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: $2,523 in Calgary versus $2,026 in Welland.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,652 in Calgary versus $3,086 in Welland.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,780 in Calgary versus $4,146 in Welland.

Living in Calgary is roughly 25% more expensive than Welland, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 88% above, Welland 51% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.59 CA$25.74

$17.52 CA$24.26

6.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.0 CA$97.0

$74.2 CA$103

-5.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.96 CA$15.17

$10.19 CA$14.11

7.56%

Cappuccino

$3.73 CA$5.17

$3.52 CA$4.88

5.97%

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

$1.99 CA$2.75

$2.02 CA$2.80

-1.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 CA$2.39

$1.67 CA$2.32

2.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.01 CA$6.94

$4.77 CA$6.61

5.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.50 CA$9.01

$5.81 CA$8.04

11.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 CA$3.08

$1.76 CA$2.44

26.14%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 CA$3.69

$2.54 CA$3.52

5.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 CA$4.52

$4.51 CA$6.24

-27.72%

Eggs

$3.35 CA$4.64

$3.36 CA$4.65

-0.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 CA$20.07

$11.65 CA$16.14

24.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.95 CA$17.93

$9.75 CA$13.50

32.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.15 CA$22.36

$11.31 CA$15.66

42.79%

Apples (1kg)

$4.32 CA$5.98

$2.98 CA$4.12

44.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.88

$1.50 CA$2.08

-10.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.83 CA$5.30

$2.95 CA$4.09

29.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 CA$5.79

$4.39 CA$6.08

-4.78%

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 CA$3.67

$2.44 CA$3.38

8.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 CA$3.79

$3.06 CA$4.23

-10.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.76 CA$3.82

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.70

$2.17 CA$3.00

-10.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.98 CA$20.74

$11.54 CA$15.98

29.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.67 CA$20.31

$13.16 CA$18.22

11.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 CA$3.94

$2.18 CA$3.02

30.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 CA$5.56

$2.26 CA$3.13

77.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.80 CA$3.88

$2.16 CA$2.99

29.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.2 CA$119

$63.4 CA$87.8

35.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$4.99

$2.61 CA$3.62

37.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 CA$1.82

$1.70 CA$2.36

-22.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.01 CA$40.17

$22.41 CA$31.03

29.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.55

$1.14 CA$1.58

-1.75%

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

$24.9K CA$34.4K

$25.2K CA$34.9K

-1.46%

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

$22.0K CA$30.4K

$22.5K CA$31.1K

-2.25%

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

$217 CA$301

$199 CA$275

9.31%

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

$41.55 CA$57.5

$48.05 CA$66.5

-13.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.1 CA$80.4

$63.0 CA$87.2

-7.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 CA$75.8

$25.63 CA$35.49

113.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.8 CA$73.1

$28.48 CA$39.43

85.46%

Cinema Ticket

$12.77 CA$17.68

$11.73 CA$16.24

8.87%

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

$874 CA$1,210

$600 CA$831

45.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.1K

$18.2K CA$25.2K

-12.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 CA$81.5

$72.7 CA$101

-19.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.47 CA$64.4

$54.2 CA$75.0

-14.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 CA$121

$76.2 CA$106

14.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CA$151

$95.4 CA$132

14.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,414 CA$1,957

$1,033 CA$1,430

36.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,172 CA$1,623

$898 CA$1,244

30.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,319 CA$3,211

$2,048 CA$2,836

13.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,886 CA$2,612

$1,554 CA$2,152

21.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,892 CA$5,389

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,503 CA$4,851

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,149 CA$4,360

$3,024 CA$4,187

4.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.83

-16.40%

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

Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026

Last update for Welland: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,414 in Calgary and $1,033 in Welland. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 4% 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 $74.0 in Welland. Groceries flip the comparison at $397 vs $342, with Welland 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 Welland: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Welland is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Calgary pays 4% more on average, 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: $1,414 in Calgary versus $1,033 in Welland. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Welland – a meal for two runs $74.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,523 per month in Calgary versus $2,026 in Welland – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,026 in Welland versus $2,523 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 25% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.