🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,518 in Grimsby versus $2,523 in Calgary.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,499 in Grimsby versus $3,652 in Calgary.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,481 in Grimsby versus $4,780 in Calgary.
🙂Monthly costs are close between Grimsby and Calgary; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Grimsby88% above, Calgary88% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Grimsby
Calgary
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.18CA$25.17
$18.59CA$25.74
-2.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.7CA$108
$70.0CA$97.0
10.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.13CA$15.42
$10.96CA$15.17
1.55%
Cappuccino
$3.60CA$4.99
$3.73CA$5.17
-3.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02CA$2.80
$1.99CA$2.75
1.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54CA$2.13
$1.72CA$2.39
-10.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.04CA$8.37
$5.01CA$6.94
20.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.76CA$9.36
$6.50CA$9.01
4.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Grimsby
Calgary
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.03CA$4.19
$2.22CA$3.08
36.49%
White Bread(500g)
$2.90CA$4.02
$2.67CA$3.69
8.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.30CA$5.96
$3.26CA$4.52
31.90%
Eggs
$3.40CA$4.71
$3.35CA$4.64
1.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.48CA$18.66
$14.50CA$20.07
-7.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.64CA$13.35
$12.95CA$17.93
-25.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.30CA$15.64
$16.15CA$22.36
-30.03%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89CA$4.00
$4.32CA$5.98
-33.10%
Banana(1kg)
$2.06CA$2.85
$1.35CA$1.88
52.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.58CA$4.96
$3.83CA$5.30
-6.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.55CA$4.91
$4.18CA$5.79
-15.07%
Potato(1kg)
$1.87CA$2.59
$2.65CA$3.67
-29.43%
Onion(1kg)
$2.88CA$3.99
$2.74CA$3.79
5.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.67CA$2.32
$2.76CA$3.82
-39.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.15CA$2.98
$1.95CA$2.70
10.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.92CA$19.28
$14.98CA$20.74
-7.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.61CA$17.46
$14.67CA$20.31
-14.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20CA$3.05
$2.84CA$3.94
-22.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22CA$3.07
$4.02CA$5.56
-44.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Grimsby
Calgary
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.39CA$3.31
$2.80CA$3.88
-14.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$61.8CA$85.6
$86.2CA$119
-28.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.19CA$4.42
$3.60CA$4.99
-11.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.26CA$1.74
$1.32CA$1.82
-4.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.75CA$30.12
$29.01CA$40.17
-25.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15CA$1.59
$1.12CA$1.55
2.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0KCA$34.6K
$24.9KCA$34.4K
0.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.2KCA$29.4K
$22.0KCA$30.4K
-3.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Grimsby
Calgary
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$159CA$220
$217CA$301
-26.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.1CA$73.5
$41.55CA$57.5
27.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.7CA$97.8
$58.1CA$80.4
21.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Grimsby
Calgary
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.03CA$58.2
$54.7CA$75.8
-23.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$52.8CA$73.1
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.76CA$12.13
$12.77CA$17.68
-31.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Grimsby
Calgary
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$727CA$1,006
$874CA$1,210
-16.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.3KCA$25.3K
$15.9KCA$22.1K
14.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Grimsby
Calgary
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.9CA$101
$58.8CA$81.5
23.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.83CA$55.2
$46.47CA$64.4
-14.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114CA$158
$87.2CA$121
30.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111CA$154
$109CA$151
2.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Grimsby
Calgary
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,339CA$1,853
$1,414CA$1,957
-5.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,314CA$1,820
$1,172CA$1,623
12.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,892CA$2,620
$2,319CA$3,211
-18.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,824CA$2,525
$1,886CA$2,612
-3.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,892CA$5,389
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$3,503CA$4,851
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Grimsby
Calgary
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,395CA$6,086
$3,149CA$4,360
39.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.4
5.71
12.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Grimsby: May 31, 2026
Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,339 in Grimsby and $1,414 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Grimsby pays 40% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.
🛒Dining out: $78.0 in Grimsby vs $70.0 in Calgary. Groceries flip the comparison at $356 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
Where can you earn more: Grimsby or Calgary?
Grimsby pays 40% more on average, 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 Grimsby and Calgary?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,339 in Grimsby versus $1,414 in Calgary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $727 in Grimsby versus $874 in Calgary. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Grimsby or Calgary?
Dining out is cheaper in Grimsby – a meal for two runs $78.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for Grimsby or Calgary?
At $2,518 in Grimsby versus $2,523 in Calgary, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Grimsby but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Grimsby the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Grimsby or 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 the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Grimsby wins on affordability, Calgary on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.