Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Thetford Mines Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Thetford Mines

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,510 in Calgary versus $2,102 in Thetford Mines.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,653 in Calgary versus $2,598 in Thetford Mines.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,795 in Calgary versus $3,094 in Thetford Mines.

Living in Calgary is roughly 19% more expensive than Thetford Mines, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 87% above, Thetford Mines 57% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.65 CA$25.54

$11.83 CA$16.21

57.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.1 CA$97.4

$69.5 CA$95.2

2.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.82 CA$14.82

$8.87 CA$12.15

21.98%

Cappuccino

$3.80 CA$5.21

$3.71 CA$5.09

2.43%

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

$2.05 CA$2.81

$2.22 CA$3.05

-7.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.29

$0.95 CA$1.31

75.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.22 CA$7.15

$3.36 CA$4.61

55.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.45 CA$8.84

$4.93 CA$6.75

30.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 CA$3.04

$1.67 CA$2.29

32.93%

White Bread (500g)

$2.78 CA$3.81

$2.57 CA$3.52

8.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.41 CA$4.67

$2.25 CA$3.08

51.56%

Eggs

$3.47 CA$4.75

$2.51 CA$3.44

38.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.42 CA$19.75

$10.27 CA$14.07

40.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.85 CA$17.61

$6.50 CA$8.91

97.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.24 CA$22.25

$14.46 CA$19.81

12.31%

Apples (1kg)

$4.46 CA$6.11

$2.18 CA$2.98

104.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 CA$1.78

$2.26 CA$3.10

-42.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.73 CA$5.11

$2.27 CA$3.11

64.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.27 CA$5.86

$2.24 CA$3.08

90.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 CA$3.66

$2.25 CA$3.08

18.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.68 CA$3.67

$2.64 CA$3.62

1.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.75 CA$3.76

$0.69 CA$0.95

298.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 CA$2.69

$1.25 CA$1.71

56.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.55 CA$19.94

$11.20 CA$15.34

29.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.66 CA$20.09

$11.16 CA$15.28

31.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 CA$3.86

$1.49 CA$2.05

88.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.99 CA$5.47

$2.52 CA$3.45

58.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.75

$2.32 CA$3.18

18.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.7 CA$119

$63.7 CA$87.3

36.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 CA$4.90

$6.43 CA$8.81

-44.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 CA$1.77

$2.75 CA$3.76

-53.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.58 CA$39.15

$26.04 CA$35.68

9.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 CA$1.48

$1.10 CA$1.51

-1.82%

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

$25.4K CA$34.8K

$22.0K CA$30.2K

15.47%

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

$21.6K CA$29.5K

$20.2K CA$27.7K

6.49%

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

$215 CA$294

$101 CA$139

112.20%

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

$40.83 CA$55.9

$57.8 CA$79.2

-29.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 CA$79.4

$46.71 CA$64.0

24.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.0 CA$74.0

$41.82 CA$57.3

29.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$51.7 CA$70.9

Cinema Ticket

$12.56 CA$17.21

$11.02 CA$15.10

13.97%

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

$871 CA$1,193

$698 CA$956

24.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K CA$22.1K

$4,492 CA$6,154

258.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 CA$80.3

$47.35 CA$64.9

23.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.97 CA$64.4

$25.26 CA$34.61

85.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.3 CA$118

$63.7 CA$87.3

35.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CA$150

$69.4 CA$95.1

57.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,388 CA$1,901

$1,316 CA$1,804

5.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,181 CA$1,618

-0.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,337 CA$3,202

$899 CA$1,231

160.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,886 CA$2,583

$976 CA$1,338

93.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,823 CA$5,237

$4,851 CA$6,646

-21.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,596 CA$4,926

$3,506 CA$4,803

2.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,125 CA$4,281

$1,296 CA$1,775

141.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

4.5

26.89%

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

Last update for Calgary: April 25, 2026

Last update for Thetford Mines: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,388 in Calgary and $1,316 in Thetford Mines. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 141% 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 $69.0 in Thetford Mines for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $399 vs $278 per month, with Thetford Mines 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 Thetford Mines: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Thetford Mines is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Calgary pays 141% 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: $1,388 in Calgary versus $1,316 in Thetford Mines. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Thetford Mines – a meal for two runs $69.0 versus $71.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,510 per month in Calgary versus $2,102 in Thetford Mines – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,102 in Thetford Mines versus $2,510 in Calgary, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Thetford Mines but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Thetford Mines 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 Thetford Mines gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.