Cost of Living Comparison Between Iqaluit, NU and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Iqaluit, NU and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,053 in Iqaluit, NU versus $2,523 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,047 in Iqaluit, NU versus $3,652 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,042 in Iqaluit, NU versus $4,780 in Calgary.

Living in Iqaluit, NU is roughly 21% more expensive than Calgary, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Iqaluit, NU 128% above, Calgary 88% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.29 CA$43.33

$18.59 CA$25.74

68.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.7 CA$91.0

$70.0 CA$97.0

-6.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.97 CA$17.96

$10.96 CA$15.17

18.34%

Cappuccino

$6.69 CA$9.26

$3.73 CA$5.17

79.36%

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

$3.99 CA$5.53

$1.99 CA$2.75

100.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 CA$2.33

$1.72 CA$2.39

-2.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.89 CA$9.53

$5.01 CA$6.94

37.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.99 CA$8.30

$6.50 CA$9.01

-7.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.44 CA$3.37

$2.22 CA$3.08

9.91%

White Bread (500g)

$2.69 CA$3.72

$2.67 CA$3.69

0.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.00 CA$4.16

$3.26 CA$4.52

-7.98%

Eggs

$4.41 CA$6.11

$3.35 CA$4.64

31.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.17 CA$16.85

$14.50 CA$20.07

-16.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.62 CA$18.86

$12.95 CA$17.93

5.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.77 CA$34.30

$16.15 CA$22.36

53.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.03 CA$2.82

$4.32 CA$5.98

-53.01%

Banana (1kg)

$2.98 CA$4.12

$1.35 CA$1.88

120.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.97 CA$2.72

$3.83 CA$5.30

-48.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 CA$2.81

$4.18 CA$5.79

-51.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.96 CA$4.10

$2.65 CA$3.67

11.70%

Onion (1kg)

$3.90 CA$5.41

$2.74 CA$3.79

42.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.99 CA$4.14

$2.76 CA$3.82

8.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.55 CA$4.92

$1.95 CA$2.70

82.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.43 CA$19.98

$14.98 CA$20.74

-3.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.80 CA$17.73

$14.67 CA$20.31

-12.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 CA$2.02

$2.84 CA$3.94

-48.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 CA$3.03

$4.02 CA$5.56

-45.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.35 CA$3.25

$2.80 CA$3.88

-16.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$144 CA$200

$86.2 CA$119

67.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.82 CA$9.44

$3.60 CA$4.99

89.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 CA$0.98

$1.32 CA$1.82

-46.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.47 CA$35.26

$29.01 CA$40.17

-12.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 CA$1.76

$1.12 CA$1.55

13.39%

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

$50.5K CA$70.0K

$24.9K CA$34.4K

103.30%

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

$45.7K CA$63.3K

$22.0K CA$30.4K

107.91%

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

$119 CA$164

$217 CA$301

-45.31%

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

$54.3 CA$75.2

$41.55 CA$57.5

30.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.3 CA$77.9

$58.1 CA$80.4

-3.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.07 CA$58.3

$54.7 CA$75.8

-23.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.02 CA$30.49

$52.8 CA$73.1

-58.31%

Cinema Ticket

$8.50 CA$11.77

$12.77 CA$17.68

-33.44%

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

$1,019 CA$1,411

$874 CA$1,210

16.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,997 CA$5,534

$15.9K CA$22.1K

-74.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.9 CA$87.0

$58.8 CA$81.5

6.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.88 CA$51.1

$46.47 CA$64.4

-20.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 CA$143

$87.2 CA$121

18.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 CA$167

$109 CA$151

10.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,687 CA$2,336

$1,414 CA$1,957

19.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,567 CA$2,169

$1,172 CA$1,623

33.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,136 CA$4,342

$2,319 CA$3,211

35.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,838 CA$2,545

$1,886 CA$2,612

-2.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,603 CA$6,373

$3,892 CA$5,389

18.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,811 CA$5,277

$3,503 CA$4,851

8.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,299 CA$5,952

$3,149 CA$4,360

36.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.1

5.71

41.86%

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

Last update for Iqaluit, NU: May 31, 2026

Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,687 in Iqaluit, NU and $1,414 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Iqaluit, NU pays 37% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $66.0 in Iqaluit, NU vs $70.0 in Calgary. Groceries flip the comparison at $414 vs $397, with Calgary 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

Iqaluit, NU vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Groceries & Markets, Getting Around, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Iqaluit, NU pays 37% 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: $1,687 in Iqaluit, NU 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 Calgary – a meal for two runs $70.0 versus $66.0 in Iqaluit, NU. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,053 per month in Iqaluit, NU versus $2,523 in Calgary – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Calgary is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 Calgary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Iqaluit, NU. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.