😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,870 in Medicine Hat versus $1,575 in Heraklion.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,748 in Medicine Hat versus $2,474 in Heraklion.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,625 in Medicine Hat versus $3,374 in Heraklion.
😐Living in Medicine Hat is roughly 19% more expensive than Heraklion, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medicine Hat40% above, Heraklion18% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medicine Hat
Heraklion
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.57CA$21.65
$14.13€12.17
10.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.3CA$99.2
$58.4€50.3
22.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.16CA$11.35
$11.56€9.95
-29.41%
Cappuccino
$3.72CA$5.17
$3.89€3.35
-4.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99CA$2.77
$2.18€1.87
-8.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72CA$2.39
$0.60€0.52
186.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.06CA$7.04
$5.96€5.13
-15.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.93CA$5.47
$5.76€4.96
-31.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medicine Hat
Heraklion
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.55CA$2.15
$1.84€1.58
-15.76%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82CA$2.53
$1.49€1.28
22.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.42CA$4.75
$2.70€2.33
26.67%
Eggs
$3.22CA$4.48
$5.56€4.79
-42.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.18CA$11.37
$16.98€14.62
-51.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.25CA$15.65
$11.37€9.78
-1.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.38CA$18.61
$14.65€12.61
-8.67%
Apples(1kg)
$3.83CA$5.33
$2.25€1.94
70.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.34CA$1.86
$2.13€1.83
-37.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.51CA$3.49
$1.45€1.25
73.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.34CA$4.65
$1.84€1.59
81.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.49CA$2.07
$1.30€1.12
14.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.53CA$2.13
$1.53€1.32
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.64CA$3.68
$0.87€0.75
203.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.56CA$2.16
$0.66€0.57
136.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.73CA$16.32
$5.29€4.55
121.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.06CA$18.16
$8.05€6.93
62.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.64CA$3.67
$2.09€1.80
26.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66CA$5.09
$3.39€2.92
7.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Medicine Hat
Heraklion
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.34CA$3.25
$1.59€1.37
47.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$51.0CA$70.9
$46.27€39.84
10.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.59CA$4.99
$4.53€3.90
-20.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.30CA$1.81
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.19CA$40.60
$11.60€9.99
151.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.06CA$1.47
$2.16€1.86
-50.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0KCA$34.7K
$35.0K€30.2K
-28.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2KCA$30.8K
$25.8K€22.2K
-13.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medicine Hat
Heraklion
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$212CA$295
$216€186
-1.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.51CA$57.7
$22.89€19.71
81.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.0CA$82.1
$37.02€31.87
59.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medicine Hat
Heraklion
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.3CA$79.7
$52.7€45.36
8.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.53CA$52.2
$39.87€34.33
-5.87%
Cinema Ticket
$12.28CA$17.07
$9.36€8.05
31.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medicine Hat
Heraklion
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$877CA$1,220
$431€371
103.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8KCA$22.0K
$4,159€3,580
280.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medicine Hat
Heraklion
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.2CA$74.0
$100€86.4
-46.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.81CA$38.67
$46.48€40.02
-40.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.3CA$96.4
$89.6€77.1
-22.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.0CA$97.3
$133€114
-47.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medicine Hat
Heraklion
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$815CA$1,134
$555€478
46.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730CA$1,016
$424€365
72.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,406CA$1,955
$1,044€899
34.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,201CA$1,670
$875€753
37.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,371CA$1,907
$4,014€3,455
-65.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,972CA$2,742
$2,848€2,452
-30.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medicine Hat
Heraklion
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,997CA$4,168
$1,156€995
159.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.71
4.44
28.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medicine Hat: May 30, 2026
Last update for Heraklion: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $815 in Medicine Hat and $555 in Heraklion. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medicine Hat pays 159% 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: $71.0 in Medicine Hat vs $58.0 in Heraklion for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $309 per month, with Heraklion 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 Heraklion: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Heraklion cheaper than Medicine Hat?
Heraklion is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medicine Hat or Heraklion?
Medicine Hat pays 159% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Medicine Hat and Heraklion?
Rent for a central apartment: $815 in Medicine Hat versus $555 in Heraklion. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $877 in Medicine Hat versus $431 in Heraklion. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Medicine Hat and Heraklion?
Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Medicine Hat. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medicine Hat or Heraklion?
At $1,575 in Heraklion versus $1,870 in Medicine Hat, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Heraklion but tight or insufficient in Medicine Hat. The gap between the two cities makes Heraklion the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Medicine Hat or Heraklion?
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, Medicine Hat or Heraklion?
Safety-wise, Medicine Hat and Heraklion 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 Heraklion gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Medicine Hat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Medicine Hat vs other spots: cost of living compared