Cost of Living Comparison Between Comox, BC and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Comox, BC and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,199 in Comox, BC versus $2,517 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,224 in Comox, BC versus $3,646 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,249 in Comox, BC versus $4,776 in Calgary.

Living in Comox, BC costs roughly 13% less than in Calgary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Comox, BC 64% above, Calgary 87% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.79 CA$23.45

$18.37 CA$25.65

-8.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.1 CA$102

$69.7 CA$97.4

4.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.46 CA$13.21

$10.88 CA$15.19

-13.05%

Cappuccino

$4.06 CA$5.66

$3.69 CA$5.16

10.03%

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

$1.98 CA$2.76

$2.03 CA$2.84

-2.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 CA$1.82

$1.74 CA$2.43

-25.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.50 CA$7.68

$5.30 CA$7.40

3.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.74 CA$9.41

$6.74 CA$9.42

Milk (1 liter)

$2.21 CA$3.09

$2.23 CA$3.12

-0.90%

White Bread (500g)

$2.40 CA$3.36

$2.68 CA$3.75

-10.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.72 CA$3.80

$3.35 CA$4.68

-18.81%

Eggs

$3.14 CA$4.38

$3.33 CA$4.65

-5.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.25 CA$12.92

$14.41 CA$20.12

-35.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.67 CA$16.30

$12.50 CA$17.46

-6.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.81 CA$13.70

$16.33 CA$22.81

-39.93%

Apples (1kg)

$3.11 CA$4.34

$4.28 CA$5.98

-27.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 CA$1.99

$1.35 CA$1.89

5.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.66

$3.74 CA$5.22

-29.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.89 CA$5.43

$4.17 CA$5.83

-6.71%

Potato (1kg)

$2.46 CA$3.44

$2.56 CA$3.58

-3.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.13 CA$2.97

$2.68 CA$3.74

-20.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.88 CA$2.63

$2.66 CA$3.71

-29.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 CA$1.65

$1.88 CA$2.62

-37.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.74 CA$16.39

$14.66 CA$20.47

-19.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.95 CA$15.30

$14.23 CA$19.87

-23.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.13 CA$2.97

$2.95 CA$4.12

-27.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 CA$3.22

$3.89 CA$5.44

-40.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.41 CA$3.36

$2.71 CA$3.79

-11.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.3 CA$88.4

$87.7 CA$122

-27.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.66 CA$3.72

$3.46 CA$4.83

-23.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.40 CA$1.95

$1.30 CA$1.81

7.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.66 CA$45.60

$28.30 CA$39.52

15.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 CA$1.80

$1.09 CA$1.52

18.35%

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

$25.3K CA$35.4K

$25.0K CA$34.9K

1.20%

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

$20.4K CA$28.5K

$22.2K CA$31.0K

-8.26%

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

$114 CA$159

$211 CA$295

-46.23%

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

$44.78 CA$62.5

$40.40 CA$56.4

10.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.08 CA$64.4

$58.5 CA$81.7

-21.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.71 CA$58.2

$53.8 CA$75.1

-22.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.2

Cinema Ticket

$12.34 CA$17.23

$12.64 CA$17.66

-2.37%

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

$957 CA$1,336

$865 CA$1,208

10.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.2K CA$15.6K

$16.1K CA$22.4K

-30.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.69 CA$68.0

$58.1 CA$81.1

-16.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.88 CA$47.32

$47.18 CA$65.9

-28.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.1 CA$130

$85.4 CA$119

8.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 CA$176

$106 CA$148

18.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,328 CA$1,854

$1,416 CA$1,977

-6.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,159 CA$1,619

$1,153 CA$1,611

0.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,981 CA$2,766

$2,370 CA$3,309

-16.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,819 CA$2,540

$1,864 CA$2,603

-2.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,225 CA$4,503

$3,834 CA$5,354

-15.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,305 CA$4,616

$3,443 CA$4,808

-3.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,135 CA$4,378

$3,105 CA$4,337

0.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.08

5.71

6.48%

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

Last update for Comox, BC: June 7, 2026

Last update for Calgary: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,328 in Comox, BC and $1,416 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Comox, BC pays 1% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $73.0 in Comox, BC vs $70.0 in Calgary. Groceries flip the comparison at $310 vs $393, with Comox, BC 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

Comox, BC vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Comox, BC is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Comox, BC pays 1% 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: $1,328 in Comox, BC versus $1,416 in Calgary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Comox, BC – a meal for two runs $73.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,199 per month in Comox, BC versus $2,517 in Calgary – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,199 in Comox, BC versus $2,517 in Calgary, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Comox, BC but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Comox, BC 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 Comox, BC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.