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: $1,789 in Joliette versus $2,462 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,697 in Joliette versus $3,628 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,606 in Joliette versus $4,795 in Calgary.

Living in Joliette costs roughly 27% less than in Calgary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Joliette 34% above, Calgary 84% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.17 CA$25.57

$18.33 CA$25.79

-0.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.6 CA$78.3

$69.9 CA$98.3

-20.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.22 CA$15.79

$10.95 CA$15.41

2.47%

Cappuccino

$2.60 CA$3.66

$3.74 CA$5.26

-30.48%

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

$2.16 CA$3.03

$2.04 CA$2.87

5.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 CA$2.40

$1.67 CA$2.35

1.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.32 CA$6.08

$5.20 CA$7.32

-16.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.59 CA$9.27

$6.71 CA$9.45

-1.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.37 CA$3.34

$2.25 CA$3.16

5.33%

White Bread (500g)

$2.55 CA$3.58

$2.75 CA$3.87

-7.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.18 CA$4.47

$3.23 CA$4.54

-1.55%

Eggs

$2.54 CA$3.57

$3.45 CA$4.85

-26.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.19 CA$15.75

$14.40 CA$20.26

-22.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.82 CA$18.04

$12.89 CA$18.13

-0.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.76 CA$22.18

$15.86 CA$22.32

-0.63%

Apples (1kg)

$4.39 CA$6.18

$4.30 CA$6.05

2.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 CA$1.99

$1.34 CA$1.89

5.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.36 CA$4.72

$3.85 CA$5.42

-12.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.72 CA$5.24

$4.25 CA$5.99

-12.47%

Potato (1kg)

$2.50 CA$3.52

$2.55 CA$3.58

-1.96%

Onion (1kg)

$3.08 CA$4.34

$2.62 CA$3.69

17.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.73 CA$2.43

$2.80 CA$3.94

-38.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 CA$2.18

$1.95 CA$2.74

-20.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.16 CA$19.92

$14.97 CA$21.06

-5.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.23 CA$15.80

$13.90 CA$19.57

-19.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 CA$3.43

$2.92 CA$4.11

-16.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 CA$4.50

$3.91 CA$5.50

-18.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.38 CA$3.35

$2.74 CA$3.85

-13.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$61.9 CA$87.2

$87.8 CA$124

-29.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.74 CA$3.86

$3.60 CA$5.06

-23.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 CA$2.10

$1.30 CA$1.83

14.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.07 CA$28.24

$28.70 CA$40.39

-30.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 CA$1.37

$1.12 CA$1.57

-12.50%

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

$24.6K CA$34.7K

$25.5K CA$35.8K

-3.29%

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

$21.8K CA$30.7K

$21.7K CA$30.6K

0.48%

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

$164 CA$230

$213 CA$300

-23.18%

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

$43.19 CA$60.8

$40.96 CA$57.6

5.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.7 CA$72.8

$57.9 CA$81.5

-10.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.80 CA$58.8

$54.2 CA$76.2

-22.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.6

Cinema Ticket

$11.11 CA$15.63

$12.63 CA$17.77

-12.03%

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

$895 CA$1,259

$874 CA$1,230

2.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K CA$22.7K

$15.9K CA$22.3K

1.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.1 CA$71.9

$58.6 CA$82.5

-12.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.24 CA$58.0

$47.01 CA$66.2

-12.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.9 CA$125

$85.1 CA$120

4.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.9 CA$135

$108 CA$151

-10.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$691 CA$973

$1,380 CA$1,942

-49.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$623 CA$876

$1,159 CA$1,631

-46.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,322 CA$1,861

$2,324 CA$3,270

-43.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,108 CA$1,559

$1,905 CA$2,680

-41.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,836 CA$5,398

$3,786 CA$5,327

1.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,523 CA$4,958

$3,511 CA$4,940

0.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,710 CA$3,813

$2,940 CA$4,136

-7.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.48

5.71

-4.03%

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

Last update for Joliette: July 12, 2026

Last update for Calgary: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $691 in Joliette and $1,380 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 8% 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: $56.0 in Joliette vs $70.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $360 vs $396 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 38% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 8% 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: $691 in Joliette 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 Joliette – a meal for two runs $56.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,789 per month in Joliette versus $2,462 in Calgary – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,789 in Joliette versus $2,462 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 38% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.