Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Williams Lake, BC Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Williams Lake, BC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,523 in Calgary versus $2,070 in Williams Lake, BC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,652 in Calgary versus $3,036 in Williams Lake, BC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,780 in Calgary versus $4,003 in Williams Lake, BC.

Living in Calgary is roughly 22% more expensive than Williams Lake, BC, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 88% above, Williams Lake, BC 54% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.59 CA$25.93

$17.15 CA$23.91

8.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.0 CA$97.7

$68.6 CA$95.7

2.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.96 CA$15.28

$11.12 CA$15.51

-1.44%

Cappuccino

$3.73 CA$5.20

$3.80 CA$5.30

-1.84%

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

$1.99 CA$2.77

$2.04 CA$2.85

-2.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 CA$2.40

$1.70 CA$2.36

1.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.01 CA$6.99

$5.65 CA$7.87

-11.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.50 CA$9.07

$5.77 CA$8.05

12.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 CA$3.10

$2.47 CA$3.44

-10.12%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 CA$3.72

$2.61 CA$3.65

2.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 CA$4.55

$3.65 CA$5.09

-10.68%

Eggs

$3.35 CA$4.67

$5.56 CA$7.75

-39.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 CA$20.22

$11.23 CA$15.65

29.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.95 CA$18.05

$11.69 CA$16.30

10.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.15 CA$22.52

$14.76 CA$20.59

9.42%

Apples (1kg)

$4.32 CA$6.02

$4.08 CA$5.69

5.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.89

$1.40 CA$1.95

-3.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.83 CA$5.33

$3.58 CA$4.99

6.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 CA$5.83

$3.70 CA$5.16

12.97%

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 CA$3.69

$2.49 CA$3.47

6.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 CA$3.82

$2.51 CA$3.50

9.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.76 CA$3.85

$2.61 CA$3.64

5.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.72

$1.70 CA$2.37

14.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.98 CA$20.89

$13.92 CA$19.41

7.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.67 CA$20.46

$11.88 CA$16.57

23.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 CA$3.96

$2.92 CA$4.07

-2.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 CA$5.60

$3.05 CA$4.25

31.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.80 CA$3.91

$2.34 CA$3.26

19.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.2 CA$120

$63.4 CA$88.4

35.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.02

$3.16 CA$4.40

13.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 CA$1.84

$1.44 CA$2.01

-8.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.01 CA$40.46

$25.58 CA$35.67

13.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.56

$1.20 CA$1.67

-6.67%

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

$24.9K CA$34.7K

$25.3K CA$35.3K

-1.76%

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

$22.0K CA$30.6K

$20.7K CA$28.9K

6.18%

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

$217 CA$303

$140 CA$196

54.67%

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

$41.55 CA$57.9

$33.27 CA$46.39

24.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.1 CA$81.0

$86.6 CA$121

-32.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 CA$76.3

$41.72 CA$58.2

31.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.8 CA$73.7

Cinema Ticket

$12.77 CA$17.80

$11.36 CA$15.84

12.41%

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

$874 CA$1,218

$727 CA$1,014

20.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.2K

$12.0K CA$16.7K

32.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 CA$82.0

$53.6 CA$74.8

9.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.47 CA$64.8

$39.46 CA$55.0

17.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 CA$122

$85.0 CA$119

2.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CA$152

-0.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,414 CA$1,971

$968 CA$1,350

46.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,172 CA$1,635

$918 CA$1,280

27.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,319 CA$3,234

$1,419 CA$1,979

63.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,886 CA$2,630

$1,298 CA$1,810

45.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,892 CA$5,427

$4,449 CA$6,204

-12.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,503 CA$4,885

$3,964 CA$5,528

-11.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,149 CA$4,392

$3,279 CA$4,572

-3.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.46

-11.61%

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

Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026

Last update for Williams Lake, BC: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,414 in Calgary and $968 in Williams Lake, BC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Williams Lake, BC pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $70.0 in Calgary vs $69.0 in Williams Lake, BC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $397 vs $373 per month, with Williams Lake, 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 Williams Lake, BC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Williams Lake, BC is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Williams Lake, BC earns 4% less. 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 $968 in Williams Lake, BC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Williams Lake, 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 $2,523 per month in Calgary versus $2,070 in Williams Lake, BC – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,070 in Williams Lake, BC versus $2,523 in Calgary, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Williams Lake, BC but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Williams Lake, 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 Williams Lake, BC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.