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: $2,981 in Iqaluit, NU versus $2,353 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,655 in Iqaluit, NU versus $3,488 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,330 in Iqaluit, NU versus $4,622 in Calgary.

Living in Iqaluit, NU is roughly 27% more expensive than in Calgary, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Iqaluit, NU 117% above, Calgary 71% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$28.40 CA$39.16

$17.94 CA$24.74

58.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.1 CA$91.2

$70.5 CA$97.3

-6.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.89 CA$17.78

$10.69 CA$14.74

20.58%

Cappuccino

$7.01 CA$9.66

$3.79 CA$5.22

84.96%

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

$3.71 CA$5.12

$2.00 CA$2.76

85.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.30

$1.98 CA$2.72

-15.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.73 CA$9.29

$5.19 CA$7.16

29.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.67 CA$7.82

$5.86 CA$8.08

-3.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.49 CA$3.43

$1.95 CA$2.69

27.69%

White Bread (500g)

$2.58 CA$3.56

$2.82 CA$3.89

-8.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.39 CA$4.67

$5.61 CA$7.74

-39.57%

Eggs

$3.59 CA$4.96

$3.75 CA$5.17

-4.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.13 CA$13.96

$11.50 CA$15.86

-11.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.53 CA$18.65

$11.46 CA$15.81

18.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.67 CA$20.23

$18.95 CA$26.14

-22.59%

Apples (1kg)

$3.95 CA$5.45

$4.83 CA$6.66

-18.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.86

$1.37 CA$1.89

-1.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.83 CA$5.28

$4.25 CA$5.86

-9.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.89 CA$5.37

$4.15 CA$5.72

-6.27%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 CA$3.53

$2.70 CA$3.73

-5.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 CA$3.15

$2.83 CA$3.90

-19.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 CA$3.43

$2.64 CA$3.64

-5.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 CA$2.24

$1.51 CA$2.08

7.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.27 CA$19.68

$14.60 CA$20.14

-2.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.71 CA$17.53

$15.76 CA$21.73

-19.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 CA$3.84

$2.60 CA$3.58

7.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 CA$4.42

$3.08 CA$4.25

3.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.31 CA$3.18

$2.93 CA$4.04

-21.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.4 CA$88.8

$89.3 CA$123

-27.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.62 CA$9.14

$3.32 CA$4.58

99.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 CA$1.95

$1.43 CA$1.97

-0.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.39 CA$33.63

$27.71 CA$38.21

-11.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 CA$1.55

$1.26 CA$1.74

-10.32%

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

$38.8K CA$53.5K

$28.9K CA$39.9K

34.04%

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

$32.0K CA$44.1K

$21.3K CA$29.4K

49.96%

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

$117 CA$161

$183 CA$252

-36.08%

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

$39.60 CA$54.6

$38.31 CA$52.8

3.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.6 CA$79.4

$51.7 CA$71.3

11.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.22 CA$58.2

$54.9 CA$75.7

-23.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 CA$25.27

$18.66 CA$25.73

-1.82%

Cinema Ticket

$8.42 CA$11.61

$14.26 CA$19.66

-40.95%

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

$776 CA$1,070

$828 CA$1,142

-6.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.6K CA$18.8K

$15.9K CA$21.9K

-14.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 CA$73.7

$59.6 CA$82.1

-10.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.32 CA$52.9

$39.47 CA$54.4

-2.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.9 CA$120

$94.3 CA$130

-7.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 CA$142

$113 CA$156

-8.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,827 CA$2,519

$1,265 CA$1,744

44.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,708 CA$2,355

$1,051 CA$1,450

62.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,929 CA$4,038

$1,934 CA$2,667

51.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,445 CA$4,751

$1,700 CA$2,344

102.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,330 CA$5,971

$3,680 CA$5,075

17.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,729 CA$5,142

$3,333 CA$4,597

11.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,205 CA$5,799

$3,276 CA$4,518

28.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.32

4.4

20.91%

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

Last update for Iqaluit, NU: August 30, 2026

Last update for Calgary: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,827 in Iqaluit, NU and $1,265 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Iqaluit, NU pays 28% 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 $71.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $371 vs $397 per month, with Iqaluit, NU 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

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

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 28% 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: $1,827 in Iqaluit, NU 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 Calgary – a meal for two runs $71.0 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 $2,981 per month in Iqaluit, NU versus $2,353 in Calgary – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,353 in Calgary versus $2,981 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 27% less than in Iqaluit, NU. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.