Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lloydminster and Calgary

For one person, living is cheaper in Lloydminster: $1,628 a month against $2,223 in Calgary, rent and utilities included – about $7,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lloydminster
🇨🇦 Canada
$1,628
/mo nomad
Calgary
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,223
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,628 in Lloydminster versus $2,223 in Calgary.

  • Lloydminster $1,628
  • Calgary $2,223

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,496 in Lloydminster versus $3,301 in Calgary.

  • Lloydminster $2,496
  • Calgary $3,301

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,363 in Lloydminster versus $4,379 in Calgary.

  • Lloydminster $3,363
  • Calgary $4,379

Living in Lloydminster 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: Lloydminster 21% above, Calgary 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lloydminster
Calgary
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.65 CA$22.12
$17.22 CA$24.34
-9.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.8 CA$93.0
$71.1 CA$100
-7.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.06 CA$12.81
$10.53 CA$14.89
-13.96%
Cappuccino
$3.46 CA$4.89
$3.66 CA$5.18
-5.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 CA$2.27
$1.98 CA$2.80
-18.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 CA$2.35
$1.94 CA$2.74
-13.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.19 CA$5.92
$4.95 CA$7.00
-15.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.17 CA$5.90
$5.57 CA$7.87
-25.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lloydminster
Calgary
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 CA$2.71
$1.88 CA$2.65
2.13%
White Bread (500g)
$2.19 CA$3.10
$2.67 CA$3.78
-17.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.76 CA$6.72
$5.32 CA$7.52
-10.53%
Eggs
$3.37 CA$4.77
$3.79 CA$5.35
-11.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.64 CA$13.63
$11.09 CA$15.68
-13.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.31 CA$15.99
$11.36 CA$16.05
-0.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.01 CA$18.39
$18.40 CA$26.01
-29.29%
Apples (1kg)
$3.89 CA$5.49
$4.56 CA$6.45
-14.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.40 CA$1.98
$1.44 CA$2.04
-2.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.91 CA$4.11
$4.08 CA$5.76
-28.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.15 CA$4.45
$3.89 CA$5.50
-19.02%
Potato (1kg)
$2.84 CA$4.01
$2.64 CA$3.73
7.58%
Onion (1kg)
$2.03 CA$2.86
$2.64 CA$3.73
-23.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.05 CA$2.90
$2.50 CA$3.54
-18.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 CA$2.05
$1.50 CA$2.12
-3.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.30 CA$20.22
$14.05 CA$19.86
1.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.84 CA$19.56
$15.70 CA$22.20
-11.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 CA$3.87
$2.44 CA$3.45
12.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 CA$4.68
$3.09 CA$4.37
7.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Lloydminster
Calgary
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.82 CA$3.99
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$88.6 CA$125
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.24 CA$5.99
$3.12 CA$4.41
35.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.28 CA$1.81
$1.35 CA$1.91
-5.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.07 CA$19.89
$27.02 CA$38.20
-47.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.00 CA$1.41
$1.16 CA$1.64
-13.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K CA$39.5K
$27.9K CA$39.5K
0.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.6K CA$29.1K
$20.3K CA$28.8K
1.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lloydminster
Calgary
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$195 CA$275
$161 CA$227
21.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.45 CA$65.7
$38.13 CA$53.9
21.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.8 CA$80.3
$50.0 CA$70.7
13.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lloydminster
Calgary
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.23 CA$61.1
$51.5 CA$72.8
-16.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.14 CA$25.64
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.61 CA$14.99
$13.82 CA$19.54
-23.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lloydminster
Calgary
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$487 CA$689
$786 CA$1,111
-38.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.2K CA$20.0K
$15.5K CA$21.8K
-8.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lloydminster
Calgary
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.02 CA$60.8
$58.3 CA$82.4
-26.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.51 CA$38.88
$39.27 CA$55.5
-29.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.3 CA$118
$89.8 CA$127
-7.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 CA$151
$110 CA$155
-3.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lloydminster
Calgary
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$732 CA$1,035
$1,229 CA$1,737
-40.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$562 CA$795
$1,001 CA$1,415
-43.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,141 CA$1,613
$1,921 CA$2,716
-40.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,031 CA$1,458
$1,621 CA$2,292
-36.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,549 CA$5,018
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,335 CA$4,715
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lloydminster
Calgary
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,739 CA$3,872
$3,165 CA$4,474
-13.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.8
4.51
6.43%

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

Last update for Lloydminster: October 11, 2026

Last update for Calgary: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lloydminster
$562
Calgary
$1K 78.1% $439
Groceries & Markets
Lloydminster
$340
Calgary
$385 13.5% $46
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lloydminster
$298
Calgary
$249 16.4% $49
Eating Out
Lloydminster
$236
Calgary
$265 12.1% $29
Clothing & Footwear
Lloydminster
$117
Calgary
$134 14.1% $17
Sport & Entertainment
Lloydminster
$64
Calgary
$79 22.8% $15
Getting Around
Lloydminster
$11 *
Calgary
$110 933% $99

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 $732 in Lloydminster and $1,229 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: $66.0 in Lloydminster vs $71.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $340 vs $385 per month, with Lloydminster cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Lloydminster
🇨🇦 Calgary
🕒 Local time
21:15 9:15 PM
21:15 9:15 PM
Same time as Lloydminster
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
31,582
1,267,344
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

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
  • Lloydminster Calgary 370 km
From you
  • Lloydminster
  • 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
Lloydminster vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Calgary cheaper than Lloydminster?
Lloydminster is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 37% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lloydminster or Calgary?
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.
What is the rent difference between Lloydminster and Calgary?
Rent for a central apartment: $732 in Lloydminster versus $1,229 in Calgary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $487 in Lloydminster versus $786 in Calgary. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Lloydminster or in Calgary?
Dining out is cheaper in Lloydminster – a meal for two runs $66.0 versus $71.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Lloydminster or in Calgary?
At $1,628 in Lloydminster versus $2,223 in Calgary, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lloydminster but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Lloydminster the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Lloydminster 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, Lloydminster or Calgary?
Safety-wise, Lloydminster 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 Lloydminster gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Lloydminster vs other spots: cost of living compared

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