Cost of Living Comparison Between High Level and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between High Level and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,363 in High Level versus $2,523 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,362 in High Level versus $3,652 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,361 in High Level versus $4,780 in Calgary.

Living in High Level costs roughly 6% less than in Calgary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: High Level 76% above, Calgary 88% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.89 CA$23.39

$18.59 CA$25.74

-9.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.7 CA$97.9

$70.0 CA$97.0

0.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.94 CA$15.14

$10.96 CA$15.17

-0.18%

Cappuccino

$3.76 CA$5.21

$3.73 CA$5.17

0.80%

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

$1.99 CA$2.75

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.31

$1.72 CA$2.39

-2.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.60 CA$7.75

$5.01 CA$6.94

11.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.85 CA$8.10

$6.50 CA$9.01

-10.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.09 CA$2.90

$2.22 CA$3.08

-5.86%

White Bread (500g)

$2.61 CA$3.62

$2.67 CA$3.69

-2.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.64 CA$5.03

$3.26 CA$4.52

11.66%

Eggs

$3.48 CA$4.82

$3.35 CA$4.64

3.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.99 CA$15.22

$14.50 CA$20.07

-24.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.64 CA$16.12

$12.95 CA$17.93

-10.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.67 CA$20.31

$16.15 CA$22.36

-9.16%

Apples (1kg)

$3.95 CA$5.47

$4.32 CA$5.98

-8.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 CA$1.95

$1.35 CA$1.88

4.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 CA$5.07

$3.83 CA$5.30

-4.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.84 CA$5.31

$4.18 CA$5.79

-8.13%

Potato (1kg)

$2.51 CA$3.47

$2.65 CA$3.67

-5.28%

Onion (1kg)

$2.50 CA$3.46

$2.74 CA$3.79

-8.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.62 CA$3.63

$2.76 CA$3.82

-5.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 CA$2.45

$1.95 CA$2.70

-9.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.78 CA$19.08

$14.98 CA$20.74

-8.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.82 CA$16.37

$14.67 CA$20.31

-19.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.80 CA$3.87

$2.84 CA$3.94

-1.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 CA$4.21

$4.02 CA$5.56

-24.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.40 CA$3.32

$2.80 CA$3.88

-14.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$61.9 CA$85.8

$86.2 CA$119

-28.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.24 CA$4.49

$3.60 CA$4.99

-10.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 CA$2.05

$1.32 CA$1.82

12.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.67 CA$35.54

$29.01 CA$40.17

-11.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 CA$1.60

$1.12 CA$1.55

2.68%

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

$25.3K CA$35.0K

$24.9K CA$34.4K

1.77%

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

$21.0K CA$29.1K

$22.0K CA$30.4K

-4.40%

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

$140 CA$194

$217 CA$301

-35.37%

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

$43.21 CA$59.8

$41.55 CA$57.5

4.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.1 CA$87.4

$58.1 CA$80.4

8.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.85 CA$57.9

$54.7 CA$75.8

-23.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.8 CA$73.1

Cinema Ticket

$11.57 CA$16.02

$12.77 CA$17.68

-9.40%

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

$723 CA$1,002

$874 CA$1,210

-17.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.8K CA$16.3K

$15.9K CA$22.1K

-26.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 CA$76.2

$58.8 CA$81.5

-6.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.43 CA$54.6

$46.47 CA$64.4

-15.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.3 CA$119

$87.2 CA$121

-1.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$150

$109 CA$151

-0.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,327 CA$1,837

$1,414 CA$1,957

-6.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,185 CA$1,640

$1,172 CA$1,623

1.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,025 CA$2,804

$2,319 CA$3,211

-12.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,805 CA$2,500

$1,886 CA$2,612

-4.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,894 CA$6,776

$3,892 CA$5,389

25.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,084 CA$5,654

$3,503 CA$4,851

16.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,149 CA$4,360

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 High Level: June 2, 2026

Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

Dining out: $71.0 in High Level vs $70.0 in Calgary. Groceries flip the comparison at $361 vs $397, with High Level 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

High Level vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

High Level is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $3,545 in High Level and $3,785 in Calgary to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,327 in High Level 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 High Level – a meal for two runs $71.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,363 per month in High Level versus $2,523 in Calgary – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,363 in High Level versus $2,523 in Calgary, a $3,000 budget is realistic in High Level but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes High Level 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.

Safety-wise, High Level 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.

Expats usually find High Level gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.