Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Winnipeg Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Winnipeg

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,462 in Calgary versus $2,196 in Winnipeg.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,628 in Calgary versus $3,175 in Winnipeg.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,795 in Calgary versus $4,154 in Winnipeg.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 84% above, Winnipeg 64% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.33 CA$25.79

$16.51 CA$23.23

11.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.9 CA$98.3

$65.9 CA$92.7

6.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.95 CA$15.41

$11.00 CA$15.48

-0.45%

Cappuccino

$3.74 CA$5.26

$3.88 CA$5.45

-3.61%

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

$2.04 CA$2.87

$2.32 CA$3.26

-12.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.35

$1.78 CA$2.50

-6.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.20 CA$7.32

$5.22 CA$7.34

-0.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 CA$9.45

$6.69 CA$9.42

0.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 CA$3.16

$1.55 CA$2.19

45.16%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 CA$3.87

$2.30 CA$3.24

19.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.23 CA$4.54

$3.33 CA$4.69

-3.00%

Eggs

$3.45 CA$4.85

$3.18 CA$4.48

8.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 CA$20.26

$11.05 CA$15.55

30.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.89 CA$18.13

$11.55 CA$16.25

11.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 CA$22.32

$18.41 CA$25.90

-13.85%

Apples (1kg)

$4.30 CA$6.05

$3.89 CA$5.48

10.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.89

$1.31 CA$1.85

2.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.85 CA$5.42

$3.60 CA$5.06

6.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.99

$3.44 CA$4.84

23.55%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 CA$3.58

$2.77 CA$3.90

-7.94%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.69

$2.48 CA$3.48

5.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 CA$3.94

$2.51 CA$3.54

11.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.74

$1.56 CA$2.19

25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.97 CA$21.06

$16.38 CA$23.05

-8.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.90 CA$19.57

$11.82 CA$16.63

17.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 CA$4.11

$3.20 CA$4.50

-8.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 CA$5.50

$3.61 CA$5.08

8.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.85

$2.32 CA$3.27

18.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.8 CA$124

$83.2 CA$117

5.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.06

$3.13 CA$4.40

15.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 CA$1.83

$1.26 CA$1.77

3.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.70 CA$40.39

$26.96 CA$37.93

6.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.57

$1.03 CA$1.45

8.74%

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

$25.5K CA$35.8K

$24.9K CA$35.0K

2.31%

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

$21.7K CA$30.6K

$21.6K CA$30.4K

0.53%

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

$213 CA$300

$157 CA$220

35.92%

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

$40.96 CA$57.6

$42.15 CA$59.3

-2.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 CA$81.5

$62.8 CA$88.3

-7.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 CA$76.2

$41.84 CA$58.9

29.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.6

$34.28 CA$48.23

56.80%

Cinema Ticket

$12.63 CA$17.77

$12.63 CA$17.78

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

$874 CA$1,230

$966 CA$1,359

-9.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.3K

$12.3K CA$17.3K

29.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 CA$82.5

$47.22 CA$66.4

24.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.01 CA$66.2

$40.99 CA$57.7

14.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 CA$120

$78.3 CA$110

8.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$151

$111 CA$156

-3.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,380 CA$1,942

$947 CA$1,332

45.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,159 CA$1,631

$997 CA$1,403

16.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,324 CA$3,270

$1,545 CA$2,174

50.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,905 CA$2,680

$1,558 CA$2,192

22.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,786 CA$5,327

$2,347 CA$3,302

61.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,511 CA$4,940

$2,340 CA$3,292

50.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,940 CA$4,136

$2,520 CA$3,546

16.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.02

-5.15%

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

Last update for Calgary: July 13, 2026

Last update for Winnipeg: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,380 in Calgary and $947 in Winnipeg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 17% 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 $66.0 in Winnipeg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $396 vs $359 per month, with Winnipeg 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 Winnipeg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Winnipeg is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 17% higher in Calgary, 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: $1,380 in Calgary versus $947 in Winnipeg. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Winnipeg – a meal for two runs $66.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,462 per month in Calgary versus $2,196 in Winnipeg – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,196 in Winnipeg versus $2,462 in Calgary, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Winnipeg but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Winnipeg 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 Winnipeg 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.