Cost of Living Comparison Between Hay River, NT and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Hay River, NT and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,312 in Hay River, NT versus $2,462 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,325 in Hay River, NT versus $3,628 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,338 in Hay River, NT versus $4,795 in Calgary.

Living in Hay River, NT costs roughly 6% less than in Calgary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hay River, NT 73% above, Calgary 84% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.22 CA$24.22

$18.33 CA$25.79

-6.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.7 CA$96.7

$69.9 CA$98.3

-1.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.21 CA$15.78

$10.95 CA$15.41

2.37%

Cappuccino

$3.89 CA$5.47

$3.74 CA$5.26

4.01%

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

$1.96 CA$2.76

$2.04 CA$2.87

-3.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 CA$2.38

$1.67 CA$2.35

1.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.44 CA$7.65

$5.20 CA$7.32

4.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 CA$8.24

$6.71 CA$9.45

-12.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 CA$3.08

$2.25 CA$3.16

-2.67%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 CA$3.82

$2.75 CA$3.87

-1.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.67 CA$5.17

$3.23 CA$4.54

13.62%

Eggs

$3.38 CA$4.75

$3.45 CA$4.85

-2.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.97 CA$15.43

$14.40 CA$20.26

-23.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.58 CA$16.29

$12.89 CA$18.13

-10.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.97 CA$21.07

$15.86 CA$22.32

-5.61%

Apples (1kg)

$3.99 CA$5.62

$4.30 CA$6.05

-7.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 CA$1.92

$1.34 CA$1.89

2.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.72 CA$5.24

$3.85 CA$5.42

-3.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.81 CA$5.36

$4.25 CA$5.99

-10.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.49 CA$3.50

$2.55 CA$3.58

-2.35%

Onion (1kg)

$2.49 CA$3.50

$2.62 CA$3.69

-4.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.64 CA$3.71

$2.80 CA$3.94

-5.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 CA$2.49

$1.95 CA$2.74

-9.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.87 CA$19.52

$14.97 CA$21.06

-7.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.56 CA$17.67

$13.90 CA$19.57

-9.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 CA$4.06

$2.92 CA$4.11

-1.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 CA$4.33

$3.91 CA$5.50

-21.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.34 CA$3.30

$2.74 CA$3.85

-14.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$62.5 CA$88.0

$87.8 CA$124

-28.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.24 CA$4.55

$3.60 CA$5.06

-10.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 CA$2.10

$1.30 CA$1.83

14.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.32 CA$35.62

$28.70 CA$40.39

-11.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 CA$1.59

$1.12 CA$1.57

0.89%

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

$25.2K CA$35.4K

$25.5K CA$35.8K

-1.14%

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

$20.5K CA$28.8K

$21.7K CA$30.6K

-5.85%

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

$144 CA$203

$213 CA$300

-32.41%

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

$43.97 CA$61.9

$40.96 CA$57.6

7.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.0 CA$88.7

$57.9 CA$81.5

8.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.88 CA$58.9

$54.2 CA$76.2

-22.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.6

Cinema Ticket

$11.27 CA$15.86

$12.63 CA$17.77

-10.77%

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

$731 CA$1,028

$874 CA$1,230

-16.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.8K CA$16.5K

$15.9K CA$22.3K

-25.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 CA$76.8

$58.6 CA$82.5

-6.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.11 CA$56.4

$47.01 CA$66.2

-14.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.6 CA$122

$85.1 CA$120

1.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 CA$149

$108 CA$151

-1.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,315 CA$1,850

$1,380 CA$1,942

-4.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,188 CA$1,672

$1,159 CA$1,631

2.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,015 CA$2,835

$2,324 CA$3,270

-13.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,831 CA$2,576

$1,905 CA$2,680

-3.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,892 CA$6,884

$3,786 CA$5,327

29.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,207 CA$4,513

$3,511 CA$4,940

-8.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,282 CA$6,026

$2,940 CA$4,136

45.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.46

5.71

13.13%

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

Last update for Hay River, NT: July 11, 2026

Last update for Calgary: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,315 in Hay River, NT and $1,380 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hay River, NT pays 46% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $69.0 in Hay River, NT vs $70.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $365 vs $396 per month, with Hay River, NT 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

Hay River, NT vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hay River, NT is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 46% higher in Hay River, NT, 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: $1,315 in Hay River, NT versus $1,380 in Calgary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Hay River, NT – a meal for two runs $69.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,312 per month in Hay River, NT versus $2,462 in Calgary – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,312 in Hay River, NT versus $2,462 in Calgary, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Hay River, NT but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Hay River, NT 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 Hay River, NT gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.