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: $2,523 in Calgary versus $2,831 in Vancouver.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,652 in Calgary versus $4,231 in Vancouver.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,780 in Calgary versus $5,630 in Vancouver.

Living in Calgary costs roughly 11% less than in Vancouver, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 88% above, Vancouver 111% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.59 CA$25.83

$18.26 CA$25.37

1.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.0 CA$97.3

$77.8 CA$108

-9.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.96 CA$15.22

$10.85 CA$15.08

1.01%

Cappuccino

$3.73 CA$5.19

$3.98 CA$5.53

-6.28%

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

$1.99 CA$2.76

$2.12 CA$2.94

-6.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 CA$2.39

$1.78 CA$2.47

-3.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.01 CA$6.97

$5.77 CA$8.02

-13.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.50 CA$9.04

$7.56 CA$10.50

-14.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 CA$3.09

$2.32 CA$3.23

-4.31%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 CA$3.71

$3.10 CA$4.30

-13.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 CA$4.53

$3.89 CA$5.40

-16.20%

Eggs

$3.35 CA$4.66

$4.53 CA$6.29

-26.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 CA$20.14

$12.92 CA$17.95

12.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.95 CA$17.99

$14.14 CA$19.65

-8.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.15 CA$22.44

$15.74 CA$21.87

2.60%

Apples (1kg)

$4.32 CA$6.00

$4.26 CA$5.91

1.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.88

$1.47 CA$2.04

-8.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.83 CA$5.32

$4.02 CA$5.59

-4.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 CA$5.81

$5.06 CA$7.03

-17.39%

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 CA$3.68

$3.02 CA$4.20

-12.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 CA$3.81

$2.95 CA$4.10

-7.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.76 CA$3.84

$2.60 CA$3.61

6.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.71

$1.88 CA$2.61

3.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.98 CA$20.81

$15.20 CA$21.12

-1.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.67 CA$20.38

$14.30 CA$19.86

2.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 CA$3.95

$3.07 CA$4.27

-7.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 CA$5.58

$3.74 CA$5.20

7.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.80 CA$3.89

$2.44 CA$3.39

14.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.2 CA$120

$84.9 CA$118

1.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.00

$3.74 CA$5.19

-3.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 CA$1.83

$1.50 CA$2.09

-12.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.01 CA$40.31

$27.43 CA$38.11

5.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.56

$1.34 CA$1.86

-16.42%

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

$24.9K CA$34.5K

$25.1K CA$34.9K

-1.01%

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

$22.0K CA$30.5K

$20.7K CA$28.8K

6.02%

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

$217 CA$302

$91.8 CA$128

136.67%

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

$41.55 CA$57.7

$39.42 CA$54.8

5.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.1 CA$80.7

$61.1 CA$84.9

-4.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 CA$76.0

$44.89 CA$62.4

21.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.8 CA$73.4

$15.68 CA$21.79

236.86%

Cinema Ticket

$12.77 CA$17.74

$12.37 CA$17.18

3.23%

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

$874 CA$1,214

$1,180 CA$1,640

-25.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.1K

$18.8K CA$26.1K

-15.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 CA$81.7

$62.7 CA$87.1

-6.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.47 CA$64.6

$43.13 CA$59.9

7.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 CA$121

$94.7 CA$132

-7.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CA$151

$118 CA$164

-8.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,414 CA$1,964

$1,995 CA$2,771

-29.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,172 CA$1,629

$1,629 CA$2,264

-28.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,319 CA$3,222

$3,589 CA$4,986

-35.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,886 CA$2,621

$2,769 CA$3,848

-31.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,892 CA$5,407

$9,246 CA$12.8K

-57.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,503 CA$4,867

$7,086 CA$9,845

-50.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,149 CA$4,375

$3,474 CA$4,827

-9.35%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,414 in Calgary and $1,995 in Vancouver. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vancouver pays 10% 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 $397 vs $415 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 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Vancouver earns 10% 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 $1,995 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 $2,523 per month in Calgary versus $2,831 in Vancouver – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Calgary is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 12% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.