Cost of Living Comparison Between Lethbridge, AB and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Lethbridge, AB and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,216 in Lethbridge, AB versus $2,344 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,246 in Lethbridge, AB versus $3,470 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,277 in Lethbridge, AB versus $4,597 in Calgary.

Living in Lethbridge, AB costs roughly 5% less than in Calgary, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lethbridge, AB 62% above, Calgary 71% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.91 CA$30.46

$17.68 CA$24.58

23.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.7 CA$96.9

$71.2 CA$99.0

-2.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.37 CA$17.20

$10.85 CA$15.08

14.01%

Cappuccino

$4.19 CA$5.83

$3.85 CA$5.36

8.83%

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

$1.76 CA$2.45

$1.95 CA$2.71

-9.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 CA$2.91

$1.79 CA$2.49

16.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.06 CA$7.03

$4.97 CA$6.90

1.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.62 CA$7.82

$5.90 CA$8.20

-4.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 CA$3.13

$1.84 CA$2.56

22.28%

White Bread (500g)

$2.53 CA$3.51

$2.73 CA$3.80

-7.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.57 CA$6.36

$5.44 CA$7.56

-15.99%

Eggs

$3.38 CA$4.70

$3.63 CA$5.04

-6.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.42 CA$14.48

$11.55 CA$16.05

-9.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.45 CA$17.30

$11.57 CA$16.09

7.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.39 CA$18.61

$18.94 CA$26.33

-29.30%

Apples (1kg)

$3.38 CA$4.70

$4.95 CA$6.88

-31.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 CA$1.89

$1.42 CA$1.97

-4.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.80 CA$3.90

$4.22 CA$5.87

-33.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.72 CA$6.56

$4.09 CA$5.68

15.40%

Potato (1kg)

$3.67 CA$5.10

$2.56 CA$3.55

43.36%

Onion (1kg)

$3.18 CA$4.42

$2.82 CA$3.92

12.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.21 CA$4.46

$2.57 CA$3.57

24.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 CA$2.50

$1.55 CA$2.15

16.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.93 CA$16.59

$14.59 CA$20.28

-18.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.64 CA$20.35

$15.60 CA$21.69

-6.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.30 CA$4.59

$2.58 CA$3.59

27.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.90 CA$5.43

$3.23 CA$4.49

20.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.19 CA$3.05

$2.96 CA$4.12

-26.01%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$71.2 CA$98.9

$91.1 CA$127

-21.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.62 CA$5.03

$3.17 CA$4.40

14.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.82 CA$3.91

$1.39 CA$1.93

102.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$43.82 CA$60.9

$27.67 CA$38.46

58.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 CA$1.49

$1.25 CA$1.74

-14.40%

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

$28.9K CA$40.2K

$28.3K CA$39.4K

2.08%

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

$23.1K CA$32.1K

$21.3K CA$29.6K

8.46%

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

$278 CA$387

$178 CA$247

56.63%

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

$52.8 CA$73.4

$39.31 CA$54.6

34.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.8 CA$97.1

$50.9 CA$70.8

37.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.19 CA$64.2

$54.7 CA$76.1

-15.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.24 CA$19.79

$18.77 CA$26.09

-24.13%

Cinema Ticket

$14.58 CA$20.26

$14.55 CA$20.23

0.21%

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

$881 CA$1,225

$812 CA$1,128

8.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,644 CA$5,066

$16.4K CA$22.8K

-77.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.90 CA$68.0

$59.4 CA$82.6

-17.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 CA$72.9

$40.33 CA$56.1

30.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.0 CA$108

$92.2 CA$128

-15.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 CA$164

$113 CA$157

4.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,023 CA$1,422

$1,284 CA$1,785

-20.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$774 CA$1,077

$1,018 CA$1,415

-23.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,455 CA$2,023

$1,977 CA$2,749

-26.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,287 CA$1,790

$1,746 CA$2,428

-26.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,666 CA$7,877

$3,571 CA$4,963

58.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,111 CA$2,934

$3,359 CA$4,669

-37.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,029 CA$4,211

$3,213 CA$4,467

-5.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.85

4.48

8.26%

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

Last update for Lethbridge, AB: September 12, 2026

Last update for Calgary: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,023 in Lethbridge, AB and $1,284 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 6% 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: $70.0 in Lethbridge, AB vs $71.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $395 per month, with Lethbridge, AB 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

Lethbridge, AB vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lethbridge, AB is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 6% 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: $1,023 in Lethbridge, AB versus $1,284 in Calgary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Lethbridge, AB – a meal for two runs $70.0 versus $71.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,216 per month in Lethbridge, AB versus $2,344 in Calgary – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,216 in Lethbridge, AB versus $2,344 in Calgary, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lethbridge, AB but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Lethbridge, AB 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, Lethbridge, AB 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 Lethbridge, AB gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.