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: $2,485 in Calgary versus $2,833 in Whitehorse.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,590 in Calgary versus $4,103 in Whitehorse.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,694 in Calgary versus $5,372 in Whitehorse.

Living in Calgary costs roughly 12% less than in Whitehorse, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 86% above, Whitehorse 113% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.34 CA$25.93

$15.21 CA$21.50

20.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.0 CA$100

$89.4 CA$126

-20.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.25 CA$15.91

$9.05 CA$12.79

24.31%

Cappuccino

$3.83 CA$5.41

$4.83 CA$6.83

-20.70%

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

$1.96 CA$2.76

$2.51 CA$3.55

-21.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 CA$2.33

$2.26 CA$3.19

-26.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.29 CA$7.47

$4.07 CA$5.75

29.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 CA$9.60

$5.09 CA$7.20

33.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 CA$3.17

$2.25 CA$3.19

-0.44%

White Bread (500g)

$2.73 CA$3.87

$3.19 CA$4.51

-14.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 CA$4.77

$4.30 CA$6.07

-21.40%

Eggs

$3.29 CA$4.66

$3.69 CA$5.22

-10.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.76 CA$20.87

$14.28 CA$20.19

3.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.70 CA$17.95

$17.26 CA$24.40

-26.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.95 CA$22.55

$16.58 CA$23.43

-3.80%

Apples (1kg)

$4.31 CA$6.09

$4.55 CA$6.43

-5.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.91

$1.96 CA$2.77

-31.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.78 CA$5.35

$2.70 CA$3.82

40.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.22 CA$5.96

$5.28 CA$7.46

-20.08%

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 CA$3.65

$1.81 CA$2.56

42.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 CA$3.81

$2.19 CA$3.10

22.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 CA$3.87

$3.17 CA$4.48

-13.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 CA$2.74

$5.93 CA$8.39

-67.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.75 CA$20.85

$17.45 CA$24.67

-15.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.09 CA$19.91

$18.04 CA$25.50

-21.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 CA$3.97

$3.73 CA$5.27

-24.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 CA$5.59

$4.54 CA$6.41

-12.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.81 CA$3.98

$1.79 CA$2.52

56.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.6 CA$122

$44.58 CA$63.0

94.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.41 CA$4.82

$3.76 CA$5.32

-9.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 CA$1.92

$2.85 CA$4.03

-52.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.03 CA$41.04

$26.18 CA$37.01

10.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 CA$1.52

$1.35 CA$1.90

-20.74%

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

$25.0K CA$35.4K

$19.8K CA$27.9K

26.61%

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

$22.1K CA$31.2K

$20.4K CA$28.9K

8.04%

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

$215 CA$303

$210 CA$297

2.21%

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

$40.33 CA$57.0

$46.92 CA$66.3

-14.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 CA$81.9

$104 CA$147

-44.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 CA$77.5

$53.0 CA$74.9

3.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.6 CA$75.7

$41.46 CA$58.6

29.21%

Cinema Ticket

$12.66 CA$17.89

$11.64 CA$16.46

8.76%

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

$872 CA$1,233

$146 CA$207

496.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K CA$22.8K

$11.7K CA$16.5K

38.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 CA$81.7

$53.8 CA$76.1

7.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.36 CA$66.9

$39.79 CA$56.2

19.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.9 CA$123

$88.1 CA$124

-1.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CA$154

$108 CA$152

1.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,414 CA$1,998

$1,599 CA$2,260

-11.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,153 CA$1,630

$1,399 CA$1,977

-17.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,311 CA$3,266

$2,336 CA$3,302

-1.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,876 CA$2,652

$2,219 CA$3,136

-15.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,833 CA$5,419

$5,785 CA$8,177

-33.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,392 CA$4,794

$3,013 CA$4,259

12.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,127 CA$4,421

$3,555 CA$5,025

-12.03%

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: June 13, 2026

Last update for Whitehorse: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,414 in Calgary and $1,599 in Whitehorse. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Whitehorse pays 14% 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 $89.0 in Whitehorse for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $395 vs $495 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 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 14% 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: $1,414 in Calgary versus $1,599 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 $71.0 versus $89.0 in Whitehorse. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,485 per month in Calgary versus $2,833 in Whitehorse – a 14% 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 14% less than in Whitehorse. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.