Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Vancouver Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Vancouver

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,462 in Calgary versus $2,906 in Vancouver.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,628 in Calgary versus $4,209 in Vancouver.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,795 in Calgary versus $5,513 in Vancouver.

Living in Calgary costs roughly 15% less than in Vancouver, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 84% above, Vancouver 118% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.33 CA$25.79

$18.62 CA$26.20

-1.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.9 CA$98.3

$77.9 CA$110

-10.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.95 CA$15.41

$10.84 CA$15.26

1.01%

Cappuccino

$3.74 CA$5.26

$3.93 CA$5.53

-4.83%

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

$2.04 CA$2.87

$2.24 CA$3.16

-8.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.35

$1.75 CA$2.46

-4.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.20 CA$7.32

$6.05 CA$8.51

-14.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 CA$9.45

$7.30 CA$10.27

-8.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 CA$3.16

$2.30 CA$3.24

-2.17%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 CA$3.87

$3.07 CA$4.32

-10.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.23 CA$4.54

$3.77 CA$5.30

-14.32%

Eggs

$3.45 CA$4.85

$4.32 CA$6.08

-20.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 CA$20.26

$12.57 CA$17.69

14.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.89 CA$18.13

$13.74 CA$19.34

-6.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 CA$22.32

$15.99 CA$22.49

-0.81%

Apples (1kg)

$4.30 CA$6.05

$4.26 CA$6.00

0.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.89

$1.52 CA$2.14

-11.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.85 CA$5.42

$3.92 CA$5.52

-1.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.99

$5.08 CA$7.15

-16.34%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 CA$3.58

$3.20 CA$4.50

-20.31%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.69

$3.09 CA$4.34

-15.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 CA$3.94

$2.60 CA$3.65

7.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.74

$1.88 CA$2.65

3.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.97 CA$21.06

$15.45 CA$21.74

-3.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.90 CA$19.57

$14.89 CA$20.95

-6.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 CA$4.11

$3.12 CA$4.39

-6.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 CA$5.50

$3.80 CA$5.35

2.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.85

$2.42 CA$3.40

13.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.8 CA$124

$83.0 CA$117

5.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.06

$3.76 CA$5.28

-4.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 CA$1.83

$1.48 CA$2.09

-12.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.70 CA$40.39

$26.97 CA$37.95

6.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.57

$1.30 CA$1.82

-13.85%

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

$25.5K CA$35.8K

$25.2K CA$35.4K

1.14%

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

$21.7K CA$30.6K

$20.6K CA$28.9K

5.75%

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

$213 CA$300

$91.8 CA$129

131.94%

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

$40.96 CA$57.6

$39.34 CA$55.4

4.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 CA$81.5

$60.6 CA$85.3

-4.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 CA$76.2

$44.58 CA$62.7

21.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.6

$15.88 CA$22.35

238.48%

Cinema Ticket

$12.63 CA$17.77

$12.18 CA$17.13

3.69%

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

$874 CA$1,230

$1,185 CA$1,667

-26.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.3K

$18.5K CA$26.1K

-14.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 CA$82.5

$62.5 CA$87.9

-6.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.01 CA$66.2

$42.38 CA$59.6

10.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 CA$120

$95.0 CA$134

-10.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$151

$115 CA$162

-6.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,380 CA$1,942

$1,979 CA$2,785

-30.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,159 CA$1,631

$1,644 CA$2,313

-29.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,324 CA$3,270

$3,577 CA$5,033

-35.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,905 CA$2,680

$2,782 CA$3,915

-31.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,786 CA$5,327

$8,754 CA$12.3K

-56.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,511 CA$4,940

$7,087 CA$9,972

-50.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,940 CA$4,136

$3,380 CA$4,756

-13.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

5.61

1.78%

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

Last update for Calgary: July 13, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,380 in Calgary and $1,979 in Vancouver. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vancouver pays 15% 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 $78.0 in Vancouver for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $396 vs $414 per month, with Calgary 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 Vancouver: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 15% lower in Vancouver. 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: $1,380 in Calgary versus $1,979 in Vancouver. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Calgary – a meal for two runs $70.0 versus $78.0 in Vancouver. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,462 per month in Calgary versus $2,906 in Vancouver – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,462 in Calgary versus $2,906 in Vancouver, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in Vancouver. The gap between the two cities makes Calgary 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 Calgary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.