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: $2,296 in Hay River, NT versus $2,523 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,340 in Hay River, NT versus $3,652 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,383 in Hay River, NT versus $4,780 in Calgary.

Living in Hay River, NT costs roughly 9% less than in Calgary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hay River, NT 71% above, Calgary 88% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.77 CA$23.32

$18.59 CA$25.86

-9.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.7 CA$96.9

$70.0 CA$97.4

-0.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.07 CA$15.39

$10.96 CA$15.24

1.00%

Cappuccino

$3.68 CA$5.11

$3.73 CA$5.19

-1.34%

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

$2.07 CA$2.87

$1.99 CA$2.77

4.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 CA$2.39

$1.72 CA$2.40

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.48 CA$7.62

$5.01 CA$6.97

9.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.01 CA$8.36

$6.50 CA$9.05

-7.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 CA$3.06

$2.22 CA$3.09

-0.90%

White Bread (500g)

$2.70 CA$3.76

$2.67 CA$3.71

1.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.61 CA$5.01

$3.26 CA$4.54

10.74%

Eggs

$3.40 CA$4.73

$3.35 CA$4.66

1.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.07 CA$15.39

$14.50 CA$20.16

-23.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.54 CA$16.05

$12.95 CA$18.01

-10.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.43 CA$20.07

$16.15 CA$22.46

-10.65%

Apples (1kg)

$3.96 CA$5.51

$4.32 CA$6.01

-8.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 CA$1.99

$1.35 CA$1.88

5.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.61 CA$5.03

$3.83 CA$5.32

-5.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.68 CA$5.12

$4.18 CA$5.81

-11.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.38 CA$3.31

$2.65 CA$3.68

-10.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.54 CA$3.53

$2.74 CA$3.81

-7.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.53 CA$3.52

$2.76 CA$3.84

-8.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 CA$2.48

$1.95 CA$2.71

-8.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.20 CA$19.75

$14.98 CA$20.83

-5.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.85 CA$17.87

$14.67 CA$20.40

-12.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 CA$3.97

$2.84 CA$3.95

0.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 CA$4.39

$4.02 CA$5.59

-21.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 CA$3.38

$2.80 CA$3.90

-13.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$62.5 CA$86.8

$86.2 CA$120

-27.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 CA$4.35

$3.60 CA$5.01

-13.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 CA$1.99

$1.32 CA$1.83

8.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.90 CA$36.01

$29.01 CA$40.35

-10.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 CA$1.63

$1.12 CA$1.56

4.46%

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

$24.8K CA$34.5K

$24.9K CA$34.6K

-0.16%

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

$20.7K CA$28.7K

$22.0K CA$30.6K

-6.04%

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

$142 CA$197

$217 CA$302

-34.65%

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

$44.25 CA$61.5

$41.55 CA$57.8

6.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.0 CA$87.6

$58.1 CA$80.8

8.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.21 CA$58.7

$54.7 CA$76.1

-22.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.8 CA$73.5

Cinema Ticket

$11.38 CA$15.82

$12.77 CA$17.75

-10.88%

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

$727 CA$1,012

$874 CA$1,215

-16.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K CA$16.6K

$15.9K CA$22.2K

-25.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 CA$74.6

$58.8 CA$81.8

-8.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.98 CA$55.6

$46.47 CA$64.6

-13.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.0 CA$122

$87.2 CA$121

0.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$151

$109 CA$151

-0.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,327 CA$1,846

$1,414 CA$1,966

-6.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,158 CA$1,610

$1,172 CA$1,630

-1.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,046 CA$2,845

$2,319 CA$3,225

-11.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,794 CA$2,495

$1,886 CA$2,623

-4.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,755 CA$6,613

$3,892 CA$5,413

22.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,160 CA$5,786

$3,503 CA$4,872

18.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,369 CA$6,076

$3,149 CA$4,380

38.74%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,327 in Hay River, NT and $1,414 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hay River, NT pays 39% 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 Hay River, NT vs $70.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $363 vs $397 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 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Hay River, NT pays 39% 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: $1,327 in Hay River, NT 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 Hay River, NT – 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 $2,296 per month in Hay River, NT versus $2,523 in Calgary – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,296 in Hay River, NT versus $2,523 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 10% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.