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: $2,433 in Calgary versus $2,345 in Windsor, NS.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,642 in Calgary versus $3,293 in Windsor, NS.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,850 in Calgary versus $4,241 in Windsor, NS.

Living in Calgary is roughly 4% more expensive than Windsor, NS, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 81% above, Windsor, NS 74% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.20 CA$24.93

$14.66 CA$20.09

24.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.0 CA$95.9

$37.46 CA$51.3

86.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.01 CA$15.09

$8.95 CA$12.27

23.02%

Cappuccino

$3.73 CA$5.11

$3.64 CA$4.98

2.47%

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

$1.98 CA$2.71

$1.70 CA$2.33

16.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 CA$2.26

$1.33 CA$1.83

24.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.27 CA$7.22

$5.72 CA$7.83

-7.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.65 CA$9.11

$5.87 CA$8.04

13.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 CA$2.94

$2.02 CA$2.76

6.44%

White Bread (500g)

$2.68 CA$3.67

$2.90 CA$3.97

-7.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.40 CA$4.66

$4.06 CA$5.57

-16.26%

Eggs

$3.28 CA$4.49

$3.97 CA$5.44

-17.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.65 CA$20.07

$12.29 CA$16.84

19.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.61 CA$17.28

$14.66 CA$20.08

-13.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.13 CA$22.10

$16.77 CA$22.97

-3.82%

Apples (1kg)

$4.46 CA$6.11

$4.11 CA$5.63

8.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.84

$1.56 CA$2.14

-14.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.73 CA$5.11

$3.84 CA$5.26

-2.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.29 CA$5.88

$5.38 CA$7.37

-20.26%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 CA$3.65

$2.14 CA$2.93

24.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.61 CA$3.57

$2.20 CA$3.01

18.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 CA$3.76

$2.69 CA$3.68

1.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 CA$2.60

$1.93 CA$2.64

-1.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.98 CA$20.52

$18.53 CA$25.39

-19.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.30 CA$19.59

$11.58 CA$15.87

23.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 CA$3.97

$3.36 CA$4.60

-13.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 CA$5.44

$3.27 CA$4.48

21.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.68 CA$3.67

$2.34 CA$3.21

14.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.9 CA$120

$63.4 CA$86.8

38.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 CA$4.88

$7.71 CA$10.57

-53.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 CA$1.84

$1.44 CA$1.98

-6.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.30 CA$40.15

$29.62 CA$40.57

-1.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 CA$1.55

$1.21 CA$1.65

-6.61%

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

$25.1K CA$34.4K

$25.0K CA$34.3K

0.43%

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

$22.2K CA$30.4K

$20.6K CA$28.3K

7.70%

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

$218 CA$299

$131 CA$179

66.49%

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

$41.44 CA$56.8

$33.19 CA$45.47

24.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.2 CA$79.7

$36.46 CA$49.95

59.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.7 CA$73.6

$42.45 CA$58.2

26.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.4 CA$71.8

Cinema Ticket

$12.66 CA$17.34

$11.14 CA$15.27

13.64%

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

$885 CA$1,212

$167 CA$228

430.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K CA$22.0K

$11.7K CA$16.0K

37.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 CA$79.6

$40.75 CA$55.8

42.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.22 CA$66.1

$34.60 CA$47.40

39.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.4 CA$121

$84.9 CA$116

4.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 CA$146

$137 CA$188

-22.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,396 CA$1,913

$1,299 CA$1,780

7.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,186 CA$1,625

$1,164 CA$1,595

1.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,293 CA$3,142

$1,996 CA$2,734

14.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,859 CA$2,547

$1,816 CA$2,487

2.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,779 CA$5,178

$4,281 CA$5,865

-11.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,509 CA$4,808

$3,174 CA$4,348

10.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,117 CA$4,271

$948 CA$1,299

228.82%

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: April 14, 2026

Last update for Windsor, NS: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,396 in Calgary and $1,299 in Windsor, NS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 229% 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 in Calgary vs $37 in Windsor, NS. Groceries flip the comparison at $395 vs $405, 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, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Calgary pays 229% 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: $1,396 in Calgary versus $1,299 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 $2,433 per month in Calgary versus $2,345 in Windsor, NS – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,345 in Windsor, NS versus $2,433 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 4% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.