Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Whitehorse Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Whitehorse

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,481 in Calgary versus $2,743 in Whitehorse.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,599 in Calgary versus $4,000 in Whitehorse.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,716 in Calgary versus $5,258 in Whitehorse.

Living in Calgary costs roughly 10% less than in Whitehorse, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 86% above, Whitehorse 106% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.64 CA$26.12

$15.14 CA$21.22

23.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.3 CA$98.5

$87.6 CA$123

-19.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.26 CA$15.78

$9.40 CA$13.17

19.79%

Cappuccino

$3.70 CA$5.19

$4.87 CA$6.83

-24.02%

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

$2.05 CA$2.88

$2.57 CA$3.60

-20.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.34

$2.19 CA$3.07

-23.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.26 CA$7.37

$3.98 CA$5.58

32.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.74 CA$9.44

$5.08 CA$7.12

32.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 CA$3.12

$2.26 CA$3.16

-1.33%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 CA$3.86

$3.25 CA$4.55

-15.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.28 CA$4.60

$4.15 CA$5.82

-20.96%

Eggs

$3.40 CA$4.77

$3.87 CA$5.42

-12.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.45 CA$20.25

$14.05 CA$19.69

2.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.58 CA$17.63

$17.27 CA$24.20

-27.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.85 CA$22.20

$16.36 CA$22.93

-3.12%

Apples (1kg)

$4.42 CA$6.19

$4.55 CA$6.37

-2.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.88

$2.02 CA$2.84

-33.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.84 CA$5.38

$2.73 CA$3.83

40.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.33 CA$6.07

$5.14 CA$7.20

-15.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 CA$3.57

$1.82 CA$2.55

39.56%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 CA$3.83

$2.17 CA$3.04

25.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 CA$3.77

$3.24 CA$4.55

-16.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 CA$2.66

$5.77 CA$8.09

-67.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.81 CA$20.75

$17.81 CA$24.95

-16.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.43 CA$20.22

$17.71 CA$24.82

-18.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.94 CA$4.12

$3.70 CA$5.18

-20.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 CA$5.58

$4.46 CA$6.25

-10.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.70 CA$3.79

$1.89 CA$2.64

42.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$88.3 CA$124

$45.16 CA$63.3

95.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.42 CA$4.80

$3.77 CA$5.29

-9.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 CA$1.84

$2.84 CA$3.98

-53.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.41 CA$39.82

$25.95 CA$36.36

9.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.57

$1.34 CA$1.88

-16.42%

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

$24.9K CA$34.9K

$19.7K CA$27.7K

26.10%

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

$21.7K CA$30.4K

$20.7K CA$28.9K

5.18%

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

$210 CA$295

$207 CA$290

1.45%

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

$41.33 CA$57.9

$47.58 CA$66.7

-13.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.8 CA$81.1

$102 CA$142

-43.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.3 CA$77.5

$53.1 CA$74.4

4.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.2 CA$73.2

$42.33 CA$59.3

23.41%

Cinema Ticket

$12.47 CA$17.47

$11.84 CA$16.60

5.32%

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

$886 CA$1,242

$146 CA$204

508.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.4K

$11.6K CA$16.2K

37.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.1 CA$82.8

$55.3 CA$77.5

6.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.08 CA$66.0

$40.15 CA$56.3

17.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.1 CA$122

$84.9 CA$119

2.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 CA$153

$108 CA$151

1.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,415 CA$1,982

$1,575 CA$2,207

-10.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,180 CA$1,654

$1,396 CA$1,956

-15.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,374 CA$3,327

$2,406 CA$3,372

-1.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,855 CA$2,599

$2,181 CA$3,057

-14.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,755 CA$5,262

$5,828 CA$8,167

-35.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,479 CA$4,875

$3,008 CA$4,215

15.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,035 CA$4,253

$3,595 CA$5,037

-15.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

7.09

-19.46%

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

Last update for Calgary: July 27, 2026

Last update for Whitehorse: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,415 in Calgary and $1,575 in Whitehorse. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Whitehorse pays 18% 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 $88.0 in Whitehorse for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $396 vs $491 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 Whitehorse: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 18% lower in Whitehorse. 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: $1,415 in Calgary versus $1,575 in Whitehorse. 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 $88.0 in Whitehorse. 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 $2,743 in Whitehorse – a 11% 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 11% less than in Whitehorse. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.