680 CA$5,092

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,333 CA$4,613

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,276 CA$4,533

$2,568 CA$3,554

27.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.4

5.8

-24.14%

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

Last update for Calgary: September 1, 2026

Last update for Sydney, NS: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,265 in Calgary and $920 in Sydney, NS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 28% 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: $71.0 in Calgary vs $66.0 in Sydney, NS for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $397 vs $263 per month, with Sydney, NS 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 Sydney, NS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sydney, NS is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 41% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 28% 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: $1,265 in Calgary versus $920 in Sydney, NS. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Sydney, NS – a meal for two runs $66.0 versus $71.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,353 per month in Calgary versus $1,673 in Sydney, NS – a 41% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,673 in Sydney, NS versus $2,353 in Calgary, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sydney, NS but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Sydney, NS 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 Sydney, NS gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.