Cost of Living Comparison Between Duncan BC and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Duncan BC and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,354 in Duncan BC versus $2,523 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,584 in Duncan BC versus $3,652 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,813 in Duncan BC versus $4,780 in Calgary.

Living in Duncan BC costs roughly 7% less than in Calgary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Duncan BC 76% above, Calgary 88% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.54 CA$25.78

$18.59 CA$25.86

-0.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.5 CA$96.7

$70.0 CA$97.4

-0.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.24 CA$15.63

$10.96 CA$15.24

2.55%

Cappuccino

$4.14 CA$5.76

$3.73 CA$5.19

10.99%

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

$2.04 CA$2.83

$1.99 CA$2.77

2.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 CA$2.52

$1.72 CA$2.40

5.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.10 CA$7.09

$5.01 CA$6.97

1.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.12 CA$8.51

$6.50 CA$9.05

-5.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 CA$2.13

$2.22 CA$3.09

-31.08%

White Bread (500g)

$2.61 CA$3.63

$2.67 CA$3.71

-2.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.36 CA$7.46

$3.26 CA$4.54

64.42%

Eggs

$3.53 CA$4.91

$3.35 CA$4.66

5.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.25 CA$14.26

$14.50 CA$20.16

-29.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.06 CA$16.77

$12.95 CA$18.01

-6.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.91 CA$20.74

$16.15 CA$22.46

-7.68%

Apples (1kg)

$3.34 CA$4.64

$4.32 CA$6.01

-22.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 CA$1.80

$1.35 CA$1.88

-4.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.00 CA$4.18

$3.83 CA$5.32

-21.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.44 CA$4.79

$4.18 CA$5.81

-17.70%

Potato (1kg)

$2.38 CA$3.31

$2.65 CA$3.68

-10.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.02 CA$2.82

$2.74 CA$3.81

-26.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.37 CA$3.29

$2.76 CA$3.84

-14.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 CA$2.44

$1.95 CA$2.71

-10.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.34 CA$19.94

$14.98 CA$20.83

-4.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.01 CA$16.71

$14.67 CA$20.40

-18.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.84 CA$5.34

$2.84 CA$3.95

35.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 CA$5.50

$4.02 CA$5.59

-1.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 CA$2.75

$2.80 CA$3.90

-29.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.5 CA$106

$86.2 CA$120

-11.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 CA$3.91

$3.60 CA$5.01

-21.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 CA$2.09

$1.32 CA$1.83

13.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.01 CA$40.35

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 CA$1.88

$1.12 CA$1.56

20.54%

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

$23.3K CA$32.4K

$24.9K CA$34.6K

-6.25%

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

$20.7K CA$28.7K

$22.0K CA$30.6K

-5.94%

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

$158 CA$220

$217 CA$302

-27.28%

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

$41.92 CA$58.3

$41.55 CA$57.8

0.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 CA$93.0

$58.1 CA$80.8

15.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.1 CA$89.2

$54.7 CA$76.1

17.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.8 CA$73.5

Cinema Ticket

$12.72 CA$17.69

$12.77 CA$17.75

-0.39%

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

$920 CA$1,279

$874 CA$1,215

5.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K CA$14.9K

$15.9K CA$22.2K

-32.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 CA$78.5

$58.8 CA$81.8

-4.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.3 CA$71.4

$46.47 CA$64.6

10.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.1 CA$138

$87.2 CA$121

13.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.1 CA$134

$109 CA$151

-11.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,280 CA$1,781

$1,414 CA$1,966

-9.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,154 CA$1,605

$1,172 CA$1,630

-1.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,411 CA$3,353

$2,319 CA$3,225

3.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,216 CA$3,082

$1,886 CA$2,623

17.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,387 CA$6,101

$3,892 CA$5,413

12.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,646 CA$5,071

$3,503 CA$4,872

4.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,217 CA$4,474

$3,149 CA$4,380

2.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

5.71

14.54%

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

Last update for Duncan BC: June 1, 2026

Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,280 in Duncan BC and $1,414 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Duncan BC pays 2% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $70.0 in Duncan BC vs $70.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $359 vs $397 per month, with Duncan BC 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

Duncan BC vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Duncan BC is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Getting Around. The 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Duncan BC pays 2% 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: $1,280 in Duncan BC 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 Duncan BC – a meal for two runs $70.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,354 per month in Duncan BC versus $2,523 in Calgary – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,354 in Duncan BC versus $2,523 in Calgary, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Duncan BC but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Duncan 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 Duncan BC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.