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: $2,344 in Calgary versus $2,092 in Williams Lake, BC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,499 in Calgary versus $3,017 in Williams Lake, BC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,655 in Calgary versus $3,941 in Williams Lake, BC.

Living in Calgary is roughly 12% more expensive than in Williams Lake, BC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 70% above, Williams Lake, BC 52% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.45 CA$25.59

$18.39 CA$25.51

0.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.5 CA$99.2

$65.9 CA$91.5

8.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.68 CA$14.81

$11.07 CA$15.35

-3.52%

Cappuccino

$3.93 CA$5.46

$3.68 CA$5.10

6.79%

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

$2.02 CA$2.80

$2.00 CA$2.77

1.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 CA$2.73

$1.68 CA$2.33

17.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.92 CA$6.82

$5.81 CA$8.06

-15.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 CA$8.19

$6.01 CA$8.33

-1.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 CA$2.82

$2.43 CA$3.37

-16.46%

White Bread (500g)

$2.86 CA$3.97

$2.64 CA$3.66

8.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.72 CA$7.93

$3.65 CA$5.06

56.71%

Eggs

$3.81 CA$5.29

$3.46 CA$4.80

10.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.56 CA$16.04

$10.00 CA$13.87

15.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.95 CA$16.57

$11.61 CA$16.11

2.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.97 CA$26.30

$14.74 CA$20.45

28.70%

Apples (1kg)

$4.91 CA$6.82

$3.88 CA$5.38

26.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 CA$1.97

$1.35 CA$1.88

5.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.36 CA$6.04

$3.65 CA$5.07

19.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.03 CA$5.59

$3.95 CA$5.48

2.03%

Potato (1kg)

$2.72 CA$3.77

$2.59 CA$3.60

5.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 CA$3.99

$2.28 CA$3.16

26.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.57 CA$3.57

$2.54 CA$3.53

1.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 CA$2.07

$1.71 CA$2.37

-12.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.71 CA$20.41

$15.01 CA$20.81

-2.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.57 CA$21.60

$14.08 CA$19.53

10.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 CA$3.50

$2.63 CA$3.65

-4.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 CA$4.53

$3.17 CA$4.40

3.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 CA$4.07

$2.32 CA$3.22

26.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.8 CA$125

$59.9 CA$83.1

49.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 CA$4.58

$3.17 CA$4.40

4.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 CA$1.90

$1.53 CA$2.12

-10.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.07 CA$37.54

$21.90 CA$30.38

23.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 CA$1.69

$1.21 CA$1.68

0.83%

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

$28.6K CA$39.6K

$29.0K CA$40.3K

-1.54%

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

$20.9K CA$29.0K

$21.3K CA$29.6K

-2.11%

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

$182 CA$253

$139 CA$193

31.39%

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

$39.50 CA$54.8

$32.13 CA$44.56

22.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.4 CA$71.3

$84.8 CA$118

-39.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 CA$76.0

$40.98 CA$56.8

33.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.79 CA$26.07

$16.51 CA$22.90

13.81%

Cinema Ticket

$14.52 CA$20.14

$11.22 CA$15.56

29.41%

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

$819 CA$1,136

$765 CA$1,061

6.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K CA$22.7K

$11.2K CA$15.5K

46.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.8 CA$85.8

$53.5 CA$74.1

15.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.15 CA$55.7

$41.65 CA$57.8

-3.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 CA$131

$98.0 CA$136

-3.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 CA$158

$101 CA$140

12.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,256 CA$1,741

$935 CA$1,296

34.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,089 CA$1,510

$889 CA$1,233

22.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,994 CA$2,766

$1,384 CA$1,919

44.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,706 CA$2,367

$1,276 CA$1,769

33.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,627 CA$5,031

$4,864 CA$6,746

-25.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,403 CA$4,719

$3,558 CA$4,934

-4.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,246 CA$4,502

$3,258 CA$4,519

-0.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.48

4.68

-4.27%

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

Last update for Calgary: September 6, 2026

Last update for Williams Lake, BC: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,256 in Calgary and $935 in Williams Lake, BC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Williams Lake, BC pays 0% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $71.0 in Calgary vs $66.0 in Williams Lake, BC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $401 vs $364 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, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 0% lower in Williams Lake, BC. 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: $1,256 in Calgary versus $935 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 $66.0 versus $71.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,344 per month in Calgary versus $2,092 in Williams Lake, BC – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,092 in Williams Lake, BC versus $2,344 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 12% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.