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: $2,517 in Calgary versus $2,130 in Thetford Mines.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,646 in Calgary versus $2,665 in Thetford Mines.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,776 in Calgary versus $3,199 in Thetford Mines.

Living in Calgary is roughly 18% more expensive than Thetford Mines, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 87% above, Thetford Mines 58% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.37 CA$25.65

$11.97 CA$16.71

53.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.7 CA$97.4

$70.8 CA$98.9

-1.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.88 CA$15.19

$8.70 CA$12.15

25.06%

Cappuccino

$3.69 CA$5.16

$3.69 CA$5.15

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

$2.03 CA$2.84

$2.19 CA$3.06

-7.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 CA$2.43

$0.89 CA$1.25

95.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.30 CA$7.40

$3.38 CA$4.72

56.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.74 CA$9.42

$4.72 CA$6.59

42.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 CA$3.12

$1.72 CA$2.41

29.65%

White Bread (500g)

$2.68 CA$3.75

$2.59 CA$3.62

3.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.35 CA$4.68

$2.27 CA$3.17

47.58%

Eggs

$3.33 CA$4.65

$2.54 CA$3.54

31.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.41 CA$20.12

$10.19 CA$14.23

41.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.50 CA$17.46

$6.79 CA$9.48

84.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.33 CA$22.81

$14.69 CA$20.52

11.16%

Apples (1kg)

$4.28 CA$5.98

$2.19 CA$3.06

95.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.89

$2.27 CA$3.16

-40.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.22

$2.18 CA$3.05

71.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.17 CA$5.83

$2.18 CA$3.05

91.28%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 CA$3.58

$2.26 CA$3.16

13.27%

Onion (1kg)

$2.68 CA$3.74

$2.63 CA$3.67

1.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.66 CA$3.71

$0.67 CA$0.94

297.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 CA$2.62

$1.20 CA$1.68

56.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.66 CA$20.47

$10.87 CA$15.18

34.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.23 CA$19.87

$10.81 CA$15.10

31.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.95 CA$4.12

$1.44 CA$2.01

104.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.89 CA$5.44

$2.51 CA$3.51

54.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 CA$3.79

$2.35 CA$3.28

15.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.7 CA$122

$64.1 CA$89.5

36.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.46 CA$4.83

$6.19 CA$8.64

-44.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 CA$1.81

$2.74 CA$3.83

-52.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.30 CA$39.52

$25.75 CA$35.97

9.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 CA$1.52

$1.11 CA$1.55

-1.80%

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

$25.0K CA$34.9K

$22.1K CA$30.9K

13.22%

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

$22.2K CA$31.0K

$20.1K CA$28.1K

10.36%

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

$211 CA$295

$105 CA$146

101.39%

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

$40.40 CA$56.4

$56.2 CA$78.5

-28.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.5 CA$81.7

$47.29 CA$66.1

23.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.8 CA$75.1

$42.63 CA$59.5

26.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.2

Cinema Ticket

$12.64 CA$17.66

$11.03 CA$15.40

14.60%

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

$865 CA$1,208

$700 CA$978

23.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K CA$22.4K

$4,369 CA$6,101

267.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 CA$81.1

$47.97 CA$67.0

21.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.18 CA$65.9

$25.46 CA$35.56

85.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.4 CA$119

$63.3 CA$88.5

34.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 CA$148

$70.9 CA$99.0

49.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,416 CA$1,977

$1,328 CA$1,854

6.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,153 CA$1,611

$1,186 CA$1,657

-2.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,370 CA$3,309

$892 CA$1,245

165.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,864 CA$2,603

$963 CA$1,344

93.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,834 CA$5,354

$4,509 CA$6,297

-14.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,443 CA$4,808

$3,856 CA$5,384

-10.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,105 CA$4,337

$1,267 CA$1,770

145.02%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Thetford Mines: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,416 in Calgary and $1,328 in Thetford Mines. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 145% 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 $71.0 in Thetford Mines. Groceries flip the comparison at $393 vs $278, with Thetford Mines cheaper for home cooking.

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 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Calgary pays 145% 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: $1,416 in Calgary versus $1,328 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 $71.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,517 per month in Calgary versus $2,130 in Thetford Mines – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,130 in Thetford Mines versus $2,517 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 18% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.