Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Canada and Calgary

For one person, living costs are similar on average across Canada and in Calgary: $2,305 and $2,232 a month, rent and utilities included.

🇨🇦 Canada
$2,305
/mo nomad
Calgary
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,232
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Canada and in Calgary

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Canada and in Calgary actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

At $2,232 per month, Calgary is 3% cheaper than the Canada average of $2,305.

  • Canada $2,305
  • Calgary $2,232
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Canada
Calgary
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.69 CA$25.22
$17.22 CA$24.54
2.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.6 CA$101
$71.2 CA$101
-0.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.71 CA$15.27
$10.56 CA$15.06
1.42%
Cappuccino
$3.72 CA$5.30
$3.77 CA$5.38
-1.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 CA$2.95
$1.91 CA$2.73
8.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 CA$2.36
$1.84 CA$2.63
-9.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.69 CA$8.11
$4.86 CA$6.93
17.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.76 CA$8.20
$5.55 CA$7.91
3.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Canada
Calgary
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.13 CA$3.04
$1.88 CA$2.68
13.30%
White Bread (500g)
$2.68 CA$3.82
$2.73 CA$3.89
-1.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.60 CA$5.13
$5.34 CA$7.61
-32.58%
Eggs
$3.51 CA$5.00
$3.77 CA$5.37
-6.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.72 CA$15.29
$11.29 CA$16.09
-5.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.91 CA$16.98
$11.46 CA$16.34
3.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.29 CA$21.80
$18.26 CA$26.03
-16.27%
Apples (1kg)
$3.98 CA$5.68
$4.64 CA$6.62
-14.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.36 CA$1.94
$1.44 CA$2.05
-5.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.84 CA$5.47
$4.22 CA$6.02
-9.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.06 CA$5.78
$3.86 CA$5.50
5.18%
Potato (1kg)
$2.56 CA$3.65
$2.62 CA$3.74
-2.29%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 CA$3.45
$2.66 CA$3.79
-9.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.57 CA$3.66
$2.59 CA$3.69
-0.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 CA$2.41
$1.53 CA$2.19
10.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.94 CA$19.86
$14.26 CA$20.32
-2.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.26 CA$18.90
$15.27 CA$21.76
-13.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.86 CA$4.07
$2.41 CA$3.44
18.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 CA$4.64
$3.09 CA$4.41
5.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Canada
Calgary
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.41 CA$3.44
$2.88 CA$4.11
-16.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$71.8 CA$102
$88.7 CA$126
-19.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.05 CA$4.35
$3.23 CA$4.61
-5.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.44 CA$2.05
$1.38 CA$1.97
4.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.68 CA$38.02
$26.49 CA$37.75
0.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 CA$1.67
$1.18 CA$1.68
-0.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K CA$39.5K
$28.3K CA$40.3K
-1.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K CA$27.7K
$20.7K CA$29.5K
-6.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Canada
Calgary
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$147 CA$210
$159 CA$227
-7.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.33 CA$58.9
$37.61 CA$53.6
9.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.9 CA$82.5
$49.68 CA$70.8
16.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Canada
Calgary
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.41 CA$57.6
$53.3 CA$75.9
-24.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.23 CA$27.40
$18.31 CA$26.10
5.02%
Cinema Ticket
$11.07 CA$15.78
$14.08 CA$20.06
-21.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Canada
Calgary
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$757 CA$1,079
$809 CA$1,154
-6.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.3K CA$20.3K
$15.9K CA$22.6K
-10.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Canada
Calgary
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2 CA$77.3
$58.8 CA$83.8
-7.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 CA$56.7
$38.84 CA$55.4
2.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.6 CA$125
$91.4 CA$130
-4.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 CA$144
$109 CA$155
-7.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Canada
Calgary
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,278 CA$1,822
$1,237 CA$1,764
3.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,107 CA$1,578
$996 CA$1,420
11.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,035 CA$2,901
$1,908 CA$2,720
6.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,741 CA$2,481
$1,671 CA$2,382
4.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,611 CA$6,572
$3,530 CA$5,032
30.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,822 CA$5,448
$3,336 CA$4,755
14.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Canada
Calgary
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,975 CA$4,240
$3,130 CA$4,461
-4.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.87
4.51
7.98%

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

Last update for Canada: October 5, 2026

Last update for Calgary: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Canada
$1.1K
Calgary
$996 10% $111
Groceries & Markets
Canada
$368
Calgary
$387 5.2% $19
Eating Out
Canada
$273
Calgary
$265 2.9% $8.1
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Canada
$246
Calgary
$247 0.1% $0.1
Clothing & Footwear
Canada
$127
Calgary
$134 5.5% $7
Getting Around
Canada
$92
Calgary
$110 20.4% $19
Sport & Entertainment
Canada
$63
Calgary
$81 30.1% $19

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom in Calgary costs $1,237 – below the national average of $1,193.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Canada
🇨🇦 Calgary
🕒 Local time
02:13 2:13 AM
00:13 12:13 AM
2 h behind Canada
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
36,991,981
1,267,344
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 CAD (1 CAD = 0.702 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.626 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Canada Calgary 2,880 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Canada
  • Calgary

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Canada vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How does living in Calgary compare to other cities in Canada?
At $2,232 per month, Calgary is 3% cheaper than the Canada average of $2,305. It's a strong value option within Canada, combining lower costs with the convenience and infrastructure of an established city.
What makes Calgary different from other cities in Canada?
What makes Calgary stand out in Canada is fast internet, plus costs that run 3% under the national norm. That mix of quality and value makes it one of the strongest options in the country.
How do housing costs in Calgary compare to the Canada average?
Housing in Calgary costs $2,232 monthly, 3% less than the national average. If you want urban services and amenities without the typical price tag, it's a practical choice.
Does $2,500 go further in Calgary or in other parts of Canada?
At $2,232 per month, Calgary is one of the more affordable places to live in Canada on a $2,500 budget. You'll have more breathing room here than in the country's higher-cost cities, with money left for savings or lifestyle extras.

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