Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Johnstown, PA and Calgary

For one person, living is cheaper in Johnstown, PA: $1,657 a month against $2,255 in Calgary, rent and utilities included – about $7,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Johnstown, PA
🇺🇸 United States
$1,657
/mo nomad
Calgary
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,255
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Johnstown, PA and in Calgary

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Johnstown, PA and in Calgary actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,657 in Johnstown, PA versus $2,255 in Calgary.

  • Johnstown, PA $1,657
  • Calgary $2,255

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,417 in Johnstown, PA versus $3,361 in Calgary.

  • Johnstown, PA $2,417
  • Calgary $3,361

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,177 in Johnstown, PA versus $4,468 in Calgary.

  • Johnstown, PA $3,177
  • Calgary $4,468

Living in Johnstown, PA costs roughly 27% less than in Calgary, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Johnstown, PA 22% above, Calgary 66% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Johnstown, PA
Calgary
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.58 $13.58
$17.58 CA$24.85
-22.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.60 $39.60
$69.1 CA$97.6
-42.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.19 $7.19
$10.59 CA$14.97
-32.11%
Cappuccino
$6.34 $6.34
$3.84 CA$5.42
65.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 $2.72
$1.93 CA$2.72
40.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60 $2.60
$1.88 CA$2.66
38.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.93 $3.93
$5.09 CA$7.20
-22.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88 $5.88
$5.64 CA$7.97
4.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Johnstown, PA
Calgary
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 $1.23
$2.00 CA$2.82
-38.50%
White Bread (500g)
$1.39 $1.39
$2.78 CA$3.93
-50.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.50 $7.50
$5.59 CA$7.90
34.17%
Eggs
$5.32 $5.32
$3.70 CA$5.23
43.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.56 $16.56
$11.48 CA$16.23
44.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.65 $4.65
$11.20 CA$15.84
-58.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.84 $18.84
$18.59 CA$26.28
1.34%
Apples (1kg)
$4.91 $4.91
$4.70 CA$6.64
4.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.32 $1.32
$1.45 CA$2.05
-8.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.42 $6.42
$4.34 CA$6.13
47.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.82 $2.82
$3.79 CA$5.36
-25.59%
Potato (1kg)
$0.96 $0.96
$2.69 CA$3.81
-64.31%
Onion (1kg)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.75 CA$3.88
-26.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.14 $2.14
$2.56 CA$3.62
-16.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.71 $2.71
$1.50 CA$2.12
80.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.97 $9.97
$14.39 CA$20.34
-30.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.03 $15.03
$15.81 CA$22.35
-4.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 $1.72
$2.47 CA$3.49
-30.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.98 $4.98
$3.10 CA$4.39
60.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Johnstown, PA
Calgary
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.81 CA$3.97
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$90.6 CA$128
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.28 CA$4.64
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.40 CA$1.97
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$26.49 CA$37.45
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.96 $0.96
$1.22 CA$1.72
-21.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K $28.1K
$28.4K CA$40.1K
-0.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$20.8K CA$29.5K
29.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Johnstown, PA
Calgary
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$147 $147
$165 CA$233
-10.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.88 $14.88
$38.24 CA$54.1
-61.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.5 $69.5
$50.1 CA$70.9
38.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Johnstown, PA
Calgary
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.40 $36.40
$53.8 CA$76.1
-32.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.04 CA$25.51
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.26 $9.26
$14.04 CA$19.84
-34.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Johnstown, PA
Calgary
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,258 $2,258
$797 CA$1,126
183.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$60.2K $60.2K
$15.8K CA$22.3K
280.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Johnstown, PA
Calgary
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.37 $47.37
$59.1 CA$83.5
-19.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.50 $36.50
$40.20 CA$56.8
-9.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 $108
$90.8 CA$128
18.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 $122
$109 CA$155
11.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Johnstown, PA
Calgary
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$643 $643
$1,207 CA$1,707
-46.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$594 $594
$1,011 CA$1,429
-41.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$900 $900
$1,949 CA$2,756
-53.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$935 $935
$1,677 CA$2,371
-44.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$829 $829
$3,532 CA$4,993
-76.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$836 $836
$3,392 CA$4,795
-75.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Johnstown, PA
Calgary
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,182 $2,182
$3,152 CA$4,456
-30.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.72
4.51
49.00%

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

Last update for Johnstown, PA: October 19, 2026

Last update for Calgary: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Johnstown, PA
$594
Calgary
$1K 70.1% $417
Groceries & Markets
Johnstown, PA
$376
Calgary
$392 4.3% $16
Eating Out
Johnstown, PA
$259
Calgary
$270 4.4% $11
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Johnstown, PA
$232
Calgary
$253 9.2% $21
Clothing & Footwear
Johnstown, PA
$141
Calgary
$135 4.5% $6.4
Sport & Entertainment
Johnstown, PA
$55
Calgary
$82 49.1% $27
Getting Around
Johnstown, PA
- *
Calgary
$112

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $643 in Johnstown, PA and $1,207 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 44% 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: $40.00 in Johnstown, PA vs $69.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $376 vs $392 per month, with Johnstown, PA cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Johnstown, PA
🇨🇦 Calgary
🕒 Local time
17:26 5:26 PM
15:26 3:26 PM
2 h behind Johnstown, PA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
22,269
1,267,344
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Johnstown, PA Calgary 2,940 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Johnstown, PA
  • Calgary

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Johnstown, PA vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Calgary cheaper than Johnstown, PA?
Johnstown, PA is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and utilities. The 36% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Johnstown, PA or Calgary?
On paper, salaries run 44% lower in Calgary. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Johnstown, PA and Calgary?
Rent for a central apartment: $643 in Johnstown, PA versus $1,207 in Calgary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $2,258 in Johnstown, PA versus $797 in Calgary. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Johnstown, PA or in Calgary?
Dining out is cheaper in Johnstown, PA – a meal for two runs $40.00 versus $69.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Johnstown, PA or in Calgary?
At $1,657 in Johnstown, PA versus $2,255 in Calgary, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Johnstown, PA but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Johnstown, PA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Johnstown, PA or in Calgary?
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.
Which city is safer, Johnstown, PA or Calgary?
Safety-wise, Johnstown, PA 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Johnstown, PA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Johnstown, PA vs other spots: cost of living compared

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