Cost of Living Comparison Between Charlottetown and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Charlottetown and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,997 in Charlottetown versus $2,344 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,949 in Charlottetown versus $3,470 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,900 in Charlottetown versus $4,597 in Calgary.

Living in Charlottetown costs roughly 15% less than in Calgary, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Charlottetown 46% above, Calgary 71% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.23 CA$19.91

$17.68 CA$24.74

-19.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.7 CA$86.3

$71.2 CA$99.6

-13.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.51 CA$13.30

$10.85 CA$15.18

-12.35%

Cappuccino

$3.63 CA$5.07

$3.85 CA$5.39

-5.71%

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

$1.76 CA$2.46

$1.95 CA$2.73

-9.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 CA$1.93

$1.79 CA$2.51

-22.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.88 CA$8.23

$4.97 CA$6.95

18.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.62 CA$7.86

$5.90 CA$8.25

-4.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.29 CA$3.20

$1.84 CA$2.58

24.46%

White Bread (500g)

$3.02 CA$4.22

$2.73 CA$3.82

10.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.89 CA$6.84

$5.44 CA$7.60

-10.11%

Eggs

$4.04 CA$5.65

$3.63 CA$5.07

11.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.78 CA$16.48

$11.55 CA$16.15

1.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.77 CA$22.05

$11.57 CA$16.19

36.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.73 CA$24.81

$18.94 CA$26.50

-6.39%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 CA$4.89

$4.95 CA$6.92

-29.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 CA$2.02

$1.42 CA$1.98

2.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.04 CA$5.65

$4.22 CA$5.90

-4.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.00 CA$6.99

$4.09 CA$5.72

22.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.77 CA$2.48

$2.56 CA$3.58

-30.86%

Onion (1kg)

$3.08 CA$4.31

$2.82 CA$3.95

9.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.73 CA$3.82

$2.57 CA$3.59

6.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 CA$2.89

$1.55 CA$2.16

32.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.68 CA$24.74

$14.59 CA$20.41

21.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.27 CA$19.96

$15.60 CA$21.83

-8.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.25 CA$4.55

$2.58 CA$3.61

25.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 CA$4.54

$3.23 CA$4.52

0.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 CA$2.05

$2.96 CA$4.14

-50.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.26 CA$19.95

$91.1 CA$127

-84.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.56 CA$10.57

$3.17 CA$4.43

138.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 CA$2.97

$1.39 CA$1.95

52.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.31 CA$39.61

$27.67 CA$38.70

2.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 CA$1.70

$1.25 CA$1.75

-2.40%

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

$28.4K CA$39.7K

$28.3K CA$39.6K

0.15%

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

$19.2K CA$26.9K

$21.3K CA$29.8K

-9.74%

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

$131 CA$183

$178 CA$249

-26.24%

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

$32.80 CA$45.89

$39.31 CA$55.0

-16.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 CA$106

$50.9 CA$71.2

49.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.4 CA$84.5

$54.7 CA$76.5

10.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.52 CA$4.93

$18.77 CA$26.25

-81.25%

Cinema Ticket

$10.89 CA$15.23

$14.55 CA$20.36

-25.15%

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

$159 CA$222

$812 CA$1,135

-80.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.4K CA$23.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.84 CA$55.7

$59.4 CA$83.1

-32.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.85 CA$47.35

$40.33 CA$56.4

-16.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.3 CA$119

$92.2 CA$129

-7.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$137 CA$191

$113 CA$158

21.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,122 CA$1,569

$1,284 CA$1,796

-12.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$873 CA$1,221

$1,018 CA$1,424

-14.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,794 CA$2,510

$1,977 CA$2,766

-9.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,374 CA$1,922

$1,746 CA$2,443

-21.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,279 CA$4,586

$3,571 CA$4,995

-8.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,001 CA$2,799

$3,359 CA$4,698

-40.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,458 CA$3,439

$3,213 CA$4,495

-23.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.58

4.48

2.23%

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

Last update for Charlottetown: September 13, 2026

Last update for Calgary: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,122 in Charlottetown and $1,284 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 31% 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: $62.0 in Charlottetown vs $71.0 in Calgary. Groceries flip the comparison at $422 vs $395, 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

Charlottetown vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Charlottetown is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 31% lower in Calgary. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,122 in Charlottetown versus $1,284 in Calgary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Charlottetown – a meal for two runs $62.0 versus $71.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,997 per month in Charlottetown versus $2,344 in Calgary – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,997 in Charlottetown versus $2,344 in Calgary, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Charlottetown but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Charlottetown 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 Charlottetown gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.