Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Fairfield, CT and Calgary

For one person, living is cheaper in Calgary: $2,255 a month against $2,624 in Fairfield, CT, rent and utilities included – about $4,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Fairfield, CT
🇺🇸 United States
$2,624
/mo nomad
Calgary
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,255
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Fairfield, CT and in Calgary

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Fairfield, CT and in Calgary actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,624 in Fairfield, CT versus $2,255 in Calgary.

  • Fairfield, CT $2,624
  • Calgary $2,255

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,865 in Fairfield, CT versus $3,361 in Calgary.

  • Fairfield, CT $3,865
  • Calgary $3,361

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,106 in Fairfield, CT versus $4,468 in Calgary.

  • Fairfield, CT $5,106
  • Calgary $4,468

Living in Fairfield, CT is roughly 16% more expensive than in Calgary, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Fairfield, CT 94% above, Calgary 66% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fairfield, CT
Calgary
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.72 $19.72
$17.58 CA$24.85
12.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.7 $73.7
$69.1 CA$97.6
6.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.48 $11.48
$10.59 CA$14.97
8.40%
Cappuccino
$5.63 $5.63
$3.84 CA$5.42
46.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 $2.45
$1.93 CA$2.72
26.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 $1.79
$1.88 CA$2.66
-4.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.88 $5.88
$5.09 CA$7.20
15.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.04 $7.04
$5.64 CA$7.97
24.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fairfield, CT
Calgary
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 $1.01
$2.00 CA$2.82
-49.50%
White Bread (500g)
$3.55 $3.55
$2.78 CA$3.93
27.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.38 $4.38
$5.59 CA$7.90
-21.65%
Eggs
$4.25 $4.25
$3.70 CA$5.23
14.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.61 $12.61
$11.48 CA$16.23
9.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.70 $11.70
$11.20 CA$15.84
4.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.14 $17.14
$18.59 CA$26.28
-7.80%
Apples (1kg)
$4.32 $4.32
$4.70 CA$6.64
-8.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 $1.54
$1.45 CA$2.05
6.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.85 $3.85
$4.34 CA$6.13
-11.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$3.79 CA$5.36
15.30%
Potato (1kg)
$2.91 $2.91
$2.69 CA$3.81
8.18%
Onion (1kg)
$2.70 $2.70
$2.75 CA$3.88
-1.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.12 $2.12
$2.56 CA$3.62
-17.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.50 CA$2.12
56.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.85 $8.85
$14.39 CA$20.34
-38.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.52 $15.52
$15.81 CA$22.35
-1.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97 $1.97
$2.47 CA$3.49
-20.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14 $3.14
$3.10 CA$4.39
1.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Fairfield, CT
Calgary
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.81 CA$3.97
-27.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$70.0 $70.0
$90.6 CA$128
-22.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.28 $3.28
$3.28 CA$4.64
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.40 CA$1.97
22.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.28 $30.28
$26.49 CA$37.45
14.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$1.22 CA$1.72
-6.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4K $30.4K
$28.4K CA$40.1K
7.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$20.8K CA$29.5K
25.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fairfield, CT
Calgary
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$197 $197
$165 CA$233
19.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.0 $58.0
$38.24 CA$54.1
51.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.6 $70.6
$50.1 CA$70.9
40.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fairfield, CT
Calgary
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.03 $42.03
$53.8 CA$76.1
-21.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.04 CA$25.51
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.29 $14.29
$14.04 CA$19.84
1.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fairfield, CT
Calgary
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,424 $1,424
$797 CA$1,126
78.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.3K $23.3K
$15.8K CA$22.3K
47.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fairfield, CT
Calgary
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.6 $52.6
$59.1 CA$83.5
-11.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95 $40.95
$40.20 CA$56.8
1.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.4 $88.4
$90.8 CA$128
-2.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 $115
$109 CA$155
5.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fairfield, CT
Calgary
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,567 $1,567
$1,207 CA$1,707
29.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,290 $1,290
$1,011 CA$1,429
27.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,545 $2,545
$1,949 CA$2,756
30.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,184 $2,184
$1,677 CA$2,371
30.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,337 $2,337
$3,532 CA$4,993
-33.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,221 $2,221
$3,392 CA$4,795
-34.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fairfield, CT
Calgary
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,993 $4,993
$3,152 CA$4,456
58.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6
4.51
33.04%

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

Last update for Fairfield, CT: October 19, 2026

Last update for Calgary: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Fairfield, CT
$1.3K
Calgary
$1K 21.6% $279
Groceries & Markets
Fairfield, CT
$394
Calgary
$392 0.6% $2.3
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fairfield, CT
$326
Calgary
$253 22.3% $73
Eating Out
Fairfield, CT
$320
Calgary
$270 15.6% $50
Clothing & Footwear
Fairfield, CT
$134
Calgary
$135 0.9% $1.2
Getting Around
Fairfield, CT
$90
Calgary
$112 24.6% $22
Sport & Entertainment
Fairfield, CT
$71
Calgary
$82 15.9% $11

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,567 in Fairfield, CT and $1,207 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Fairfield, CT pays 58% 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 Fairfield, CT vs $69.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $394 vs $392 per month, with Calgary cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Fairfield, CT
🇨🇦 Calgary
🕒 Local time
17:24 5:24 PM
15:24 3:24 PM
2 h behind Fairfield, CT
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
117,133
1,267,344
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Fairfield, CT Calgary 3,280 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Fairfield, CT
  • Calgary

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Fairfield, CT vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Calgary cheaper than Fairfield, CT?
Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and utilities. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Fairfield, CT or Calgary?
Average pay runs 58% higher in Fairfield, CT, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Fairfield, CT and Calgary?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,567 in Fairfield, CT versus $1,207 in Calgary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Fairfield, CT or in Calgary?
Dining out is cheaper in Calgary – a meal for two runs $69.0 versus $74.0 in Fairfield, CT. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Fairfield, CT and in Calgary?
All in, you'll spend $2,624 per month in Fairfield, CT versus $2,255 in Calgary – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Fairfield, CT or in Calgary?
At $2,255 in Calgary versus $2,624 in Fairfield, CT, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in Fairfield, CT. The gap between the two cities makes Calgary the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Fairfield, CT or in Calgary?
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.
Which city is safer, Fairfield, CT or Calgary?
Safety-wise, Fairfield, CT and Calgary are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Calgary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Fairfield, CT. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Fairfield, CT vs other spots: cost of living compared

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