Cost of Living Comparison Between Humboldt and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Humboldt and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,259 in Humboldt versus $2,353 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,123 in Humboldt versus $3,488 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,988 in Humboldt versus $4,622 in Calgary.

Living in Humboldt costs roughly 4% less than in Calgary, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Humboldt 64% above, Calgary 71% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.88 CA$15.00

$17.94 CA$24.74

-39.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.66 CA$45.03

$70.5 CA$97.3

-53.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.65 CA$14.68

$10.69 CA$14.74

-0.37%

Cappuccino

$3.56 CA$4.91

$3.79 CA$5.22

-6.07%

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

$2.11 CA$2.91

$2.00 CA$2.76

5.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 CA$1.30

$1.98 CA$2.72

-52.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.39 CA$6.05

$5.19 CA$7.16

-15.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 CA$6.03

$5.86 CA$8.08

-25.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.59 CA$2.19

$1.95 CA$2.69

-18.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.78 CA$2.45

$2.82 CA$3.89

-36.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.04 CA$4.20

$5.61 CA$7.74

-45.81%

Eggs

$1.85 CA$2.55

$3.75 CA$5.17

-50.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.75 CA$18.96

$11.50 CA$15.86

19.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.89 CA$16.40

$11.46 CA$15.81

3.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.62 CA$22.92

$18.95 CA$26.14

-12.30%

Apples (1kg)

$4.17 CA$5.75

$4.83 CA$6.66

-13.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 CA$2.07

$1.37 CA$1.89

9.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.05 CA$5.58

$4.25 CA$5.86

-4.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.69 CA$5.09

$4.15 CA$5.72

-11.08%

Potato (1kg)

$2.30 CA$3.17

$2.70 CA$3.73

-14.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.35 CA$3.25

$2.83 CA$3.90

-16.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.75 CA$3.79

$2.64 CA$3.64

4.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 CA$2.80

$1.51 CA$2.08

34.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.00 CA$20.68

$14.60 CA$20.14

2.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.54 CA$18.67

$15.76 CA$21.73

-14.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.49 CA$4.81

$2.60 CA$3.58

34.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 CA$4.80

$3.08 CA$4.25

12.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.16 CA$2.97

$2.93 CA$4.04

-26.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$61.2 CA$84.4

$89.3 CA$123

-31.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 CA$4.92

$3.32 CA$4.58

7.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 CA$1.11

$1.43 CA$1.97

-44.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.41 CA$29.52

$27.71 CA$38.21

-22.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 CA$1.46

$1.26 CA$1.74

-15.87%

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

$28.8K CA$39.8K

$28.9K CA$39.9K

-0.31%

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

$20.6K CA$28.4K

$21.3K CA$29.4K

-3.48%

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

$122 CA$168

$183 CA$252

-33.44%

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

$52.4 CA$72.2

$38.31 CA$52.8

36.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.7 CA$79.6

$51.7 CA$71.3

11.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.81 CA$61.8

$54.9 CA$75.7

-18.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.15 CA$29.16

$18.66 CA$25.73

13.34%

Cinema Ticket

$9.53 CA$13.14

$14.26 CA$19.66

-33.17%

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

$488 CA$672

$828 CA$1,142

-41.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K CA$14.8K

$15.9K CA$21.9K

-32.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.2 CA$73.3

$59.6 CA$82.1

-10.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.09 CA$53.9

$39.47 CA$54.4

-0.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.4 CA$133

$94.3 CA$130

2.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 CA$151

$113 CA$156

-2.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 CA$1,734

$1,265 CA$1,744

-0.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,277 CA$1,760

$1,051 CA$1,450

21.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,157 CA$2,975

$1,934 CA$2,667

11.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,947 CA$2,685

$1,700 CA$2,344

14.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,310 CA$5,943

$3,680 CA$5,075

17.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,406 CA$4,697

$3,333 CA$4,597

2.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,276 CA$4,518

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.58

4.4

4.09%

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

Last update for Humboldt: August 31, 2026

Last update for Calgary: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,258 in Humboldt and $1,265 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $33.00 in Humboldt vs $71.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $367 vs $397 per month, with Humboldt 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

Humboldt vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Humboldt is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $3,388 in Humboldt and $3,530 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: $1,258 in Humboldt versus $1,265 in Calgary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Humboldt – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $71.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,259 per month in Humboldt versus $2,353 in Calgary – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,259 in Humboldt versus $2,353 in Calgary, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Humboldt but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Humboldt 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, Humboldt 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 Humboldt gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.