Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Vernon, BC Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Vernon, BC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,481 in Calgary versus $2,391 in Vernon, BC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,599 in Calgary versus $3,208 in Vernon, BC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,716 in Calgary versus $4,025 in Vernon, BC.

Living in Calgary is roughly 4% more expensive than in Vernon, BC, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 86% above, Vernon, BC 80% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.64 CA$26.12

$14.57 CA$20.42

27.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.3 CA$98.5

$69.2 CA$97.0

1.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.26 CA$15.78

$10.88 CA$15.25

3.49%

Cappuccino

$3.70 CA$5.19

$3.70 CA$5.18

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

$2.05 CA$2.88

$1.90 CA$2.67

7.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.34

$1.50 CA$2.10

11.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.26 CA$7.37

$6.03 CA$8.45

-12.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.74 CA$9.44

$6.52 CA$9.13

3.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 CA$3.12

$2.13 CA$2.99

4.69%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 CA$3.86

$2.70 CA$3.78

1.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.28 CA$4.60

$3.25 CA$4.56

0.92%

Eggs

$3.40 CA$4.77

$3.89 CA$5.45

-12.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.45 CA$20.25

$9.72 CA$13.63

48.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.58 CA$17.63

$10.25 CA$14.36

22.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.85 CA$22.20

$13.32 CA$18.67

18.99%

Apples (1kg)

$4.42 CA$6.19

$3.98 CA$5.58

11.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.88

$1.78 CA$2.50

-24.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.84 CA$5.38

$4.25 CA$5.96

-9.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.33 CA$6.07

$5.38 CA$7.54

-19.52%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 CA$3.57

$3.14 CA$4.40

-19.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 CA$3.83

$2.87 CA$4.02

-4.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 CA$3.77

$3.00 CA$4.20

-10.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 CA$2.66

$1.81 CA$2.53

4.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.81 CA$20.75

$13.41 CA$18.79

10.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.43 CA$20.22

$16.82 CA$23.56

-14.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.94 CA$4.12

$3.47 CA$4.86

-15.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 CA$5.58

$3.93 CA$5.51

1.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.70 CA$3.79

$1.93 CA$2.71

39.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$88.3 CA$124

$39.91 CA$55.9

121.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.42 CA$4.80

$2.42 CA$3.39

41.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 CA$1.84

$1.55 CA$2.17

-15.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.41 CA$39.82

$28.68 CA$40.19

-0.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.57

$1.21 CA$1.70

-7.44%

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

$24.9K CA$34.9K

$24.5K CA$34.4K

1.55%

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

$21.7K CA$30.4K

$20.5K CA$28.7K

5.95%

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

$210 CA$295

$162 CA$227

29.57%

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

$41.33 CA$57.9

$45.68 CA$64.0

-9.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.8 CA$81.1

$61.6 CA$86.3

-6.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.3 CA$77.5

$31.96 CA$44.78

73.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.2 CA$73.2

$15.51 CA$21.73

236.81%

Cinema Ticket

$12.47 CA$17.47

$10.64 CA$14.91

17.20%

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

$886 CA$1,242

$447 CA$626

98.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.4K

$5,774 CA$8,091

176.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.1 CA$82.8

$62.1 CA$87.0

-4.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.08 CA$66.0

$39.69 CA$55.6

18.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.1 CA$122

$88.0 CA$123

-1.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 CA$153

$78.5 CA$110

39.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,415 CA$1,982

$1,090 CA$1,527

29.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,180 CA$1,654

$1,205 CA$1,689

-2.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,374 CA$3,327

$1,570 CA$2,200

51.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,855 CA$2,599

$1,476 CA$2,068

25.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,755 CA$5,262

$6,016 CA$8,430

-37.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,479 CA$4,875

$4,807 CA$6,736

-27.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,035 CA$4,253

$3,021 CA$4,233

0.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.36

-10.22%

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

Last update for Calgary: July 27, 2026

Last update for Vernon, BC: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,415 in Calgary and $1,090 in Vernon, BC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 0% 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 $69.0 in Vernon, BC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $396 vs $379 per month, with Vernon, BC 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 Vernon, BC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Vernon, BC is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 0% 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: $1,415 in Calgary versus $1,090 in Vernon, BC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Vernon, BC – a meal for two runs $69.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,481 per month in Calgary versus $2,391 in Vernon, BC – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,391 in Vernon, BC versus $2,481 in Calgary, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Vernon, BC but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Vernon, BC 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 Vernon, BC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.