Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Windsor, NS Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Windsor, NS

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,517 in Calgary versus $2,293 in Windsor, NS.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,646 in Calgary versus $3,247 in Windsor, NS.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,776 in Calgary versus $4,202 in Windsor, NS.

Living in Calgary is roughly 10% more expensive than Windsor, NS, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 87% above, Windsor, NS 71% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.37 CA$25.65

$14.84 CA$20.72

23.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.7 CA$97.4

$37.49 CA$52.4

86.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.88 CA$15.19

$9.04 CA$12.62

20.35%

Cappuccino

$3.69 CA$5.16

$3.63 CA$5.08

1.65%

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

$2.03 CA$2.84

$1.66 CA$2.32

22.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 CA$2.43

$1.26 CA$1.76

38.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.30 CA$7.40

$5.97 CA$8.34

-11.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.74 CA$9.42

$5.85 CA$8.17

15.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 CA$3.12

$2.04 CA$2.84

9.31%

White Bread (500g)

$2.68 CA$3.75

$2.80 CA$3.91

-4.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.35 CA$4.68

$4.04 CA$5.64

-17.08%

Eggs

$3.33 CA$4.65

$3.98 CA$5.56

-16.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.41 CA$20.12

$12.76 CA$17.82

12.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.50 CA$17.46

$14.27 CA$19.93

-12.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.33 CA$22.81

$16.77 CA$23.42

-2.62%

Apples (1kg)

$4.28 CA$5.98

$4.07 CA$5.68

5.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.89

$1.62 CA$2.27

-16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.22

$3.72 CA$5.20

0.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.17 CA$5.83

$5.37 CA$7.50

-22.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 CA$3.58

$2.14 CA$2.99

19.63%

Onion (1kg)

$2.68 CA$3.74

$2.17 CA$3.03

23.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.66 CA$3.71

$2.64 CA$3.69

0.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 CA$2.62

$1.86 CA$2.59

1.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.66 CA$20.47

$18.49 CA$25.83

-20.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.23 CA$19.87

$11.30 CA$15.77

25.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.95 CA$4.12

$3.42 CA$4.78

-13.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.89 CA$5.44

$3.31 CA$4.62

17.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 CA$3.79

$2.32 CA$3.24

16.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.7 CA$122

$63.0 CA$87.9

39.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.46 CA$4.83

$7.64 CA$10.67

-54.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 CA$1.81

$1.44 CA$2.01

-9.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.30 CA$39.52

$29.91 CA$41.77

-5.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 CA$1.52

$1.23 CA$1.72

-11.38%

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

$25.0K CA$34.9K

$24.9K CA$34.7K

0.63%

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

$22.2K CA$31.0K

$20.7K CA$28.9K

7.46%

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

$211 CA$295

$133 CA$185

59.23%

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

$40.40 CA$56.4

$32.51 CA$45.40

24.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.5 CA$81.7

$36.26 CA$50.6

61.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.8 CA$75.1

$42.05 CA$58.7

27.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.2

Cinema Ticket

$12.64 CA$17.66

$10.88 CA$15.20

16.18%

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

$865 CA$1,208

$165 CA$230

424.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K CA$22.4K

$12.0K CA$16.8K

33.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 CA$81.1

$40.58 CA$56.7

43.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.18 CA$65.9

$35.09 CA$49.00

34.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.4 CA$119

$85.2 CA$119

0.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 CA$148

$137 CA$192

-22.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,416 CA$1,977

$1,314 CA$1,834

7.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,153 CA$1,611

$1,162 CA$1,623

-0.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,370 CA$3,309

$1,976 CA$2,759

19.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,864 CA$2,603

$1,848 CA$2,581

0.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,834 CA$5,354

$4,551 CA$6,355

-15.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,443 CA$4,808

$3,841 CA$5,364

-10.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,105 CA$4,337

$918 CA$1,282

238.40%

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 7, 2026

Last update for Windsor, NS: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,416 in Calgary and $1,314 in Windsor, NS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 238% 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 $37.00 in Windsor, NS. Groceries flip the comparison at $393 vs $402, with Calgary 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 Windsor, NS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Windsor, NS is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Calgary pays 238% 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: $1,416 in Calgary versus $1,314 in Windsor, NS. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Windsor, NS – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,517 per month in Calgary versus $2,293 in Windsor, NS – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,293 in Windsor, NS versus $2,517 in Calgary, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Windsor, NS but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Windsor, NS 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 Windsor, NS gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.