Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lethbridge, AB and Calgary

For one person, living is cheaper in Lethbridge, AB: $2,201 a month against $2,303 in Calgary, rent and utilities included – about $1,200 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Calgary outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Lethbridge, AB, Canada
Calgary, Canada
Lethbridge, AB
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,201
/mo nomad
Calgary
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,303
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lethbridge, AB 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 Lethbridge, AB and in Calgary actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,201 in Lethbridge, AB versus $2,303 in Calgary.

  • Lethbridge, AB $2,201
  • Calgary $2,303

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,140 in Lethbridge, AB versus $3,366 in Calgary.

  • Lethbridge, AB $3,140
  • Calgary $3,366

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,079 in Lethbridge, AB versus $4,428 in Calgary.

  • Lethbridge, AB $4,079
  • Calgary $4,428

Living in Lethbridge, AB costs roughly 4% less than in Calgary, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lethbridge, AB 62% above, Calgary 69% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lethbridge, AB
Calgary
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.74 CA$30.38
$17.55 CA$24.53
23.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.9 CA$93.5
$70.4 CA$98.4
-4.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.92 CA$16.66
$10.69 CA$14.94
11.51%
Cappuccino
$4.18 CA$5.84
$3.89 CA$5.44
7.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 CA$2.51
$2.04 CA$2.85
-12.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 CA$2.90
$1.88 CA$2.62
10.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.08 CA$7.10
$4.90 CA$6.84
3.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74 CA$8.03
$5.78 CA$8.08
-0.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lethbridge, AB
Calgary
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 CA$3.04
$1.96 CA$2.74
11.22%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 CA$3.44
$2.74 CA$3.83
-10.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.55 CA$6.36
$5.46 CA$7.63
-16.67%
Eggs
$3.54 CA$4.94
$3.69 CA$5.15
-4.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.13 CA$14.16
$11.24 CA$15.72
-9.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.45 CA$17.40
$11.54 CA$16.13
7.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.15 CA$18.38
$18.38 CA$25.68
-28.45%
Apples (1kg)
$3.32 CA$4.64
$4.90 CA$6.85
-32.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.30 CA$1.82
$1.42 CA$1.99
-8.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.69 CA$3.76
$4.21 CA$5.89
-36.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.62 CA$6.46
$4.02 CA$5.62
14.93%
Potato (1kg)
$3.61 CA$5.05
$2.69 CA$3.77
34.20%
Onion (1kg)
$3.14 CA$4.39
$2.66 CA$3.72
18.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.22 CA$4.50
$2.61 CA$3.65
23.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 CA$2.43
$1.60 CA$2.23
8.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.82 CA$16.52
$14.00 CA$19.57
-15.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.28 CA$19.96
$15.40 CA$21.52
-7.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.14 CA$4.39
$2.50 CA$3.49
25.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 CA$5.21
$3.09 CA$4.32
20.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Lethbridge, AB
Calgary
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.13 CA$2.97
$2.93 CA$4.10
-27.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.9 CA$76.7
$89.3 CA$125
-38.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.48 CA$4.87
$3.27 CA$4.57
6.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.88 CA$4.02
$1.35 CA$1.89
113.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$42.75 CA$59.8
$27.39 CA$38.28
56.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 CA$1.59
$1.17 CA$1.64
-2.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K CA$34.9K
$27.9K CA$39.1K
-10.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.2K CA$29.6K
$21.0K CA$29.4K
0.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lethbridge, AB
Calgary
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$280 CA$391
$167 CA$233
67.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.6 CA$73.5
$38.27 CA$53.5
37.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.6 CA$97.3
$50.9 CA$71.2
36.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lethbridge, AB
Calgary
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.15 CA$61.7
$51.0 CA$71.2
-13.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.34 CA$20.04
$18.17 CA$25.40
-21.08%
Cinema Ticket
$14.08 CA$19.68
$14.44 CA$20.18
-2.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lethbridge, AB
Calgary
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$867 CA$1,211
$545 CA$762
58.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,534 CA$4,939
$16.2K CA$22.7K
-78.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lethbridge, AB
Calgary
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.97 CA$67.1
$58.9 CA$82.3
-18.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 CA$71.0
$39.75 CA$55.6
27.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.7 CA$107
$93.4 CA$130
-17.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 CA$162
$110 CA$154
5.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lethbridge, AB
Calgary
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,009 CA$1,411
$1,254 CA$1,753
-19.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$830 CA$1,160
$1,056 CA$1,477
-21.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 CA$2,000
$2,022 CA$2,826
-29.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,195 CA$1,670
$1,629 CA$2,276
-26.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,602 CA$7,829
$3,600 CA$5,032
55.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,052 CA$2,868
$3,243 CA$4,532
-36.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lethbridge, AB
Calgary
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,024 CA$4,227
$3,115 CA$4,354
-2.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.85
4.51
7.54%

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

Last update for Lethbridge, AB: October 25, 2026

Last update for Calgary: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lethbridge, AB
$830
Calgary
$1.1K 27.3% $226
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lethbridge, AB
$402
Calgary
$256 36.3% $146
Groceries & Markets
Lethbridge, AB
$372
Calgary
$393 5.7% $21
Eating Out
Lethbridge, AB
$312
Calgary
$271 13.2% $41
Clothing & Footwear
Lethbridge, AB
$131
Calgary
$136 3.5% $4.7
Getting Around
Lethbridge, AB
$81
Calgary
$111 36.6% $30
Sport & Entertainment
Lethbridge, AB
$72
Calgary
$80 10.4% $7.5

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,009 in Lethbridge, AB and $1,254 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 3% 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 in Lethbridge, AB vs $70 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $372 vs $393 per month, with Lethbridge, AB cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Lethbridge, AB
🇨🇦 Calgary
🕒 Local time
06:47 6:47 AM
06:47 6:47 AM
Same time as Lethbridge, AB
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
83,517
1,267,344
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.715 USD). 1 EUR = 1.56 CAD (1 CAD = 0.641 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lethbridge, AB Calgary 170 km
From you
  • Lethbridge, AB
  • 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
Lethbridge, AB vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lethbridge, AB cheaper than Calgary?
Lethbridge, AB is about 4% cheaper overall, especially in transport, groceries, and leisure. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lethbridge, AB or Calgary?
On paper, salaries run 3% lower in Lethbridge, AB. 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 Lethbridge, AB and Calgary?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,009 in Lethbridge, AB versus $1,254 in Calgary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Lethbridge, AB or in Calgary?
Dining out is cheaper in Lethbridge, AB – a meal for two runs $67 versus $70 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Lethbridge, AB and in Calgary?
All in, you’ll spend $2,201 per month in Lethbridge, AB versus $2,303 in Calgary – Lethbridge, AB is about 4% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Is $3,000 enough for either Lethbridge, AB or Calgary?
Either city works on $3,000 a month, though Lethbridge, AB gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is it better to live in Lethbridge, AB 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Lethbridge, AB gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Lethbridge, AB vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?