Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Tuscaloosa, AL Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Tuscaloosa, AL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,485 in Calgary versus $2,048 in Tuscaloosa, AL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,590 in Calgary versus $3,340 in Tuscaloosa, AL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,694 in Calgary versus $4,632 in Tuscaloosa, AL.

Living in Calgary is roughly 21% more expensive than Tuscaloosa, AL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 86% above, Tuscaloosa, AL 54% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.34 CA$25.67

$16.91 $16.91

8.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.0 CA$99.4

$61.7 $61.7

15.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.25 CA$15.75

$10.13 $10.13

11.06%

Cappuccino

$3.83 CA$5.35

$5.24 $5.24

-26.91%

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

$1.96 CA$2.74

$2.51 $2.51

-21.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 CA$2.31

$1.64 $1.64

0.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.29 CA$7.40

$4.86 $4.86

8.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 CA$9.50

$6.42 $6.42

5.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 CA$3.14

$1.12 $1.12

100.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.73 CA$3.83

$3.52 $3.52

-22.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 CA$4.73

$7.76 $7.76

-56.44%

Eggs

$3.29 CA$4.61

$3.69 $3.69

-10.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.76 CA$20.66

$12.25 $12.25

20.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.70 CA$17.77

$14.12 $14.12

-10.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.95 CA$22.32

$19.89 $19.89

-19.81%

Apples (1kg)

$4.31 CA$6.03

$6.88 $6.88

-37.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.89

$2.00 $2.00

-32.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.78 CA$5.29

$10.80 $10.80

-65.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.22 CA$5.90

$6.04 $6.04

-30.13%

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 CA$3.61

$1.79 $1.79

44.13%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 CA$3.77

$4.02 $4.02

-33.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 CA$3.83

$2.61 $2.61

4.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 CA$2.71

$2.02 $2.02

-3.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.75 CA$20.64

$8.72 $8.72

69.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.09 CA$19.71

$17.28 $17.28

-18.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 CA$3.93

$1.76 $1.76

59.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 CA$5.54

$5.09 $5.09

-22.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.81 CA$3.94

$2.04 $2.04

37.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.6 CA$121

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.41 CA$4.78

$3.59 $3.59

-5.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 CA$1.90

$1.47 $1.47

-7.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.03 CA$40.64

$28.95 $28.95

0.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 CA$1.50

$0.81 $0.81

32.10%

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

$25.0K CA$35.0K

$29.5K $29.5K

-15.11%

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

$22.1K CA$30.9K

$25.6K $25.6K

-13.74%

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

$215 CA$300

$183 $183

17.31%

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

$40.33 CA$56.5

$53.3 $53.3

-24.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 CA$81.1

$74.4 $74.4

-22.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 CA$76.7

$60.4 $60.4

-9.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.6 CA$75.0

$39.36 $39.36

36.10%

Cinema Ticket

$12.66 CA$17.71

$15.01 $15.01

-15.66%

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

$872 CA$1,221

$1,297 $1,297

-32.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K CA$22.6K

$23.6K $23.6K

-31.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 CA$80.9

$44.07 $44.07

31.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.36 CA$66.3

$31.78 $31.78

49.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.9 CA$122

$55.2 $55.2

57.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CA$152

$70.0 $70.0

55.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,414 CA$1,979

$1,114 $1,114

26.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,153 CA$1,614

$802 $802

43.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,311 CA$3,234

$2,978 $2,978

-22.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,876 CA$2,626

$1,829 $1,829

2.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,833 CA$5,365

$1,875 $1,875

104.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,392 CA$4,747

$1,829 $1,829

85.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,127 CA$4,377

$3,483 $3,483

-10.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.5

-12.15%

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

Last update for Calgary: June 13, 2026

Last update for Tuscaloosa, AL: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,414 in Calgary and $1,114 in Tuscaloosa, AL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tuscaloosa, AL pays 11% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $71.0 in Calgary vs $62.0 in Tuscaloosa, AL. Groceries flip the comparison at $395 vs $481, with Calgary 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 Tuscaloosa, AL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tuscaloosa, AL is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Tuscaloosa, AL earns 11% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,414 in Calgary versus $1,114 in Tuscaloosa, AL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $872 in Calgary versus $1,297 in Tuscaloosa, AL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Tuscaloosa, AL – a meal for two runs $62.0 versus $71.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,048 in Tuscaloosa, AL versus $2,485 in Calgary, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tuscaloosa, AL but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Tuscaloosa, AL 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 Tuscaloosa, AL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.