Cost of Living Comparison Between Joliette and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Joliette and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,639 in Joliette versus $2,344 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,554 in Joliette versus $3,499 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,469 in Joliette versus $4,655 in Calgary.

Living in Joliette costs roughly 30% less than in Calgary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Joliette 19% above, Calgary 70% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.90 CA$24.82

$18.45 CA$25.59

-2.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.9 CA$76.2

$71.5 CA$99.2

-23.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.35 CA$15.75

$10.68 CA$14.81

6.27%

Cappuccino

$2.48 CA$3.44

$3.93 CA$5.46

-36.90%

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

$2.09 CA$2.89

$2.02 CA$2.80

3.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 CA$2.07

$1.97 CA$2.73

-24.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.35 CA$6.04

$4.92 CA$6.82

-11.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.61 CA$7.78

$5.90 CA$8.19

-4.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.01 CA$2.79

$2.03 CA$2.82

-0.99%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 CA$3.46

$2.86 CA$3.97

-12.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.08 CA$5.66

$5.72 CA$7.93

-28.67%

Eggs

$2.56 CA$3.55

$3.81 CA$5.29

-32.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.84 CA$12.26

$11.56 CA$16.04

-23.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.82 CA$15.00

$11.95 CA$16.57

-9.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.88 CA$15.08

$18.97 CA$26.30

-42.65%

Apples (1kg)

$4.30 CA$5.97

$4.91 CA$6.82

-12.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 CA$2.14

$1.42 CA$1.97

8.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.75 CA$5.20

$4.36 CA$6.04

-13.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.16 CA$5.77

$4.03 CA$5.59

3.23%

Potato (1kg)

$2.88 CA$4.00

$2.72 CA$3.77

5.88%

Onion (1kg)

$2.96 CA$4.11

$2.88 CA$3.99

2.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.71 CA$2.37

$2.57 CA$3.57

-33.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 CA$2.14

$1.49 CA$2.07

3.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 CA$20.69

$14.71 CA$20.41

1.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.34 CA$15.73

$15.57 CA$21.60

-27.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 CA$4.05

$2.52 CA$3.50

15.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 CA$4.67

$3.27 CA$4.53

3.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.38 CA$3.30

$2.94 CA$4.07

-19.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$62.7 CA$86.9

$89.8 CA$125

-30.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.90 CA$4.02

$3.30 CA$4.58

-12.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 CA$2.02

$1.37 CA$1.90

6.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.66 CA$49.46

$27.07 CA$37.54

31.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 CA$1.31

$1.22 CA$1.69

-22.95%

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

$28.5K CA$39.5K

$28.6K CA$39.6K

-0.42%

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

$21.1K CA$29.3K

$20.9K CA$29.0K

1.22%

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

$101 CA$140

$182 CA$253

-44.63%

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

$32.69 CA$45.34

$39.50 CA$54.8

-17.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.26 CA$64.2

$51.4 CA$71.3

-9.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.98 CA$56.8

$54.8 CA$76.0

-25.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.60 CA$25.79

$18.79 CA$26.07

-1.01%

Cinema Ticket

$11.20 CA$15.54

$14.52 CA$20.14

-22.87%

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

$694 CA$962

$819 CA$1,136

-15.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,651 CA$13.4K

$16.3K CA$22.7K

-40.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.0 CA$70.8

$61.8 CA$85.8

-17.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.04 CA$55.5

$40.15 CA$55.7

-0.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.9 CA$119

$94.3 CA$131

-8.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 CA$147

$114 CA$158

-6.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$657 CA$912

$1,256 CA$1,741

-47.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$612 CA$848

$1,089 CA$1,510

-43.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,313 CA$1,821

$1,994 CA$2,766

-34.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,096 CA$1,520

$1,706 CA$2,367

-35.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,289 CA$5,949

$3,627 CA$5,031

18.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,708 CA$5,142

$3,403 CA$4,719

8.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,801 CA$3,885

$3,246 CA$4,502

-13.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.45

4.48

-0.67%

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

Last update for Joliette: September 8, 2026

Last update for Calgary: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $657 in Joliette and $1,256 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 16% 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: $55.0 in Joliette vs $71.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $335 vs $401 per month, with Joliette 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

Joliette vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Joliette is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 43% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 16% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $657 in Joliette versus $1,256 in Calgary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Joliette – a meal for two runs $55.0 versus $71.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,639 per month in Joliette versus $2,344 in Calgary – a 43% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,639 in Joliette versus $2,344 in Calgary, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Joliette but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Joliette 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, Joliette 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 Joliette gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.