Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Welland Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Welland

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,344 in Calgary versus $2,122 in Welland.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,470 in Calgary versus $3,035 in Welland.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,597 in Calgary versus $3,948 in Welland.

Living in Calgary is roughly 10% more expensive than in Welland, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 71% above, Welland 55% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.68 CA$24.58

$14.15 CA$19.68

24.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.2 CA$99.0

$56.6 CA$78.6

25.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.85 CA$15.08

$9.48 CA$13.18

14.45%

Cappuccino

$3.85 CA$5.36

$3.59 CA$4.99

7.24%

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

$1.95 CA$2.71

$1.99 CA$2.77

-2.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 CA$2.49

$1.61 CA$2.23

11.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.97 CA$6.90

$4.64 CA$6.46

7.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 CA$8.20

$5.60 CA$7.78

5.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 CA$2.56

$2.20 CA$3.05

-16.36%

White Bread (500g)

$2.73 CA$3.80

$2.50 CA$3.48

9.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.44 CA$7.56

$3.36 CA$4.67

61.90%

Eggs

$3.63 CA$5.04

$4.24 CA$5.90

-14.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.55 CA$16.05

$9.14 CA$12.70

26.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.57 CA$16.09

$10.93 CA$15.20

5.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.94 CA$26.33

$13.70 CA$19.05

38.25%

Apples (1kg)

$4.95 CA$6.88

$3.55 CA$4.93

39.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 CA$1.97

$1.47 CA$2.04

-3.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.22 CA$5.87

$3.49 CA$4.85

20.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.09 CA$5.68

$2.88 CA$4.00

42.01%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 CA$3.55

$2.51 CA$3.49

1.99%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 CA$3.92

$3.19 CA$4.43

-11.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.57 CA$3.57

$2.78 CA$3.86

-7.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 CA$2.15

$1.33 CA$1.84

16.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.59 CA$20.28

$13.42 CA$18.65

8.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.60 CA$21.69

$12.74 CA$17.71

22.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 CA$3.59

$2.92 CA$4.06

-11.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 CA$4.49

$2.61 CA$3.62

23.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.96 CA$4.12

$2.20 CA$3.05

34.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$91.1 CA$127

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 CA$4.40

$2.55 CA$3.55

24.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 CA$1.93

$2.24 CA$3.12

-37.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.67 CA$38.46

$22.21 CA$30.87

24.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 CA$1.74

$1.12 CA$1.56

11.61%

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

$28.3K CA$39.4K

$28.6K CA$39.8K

-0.99%

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

$21.3K CA$29.6K

$19.1K CA$26.6K

11.19%

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

$178 CA$247

$179 CA$249

-0.90%

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

$39.31 CA$54.6

$31.07 CA$43.19

26.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.9 CA$70.8

$52.2 CA$72.6

-2.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 CA$76.1

$31.46 CA$43.73

73.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.77 CA$26.09

$44.64 CA$62.1

-57.95%

Cinema Ticket

$14.55 CA$20.23

$11.58 CA$16.09

25.65%

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

$812 CA$1,128

$517 CA$719

56.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.4K CA$22.8K

$17.5K CA$24.4K

-6.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.4 CA$82.6

$70.2 CA$97.6

-15.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 CA$56.1

$54.1 CA$75.2

-25.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.2 CA$128

$97.0 CA$135

-4.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 CA$157

$93.3 CA$130

20.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,284 CA$1,785

$1,136 CA$1,580

12.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,018 CA$1,415

$1,101 CA$1,530

-7.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,977 CA$2,749

$1,894 CA$2,633

4.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,746 CA$2,428

$1,555 CA$2,161

12.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,571 CA$4,963

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,359 CA$4,669

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,213 CA$4,467

$3,001 CA$4,172

7.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.48

5.71

-21.54%

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

Last update for Calgary: September 12, 2026

Last update for Welland: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,284 in Calgary and $1,136 in Welland. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 7% 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 $57.0 in Welland for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $395 vs $342 per month, with Welland 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 Welland: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Welland is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 7% 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: $1,284 in Calgary versus $1,136 in Welland. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $812 in Calgary versus $517 in Welland. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Welland – a meal for two runs $57.0 versus $71.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,122 in Welland versus $2,344 in Calgary, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Welland but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Welland 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 Welland gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.