Cost of Living Comparison Between Canmore and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Canmore and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,064 in Canmore versus $2,523 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,853 in Canmore versus $3,652 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,642 in Canmore versus $4,780 in Calgary.

Living in Canmore is roughly 21% more expensive than Calgary, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Canmore 129% above, Calgary 88% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.36 CA$25.51

$18.59 CA$25.83

-1.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.3 CA$103

$70.0 CA$97.3

6.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 CA$16.48

$10.96 CA$15.22

8.21%

Cappuccino

$4.43 CA$6.16

$3.73 CA$5.19

18.77%

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

$1.62 CA$2.26

$1.99 CA$2.76

-18.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.70

$1.72 CA$2.39

13.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.30 CA$11.53

$5.01 CA$6.97

65.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.44 CA$8.94

$6.50 CA$9.04

-0.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 CA$3.05

$2.22 CA$3.09

-0.90%

White Bread (500g)

$2.34 CA$3.26

$2.67 CA$3.71

-12.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.31 CA$7.37

$3.26 CA$4.53

62.88%

Eggs

$3.67 CA$5.10

$3.35 CA$4.66

9.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.61 CA$16.13

$14.50 CA$20.14

-19.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.98 CA$20.81

$12.95 CA$17.99

15.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.50 CA$17.37

$16.15 CA$22.44

-22.60%

Apples (1kg)

$4.12 CA$5.72

$4.32 CA$6.00

-4.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 CA$2.12

$1.35 CA$1.88

12.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 CA$6.00

$3.83 CA$5.32

12.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.04 CA$7.01

$4.18 CA$5.81

20.57%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 CA$4.06

$2.65 CA$3.68

10.19%

Onion (1kg)

$3.29 CA$4.57

$2.74 CA$3.81

20.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.92 CA$4.06

$2.76 CA$3.84

5.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 CA$3.59

$1.95 CA$2.71

32.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.96 CA$20.79

$14.98 CA$20.81

-0.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.16 CA$18.28

$14.67 CA$20.38

-10.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 CA$3.97

$2.84 CA$3.95

0.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 CA$6.28

$4.02 CA$5.58

12.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 CA$2.07

$2.80 CA$3.89

-46.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.80 CA$42.80

$86.2 CA$120

-64.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.48 CA$7.62

$3.60 CA$5.00

52.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.74 CA$3.81

$1.32 CA$1.83

107.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.40 CA$35.29

$29.01 CA$40.31

-12.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 CA$1.42

$1.12 CA$1.56

-8.93%

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

$25.1K CA$34.9K

$24.9K CA$34.5K

0.99%

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

$21.3K CA$29.6K

$22.0K CA$30.5K

-3.22%

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

$206 CA$286

$217 CA$302

-5.10%

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

$59.4 CA$82.5

$41.55 CA$57.7

42.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.3 CA$105

$58.1 CA$80.7

29.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.3 CA$96.4

$54.7 CA$76.0

26.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.66 CA$30.09

$52.8 CA$73.4

-58.99%

Cinema Ticket

$14.58 CA$20.25

$12.77 CA$17.74

14.17%

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

$1,034 CA$1,436

$874 CA$1,214

18.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.0K CA$16.6K

$15.9K CA$22.1K

-24.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.9 CA$73.5

$58.8 CA$81.7

-10.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.62 CA$64.8

$46.47 CA$64.6

0.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.8 CA$127

$87.2 CA$121

5.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 CA$141

$109 CA$151

-6.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,589 CA$2,208

$1,414 CA$1,964

12.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,677 CA$2,329

$1,172 CA$1,629

43.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,033 CA$2,825

$2,319 CA$3,222

-12.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,611 CA$5,017

$1,886 CA$2,621

91.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,462 CA$8,978

$3,892 CA$5,407

66.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,244 CA$8,676

$3,503 CA$4,867

78.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,258 CA$4,527

$3,149 CA$4,375

3.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.96

5.71

4.38%

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

Last update for Canmore: June 1, 2026

Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,589 in Canmore and $1,414 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Canmore pays 3% 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: $74.0 in Canmore vs $70.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $408 vs $397 per month, with Calgary 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

Canmore vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Canmore pays 3% 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: $1,589 in Canmore versus $1,414 in Calgary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Calgary – a meal for two runs $70.0 versus $74.0 in Canmore. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,064 per month in Canmore versus $2,523 in Calgary – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Calgary is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 Calgary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Canmore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.