Cost of Living Comparison Between Grimsby and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Grimsby and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,457 in Grimsby versus $2,353 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,507 in Grimsby versus $3,488 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,556 in Grimsby versus $4,622 in Calgary.

Living in Grimsby is roughly 4% more expensive than in Calgary, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Grimsby 79% above, Calgary 71% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.03 CA$24.87

$17.94 CA$24.74

0.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.0 CA$99.3

$70.5 CA$97.3

2.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.85 CA$14.97

$10.69 CA$14.74

1.50%

Cappuccino

$3.31 CA$4.56

$3.79 CA$5.22

-12.66%

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

$1.94 CA$2.68

$2.00 CA$2.76

-3.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 CA$2.14

$1.98 CA$2.72

-21.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.73 CA$7.90

$5.19 CA$7.16

10.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.18 CA$8.53

$5.86 CA$8.08

5.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.72 CA$3.75

$1.95 CA$2.69

39.49%

White Bread (500g)

$2.92 CA$4.02

$2.82 CA$3.89

3.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.50 CA$4.82

$5.61 CA$7.74

-37.61%

Eggs

$3.78 CA$5.22

$3.75 CA$5.17

0.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.32 CA$12.85

$11.50 CA$15.86

-18.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.78 CA$14.87

$11.46 CA$15.81

-5.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.84 CA$19.08

$18.95 CA$26.14

-26.97%

Apples (1kg)

$3.59 CA$4.95

$4.83 CA$6.66

-25.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 CA$2.05

$1.37 CA$1.89

8.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 CA$3.71

$4.25 CA$5.86

-36.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.94 CA$4.05

$4.15 CA$5.72

-29.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 CA$2.64

$2.70 CA$3.73

-29.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.93 CA$2.67

$2.83 CA$3.90

-31.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.00 CA$2.75

$2.64 CA$3.64

-24.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 CA$2.06

$1.51 CA$2.08

-0.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.54 CA$18.67

$14.60 CA$20.14

-7.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.90 CA$15.03

$15.76 CA$21.73

-30.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.75 CA$3.79

$2.60 CA$3.58

5.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 CA$3.60

$3.08 CA$4.25

-15.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.93 CA$4.04

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.3 CA$123

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.99 CA$6.88

$3.32 CA$4.58

50.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.47 CA$3.41

$1.43 CA$1.97

72.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$44.09 CA$60.8

$27.71 CA$38.21

59.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 CA$1.52

$1.26 CA$1.74

-12.70%

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

$28.5K CA$39.3K

$28.9K CA$39.9K

-1.49%

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

$19.1K CA$26.3K

$21.3K CA$29.4K

-10.63%

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

$147 CA$203

$183 CA$252

-19.54%

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

$45.50 CA$62.7

$38.31 CA$52.8

18.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.3 CA$97.0

$51.7 CA$71.3

36.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.3 CA$73.6

$54.9 CA$75.7

-2.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 CA$25.73

Cinema Ticket

$9.58 CA$13.21

$14.26 CA$19.66

-32.82%

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

$1,066 CA$1,471

$828 CA$1,142

28.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.7K CA$24.4K

$15.9K CA$21.9K

11.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.7 CA$96.1

$59.6 CA$82.1

16.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.0 CA$91.0

$39.47 CA$54.4

67.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.3 CA$136

$94.3 CA$130

4.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 CA$140

$113 CA$156

-9.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,265 CA$1,744

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,283 CA$1,769

$1,051 CA$1,450

22.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,816 CA$2,504

$1,934 CA$2,667

-6.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,700 CA$2,344

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,680 CA$5,075

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,333 CA$4,597

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,372 CA$6,029

$3,276 CA$4,518

33.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.52

4.4

2.73%

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

Last update for Grimsby: August 30, 2026

Last update for Calgary: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Grimsby pays 33% 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: $72.0 in Grimsby vs $71.0 in Calgary. Groceries flip the comparison at $337 vs $397, with Grimsby 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

Grimsby vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 33% higher in Grimsby, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $1,066 in Grimsby versus $828 in Calgary. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Calgary – a meal for two runs $71.0 versus $72.0 in Grimsby. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,353 in Calgary versus $2,457 in Grimsby, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in Grimsby. 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 4% less than in Grimsby. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.