Cost of Living Comparison Between Medicine Hat and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Medicine Hat and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,892 in Medicine Hat versus $2,344 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,788 in Medicine Hat versus $3,470 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,684 in Medicine Hat versus $4,597 in Calgary.

Living in Medicine Hat costs roughly 19% less than in Calgary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medicine Hat 38% above, Calgary 71% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.18 CA$21.24

$17.68 CA$24.74

-14.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.9 CA$97.7

$71.2 CA$99.6

-1.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.21 CA$14.29

$10.85 CA$15.18

-5.90%

Cappuccino

$3.77 CA$5.27

$3.85 CA$5.39

-2.08%

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

$1.98 CA$2.77

$1.95 CA$2.73

1.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 CA$2.43

$1.79 CA$2.51

-2.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.94 CA$6.91

$4.97 CA$6.95

-0.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.76 CA$5.26

$5.90 CA$8.25

-36.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 CA$2.20

$1.84 CA$2.58

-14.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 CA$2.53

$2.73 CA$3.82

-33.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.67 CA$5.13

$5.44 CA$7.60

-32.54%

Eggs

$3.02 CA$4.22

$3.63 CA$5.07

-16.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.84 CA$13.77

$11.55 CA$16.15

-14.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.94 CA$15.30

$11.57 CA$16.19

-5.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.07 CA$18.29

$18.94 CA$26.50

-30.99%

Apples (1kg)

$3.14 CA$4.39

$4.95 CA$6.92

-36.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.89

$1.42 CA$1.98

-4.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.00 CA$4.20

$4.22 CA$5.90

-28.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.84 CA$5.37

$4.09 CA$5.72

-6.11%

Potato (1kg)

$2.66 CA$3.73

$2.56 CA$3.58

3.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.56 CA$2.19

$2.82 CA$3.95

-44.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.67 CA$3.73

$2.57 CA$3.59

3.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 CA$2.18

$1.55 CA$2.16

0.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 CA$16.30

$14.59 CA$20.41

-20.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.91 CA$18.06

$15.60 CA$21.83

-17.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.51 CA$3.51

$2.58 CA$3.61

-2.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 CA$4.30

$3.23 CA$4.52

-4.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.29 CA$3.20

$2.96 CA$4.14

-22.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$50.8 CA$71.1

$91.1 CA$127

-44.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.20 CA$4.47

$3.17 CA$4.43

0.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 CA$1.97

$1.39 CA$1.95

1.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.87 CA$37.59

$27.67 CA$38.70

-2.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 CA$1.46

$1.25 CA$1.75

-16.80%

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

$29.0K CA$40.6K

$28.3K CA$39.6K

2.50%

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

$19.2K CA$26.9K

$21.3K CA$29.8K

-9.64%

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

$183 CA$256

$178 CA$249

3.05%

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

$38.32 CA$53.6

$39.31 CA$55.0

-2.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.3 CA$71.7

$50.9 CA$71.2

0.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.9 CA$76.8

$54.7 CA$76.5

0.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.49 CA$49.64

$18.77 CA$26.25

89.08%

Cinema Ticket

$14.68 CA$20.53

$14.55 CA$20.36

0.89%

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

$818 CA$1,144

$812 CA$1,135

0.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K CA$22.5K

$16.4K CA$23.0K

-1.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.2 CA$71.6

$59.4 CA$83.1

-13.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.14 CA$37.97

$40.33 CA$56.4

-32.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.1 CA$95.3

$92.2 CA$129

-26.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.6 CA$94.6

$113 CA$158

-39.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$827 CA$1,156

$1,284 CA$1,796

-35.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$773 CA$1,082

$1,018 CA$1,424

-24.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,353 CA$1,893

$1,977 CA$2,766

-31.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,243 CA$1,739

$1,746 CA$2,443

-28.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,370 CA$1,916

$3,571 CA$4,995

-61.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,959 CA$2,740

$3,359 CA$4,698

-41.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,004 CA$4,202

$3,213 CA$4,495

-6.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.48

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

Last update for Medicine Hat: September 14, 2026

Last update for Calgary: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $827 in Medicine Hat and $1,284 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 7% 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 Medicine Hat vs $71.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $324 vs $395 per month, with Medicine Hat 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

Medicine Hat vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medicine Hat is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 7% 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: $827 in Medicine Hat 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 Medicine Hat – 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 $1,892 per month in Medicine Hat versus $2,344 in Calgary – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,892 in Medicine Hat versus $2,344 in Calgary, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Medicine Hat but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Medicine Hat 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.

Expats usually find Medicine Hat gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.