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: $2,433 in Calgary versus $1,880 in Sydney, NS.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,642 in Calgary versus $2,831 in Sydney, NS.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,850 in Calgary versus $3,782 in Sydney, NS.

Living in Calgary is roughly 29% more expensive than Sydney, NS, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 81% above, Sydney, NS 40% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.20 CA$24.93

$11.69 CA$16.02

55.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.0 CA$95.9

$61.2 CA$83.8

14.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.01 CA$15.09

$7.06 CA$9.67

55.95%

Cappuccino

$3.73 CA$5.11

$3.00 CA$4.12

24.33%

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

$1.98 CA$2.71

$2.20 CA$3.01

-10.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 CA$2.26

$1.98 CA$2.71

-16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.27 CA$7.22

$5.57 CA$7.64

-5.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.65 CA$9.11

$5.74 CA$7.87

15.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 CA$2.94

$2.25 CA$3.09

-4.44%

White Bread (500g)

$2.68 CA$3.67

$2.59 CA$3.55

3.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.40 CA$4.66

$2.54 CA$3.48

33.86%

Eggs

$3.28 CA$4.49

$3.54 CA$4.85

-7.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.65 CA$20.07

$6.57 CA$9.01

122.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.61 CA$17.28

$8.72 CA$11.95

44.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.13 CA$22.10

$13.88 CA$19.02

16.21%

Apples (1kg)

$4.46 CA$6.11

$7.33 CA$10.05

-39.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.84

$1.25 CA$1.71

7.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.73 CA$5.11

$3.63 CA$4.98

2.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.29 CA$5.88

$1.43 CA$1.96

200.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 CA$3.65

$0.85 CA$1.16

214.12%

Onion (1kg)

$2.61 CA$3.57

$2.52 CA$3.45

3.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 CA$3.76

$2.43 CA$3.32

12.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 CA$2.60

$1.74 CA$2.38

9.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.98 CA$20.52

$18.69 CA$25.61

-19.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.30 CA$19.59

$11.68 CA$16.00

22.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 CA$3.97

$2.85 CA$3.91

1.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 CA$5.44

$4.29 CA$5.88

-7.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.68 CA$3.67

$1.13 CA$1.55

137.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.9 CA$120

$49.24 CA$67.5

78.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 CA$4.88

$4.53 CA$6.21

-21.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 CA$1.84

$1.42 CA$1.95

-5.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.30 CA$40.15

$25.31 CA$34.67

15.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 CA$1.55

$1.16 CA$1.58

-2.59%

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

$25.1K CA$34.4K

$24.9K CA$34.2K

0.76%

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

$22.2K CA$30.4K

$20.1K CA$27.5K

10.58%

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

$218 CA$299

$90.9 CA$124

139.92%

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

$41.44 CA$56.8

$48.11 CA$65.9

-13.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.2 CA$79.7

$76.9 CA$105

-24.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.7 CA$73.6

$50.3 CA$68.9

6.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.4 CA$71.8

$3.63 CA$4.98

1342.98%

Cinema Ticket

$12.66 CA$17.34

$7.97 CA$10.91

58.85%

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

$885 CA$1,212

$741 CA$1,015

19.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K CA$22.0K

$11.8K CA$16.2K

35.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 CA$79.6

$71.7 CA$98.2

-18.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.22 CA$66.1

$68.1 CA$93.3

-29.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.4 CA$121

$104 CA$142

-14.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 CA$146

$109 CA$149

-2.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,396 CA$1,913

$1,089 CA$1,491

28.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,186 CA$1,625

$811 CA$1,111

46.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,293 CA$3,142

$1,962 CA$2,687

16.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,859 CA$2,547

$1,443 CA$1,977

28.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,779 CA$5,178

$5,060 CA$6,933

-25.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,509 CA$4,808

$3,746 CA$5,132

-6.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,117 CA$4,271

$2,560 CA$3,507

21.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.85

-16.64%

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

Last update for Calgary: April 14, 2026

Last update for Sydney, NS: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,396 in Calgary and $1,089 in Sydney, NS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 22% 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 in Calgary vs $61 in Sydney, NS for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $395 vs $328 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 29% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Calgary pays 22% more on average, 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: $1,396 in Calgary versus $1,089 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 $61.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,433 per month in Calgary versus $1,880 in Sydney, NS – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,880 in Sydney, NS versus $2,433 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 29% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.