Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Thompson Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Thompson

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,432 in Calgary versus $1,863 in Thompson.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,624 in Calgary versus $2,848 in Thompson.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,816 in Calgary versus $3,834 in Thompson.

Living in Calgary is roughly 31% more expensive than in Thompson, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 82% above, Thompson 39% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.52 CA$26.12

$17.14 CA$24.18

8.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.6 CA$99.6

$69.0 CA$97.3

2.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.03 CA$15.55

$10.95 CA$15.44

0.73%

Cappuccino

$3.88 CA$5.48

$3.71 CA$5.23

4.58%

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

$1.97 CA$2.79

$1.96 CA$2.76

0.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 CA$2.34

$1.65 CA$2.33

0.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.19 CA$7.32

$5.54 CA$7.81

-6.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.58 CA$9.28

$5.79 CA$8.16

13.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.21 CA$3.11

$2.20 CA$3.10

0.45%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 CA$3.77

$2.73 CA$3.84

-2.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.35 CA$4.72

$3.56 CA$5.03

-5.90%

Eggs

$3.39 CA$4.78

$3.44 CA$4.85

-1.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.59 CA$20.58

$11.35 CA$16.00

28.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.95 CA$18.27

$11.96 CA$16.86

8.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.84 CA$22.34

$14.58 CA$20.56

8.64%

Apples (1kg)

$4.30 CA$6.07

$4.08 CA$5.76

5.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 CA$1.84

$1.38 CA$1.94

-5.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 CA$5.47

$3.63 CA$5.11

6.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.22 CA$5.96

$3.85 CA$5.43

9.61%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 CA$3.60

$2.42 CA$3.42

5.37%

Onion (1kg)

$2.72 CA$3.84

$2.47 CA$3.48

10.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 CA$3.87

$2.52 CA$3.55

8.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 CA$2.73

$1.73 CA$2.45

11.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.00 CA$21.15

$13.75 CA$19.39

9.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.67 CA$20.69

$12.32 CA$17.38

19.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 CA$4.07

$2.79 CA$3.93

3.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 CA$5.68

$3.12 CA$4.40

29.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.79 CA$3.94

$2.32 CA$3.28

20.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$85.7 CA$121

$62.1 CA$87.6

37.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.59 CA$5.06

$3.14 CA$4.43

14.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 CA$1.91

$1.44 CA$2.03

-6.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.84 CA$40.68

$25.83 CA$36.43

11.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 CA$1.53

$1.14 CA$1.61

-5.26%

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

$25.4K CA$35.8K

$24.9K CA$35.1K

2.11%

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

$21.7K CA$30.6K

$20.2K CA$28.5K

7.23%

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

$216 CA$304

$145 CA$204

49.11%

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

$41.66 CA$58.8

$43.28 CA$61.1

-3.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.7 CA$82.8

$61.5 CA$86.7

-4.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.6 CA$75.6

$42.57 CA$60.0

25.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.1 CA$73.5

Cinema Ticket

$12.72 CA$17.95

$11.62 CA$16.39

9.47%

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

$885 CA$1,248

$750 CA$1,058

17.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K CA$22.3K

$11.6K CA$16.3K

36.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 CA$81.7

$53.5 CA$75.5

8.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.31 CA$66.7

$39.18 CA$55.3

20.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.3 CA$124

$87.7 CA$124

0.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 CA$151

$106 CA$149

1.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,368 CA$1,929

$686 CA$968

99.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,181 CA$1,666

$690 CA$974

71.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,364 CA$3,335

$1,143 CA$1,612

106.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,872 CA$2,641

$1,179 CA$1,662

58.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,737 CA$5,270

$4,744 CA$6,691

-21.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,424 CA$4,829

$3,320 CA$4,683

3.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,999 CA$4,229

$1,572 CA$2,217

90.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.46

-11.61%

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

Last update for Calgary: July 21, 2026

Last update for Thompson: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,368 in Calgary and $686 in Thompson. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 91% 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 Thompson for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $397 vs $365 per month, with Thompson 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 Thompson: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Thompson is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 91% 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: $1,368 in Calgary versus $686 in Thompson. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Thompson – 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 $2,432 per month in Calgary versus $1,863 in Thompson – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,863 in Thompson versus $2,432 in Calgary, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Thompson but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Thompson 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 Thompson gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.