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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,677 in Delta, BC versus $2,353 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,056 in Delta, BC versus $3,488 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,435 in Delta, BC versus $4,622 in Calgary.

Living in Delta, BC is roughly 14% more expensive than in Calgary, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Delta, BC 95% above, Calgary 71% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.11 CA$27.76

$17.94 CA$24.76

12.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.8 CA$97.8

$70.5 CA$97.4

0.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.11 CA$12.58

$10.69 CA$14.75

-14.78%

Cappuccino

$4.59 CA$6.34

$3.79 CA$5.23

21.11%

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

$2.44 CA$3.37

$2.00 CA$2.76

22.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 CA$2.47

$1.98 CA$2.73

-9.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 CA$8.06

$5.19 CA$7.17

12.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.44 CA$8.89

$5.86 CA$8.09

9.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 CA$2.54

$1.95 CA$2.70

-5.64%

White Bread (500g)

$2.35 CA$3.24

$2.82 CA$3.90

-16.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.02 CA$4.17

$5.61 CA$7.75

-46.17%

Eggs

$4.04 CA$5.58

$3.75 CA$5.18

7.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.06 CA$19.41

$11.50 CA$15.88

22.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.27 CA$19.70

$11.46 CA$15.83

24.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.06 CA$34.60

$18.95 CA$26.16

32.24%

Apples (1kg)

$4.00 CA$5.52

$4.83 CA$6.67

-17.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 CA$1.69

$1.37 CA$1.89

-10.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 CA$5.96

$4.25 CA$5.86

1.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.67 CA$6.44

$4.15 CA$5.73

12.53%

Potato (1kg)

$2.93 CA$4.05

$2.70 CA$3.73

8.52%

Onion (1kg)

$3.51 CA$4.85

$2.83 CA$3.90

24.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.38 CA$3.29

$2.64 CA$3.64

-9.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 CA$3.02

$1.51 CA$2.09

45.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.49 CA$20.00

$14.60 CA$20.16

-0.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.87 CA$17.77

$15.76 CA$21.75

-18.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 CA$2.85

$2.60 CA$3.59

-20.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 CA$3.44

$3.08 CA$4.25

-19.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.89 CA$3.99

$2.93 CA$4.04

-1.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.9 CA$117

$89.3 CA$123

-4.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.01 CA$4.15

$3.32 CA$4.58

-9.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 CA$2.08

$1.43 CA$1.97

4.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.51 CA$36.60

$27.71 CA$38.25

-4.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 CA$1.78

$1.26 CA$1.74

2.38%

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

$28.0K CA$38.7K

$28.9K CA$39.9K

-3.21%

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

$20.1K CA$27.8K

$21.3K CA$29.5K

-5.67%

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

$124 CA$172

$183 CA$253

-32.04%

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

$37.66 CA$52.0

$38.31 CA$52.9

-1.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.6 CA$74.0

$51.7 CA$71.3

3.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.84 CA$39.80

$54.9 CA$75.7

-47.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 CA$25.76

Cinema Ticket

$12.48 CA$17.23

$14.26 CA$19.68

-12.48%

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

$663 CA$915

$828 CA$1,144

-20.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K CA$15.0K

$15.9K CA$22.0K

-31.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.4 CA$88.9

$59.6 CA$82.2

8.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.9 CA$74.3

$39.47 CA$54.5

36.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 CA$115

$94.3 CA$130

-11.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.5 CA$110

$113 CA$156

-29.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,681 CA$2,320

$1,265 CA$1,746

32.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,486 CA$2,052

$1,051 CA$1,451

41.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,494 CA$4,823

$1,934 CA$2,670

80.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,483 CA$3,428

$1,700 CA$2,347

46.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,809 CA$5,258

$3,680 CA$5,080

3.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,333 CA$4,602

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,138 CA$4,332

$3,276 CA$4,523

-4.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.76

4.4

8.18%

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

Last update for Delta, BC: August 30, 2026

Last update for Calgary: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,681 in Delta, BC and $1,265 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $71.0 in Delta, BC vs $71.0 in Calgary. Groceries flip the comparison at $419 vs $397, 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

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

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

On paper, salaries run 4% 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: $1,681 in Delta, BC versus $1,265 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 $71.0 versus $71.0 in Delta, BC. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,677 per month in Delta, BC versus $2,353 in Calgary – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,353 in Calgary versus $2,677 in Delta, BC, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in Delta, BC. The gap between the two cities makes Calgary 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 Calgary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Delta, BC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.