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: $3,041 in Iqaluit, NU versus $2,462 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,109 in Iqaluit, NU versus $3,628 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,176 in Iqaluit, NU versus $4,795 in Calgary.

Living in Iqaluit, NU is roughly 24% more expensive than in Calgary, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Iqaluit, NU 128% above, Calgary 84% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.86 CA$44.83

$18.33 CA$25.79

73.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$67.5 CA$94.9

$69.9 CA$98.3

-3.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 CA$18.56

$10.95 CA$15.41

20.46%

Cappuccino

$6.80 CA$9.56

$3.74 CA$5.26

81.82%

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

$3.93 CA$5.53

$2.04 CA$2.87

92.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 CA$2.36

$1.67 CA$2.35

0.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.69 CA$9.42

$5.20 CA$7.32

28.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.74 CA$8.08

$6.71 CA$9.45

-14.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.44 CA$3.44

$2.25 CA$3.16

8.44%

White Bread (500g)

$2.70 CA$3.80

$2.75 CA$3.87

-1.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.89 CA$4.07

$3.23 CA$4.54

-10.53%

Eggs

$4.48 CA$6.30

$3.45 CA$4.85

29.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.15 CA$17.09

$14.40 CA$20.26

-15.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.61 CA$19.15

$12.89 CA$18.13

5.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.53 CA$35.93

$15.86 CA$22.32

60.97%

Apples (1kg)

$1.96 CA$2.76

$4.30 CA$6.05

-54.42%

Banana (1kg)

$2.95 CA$4.16

$1.34 CA$1.89

120.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.98 CA$2.79

$3.85 CA$5.42

-48.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 CA$2.84

$4.25 CA$5.99

-52.47%

Potato (1kg)

$2.94 CA$4.14

$2.55 CA$3.58

15.29%

Onion (1kg)

$4.04 CA$5.69

$2.62 CA$3.69

54.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.03 CA$4.26

$2.80 CA$3.94

8.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.60 CA$5.07

$1.95 CA$2.74

84.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.96 CA$19.64

$14.97 CA$21.06

-6.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.07 CA$16.98

$13.90 CA$19.57

-13.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 CA$2.12

$2.92 CA$4.11

-48.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 CA$3.13

$3.91 CA$5.50

-43.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.30 CA$3.24

$2.74 CA$3.85

-16.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$145 CA$204

$87.8 CA$124

65.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.47 CA$9.11

$3.60 CA$5.06

79.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 CA$1.02

$1.30 CA$1.83

-44.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.24 CA$36.92

$28.70 CA$40.39

-8.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 CA$1.85

$1.12 CA$1.57

16.96%

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

$49.4K CA$69.5K

$25.5K CA$35.8K

93.85%

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

$45.7K CA$64.3K

$21.7K CA$30.6K

110.20%

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

$118 CA$167

$213 CA$300

-44.41%

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

$56.1 CA$79.0

$40.96 CA$57.6

37.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.8 CA$78.5

$57.9 CA$81.5

-3.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.48 CA$58.4

$54.2 CA$76.2

-23.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.06 CA$31.03

$53.8 CA$75.6

-58.96%

Cinema Ticket

$8.50 CA$11.96

$12.63 CA$17.77

-32.70%

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

$989 CA$1,392

$874 CA$1,230

13.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,940 CA$5,545

$15.9K CA$22.3K

-75.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.5 CA$88.0

$58.6 CA$82.5

6.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.72 CA$51.7

$47.01 CA$66.2

-21.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 CA$142

$85.1 CA$120

19.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 CA$172

$108 CA$151

13.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,709 CA$2,404

$1,380 CA$1,942

23.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,615 CA$2,272

$1,159 CA$1,631

39.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,034 CA$4,269

$2,324 CA$3,270

30.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,786 CA$2,514

$1,905 CA$2,680

-6.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,270 CA$6,008

$3,786 CA$5,327

12.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,563 CA$5,014

$3,511 CA$4,940

1.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,212 CA$5,927

$2,940 CA$4,136

43.29%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Calgary: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,709 in Iqaluit, NU and $1,380 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Iqaluit, NU pays 43% 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: $67.0 in Iqaluit, NU vs $70.0 in Calgary. Groceries flip the comparison at $416 vs $396, 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 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 43% higher in Iqaluit, NU, 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: $1,709 in Iqaluit, NU 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 Calgary – a meal for two runs $70.0 versus $67.0 in Iqaluit, NU. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,041 per month in Iqaluit, NU versus $2,462 in Calgary – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,462 in Calgary versus $3,041 in Iqaluit, NU, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in Iqaluit, NU. The gap between the two cities makes Calgary 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 Calgary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Iqaluit, NU. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.