Cost of Living Comparison Between Nanaimo, BC and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Nanaimo, BC and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,339 in Nanaimo, BC versus $2,344 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,438 in Nanaimo, BC versus $3,499 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,536 in Nanaimo, BC versus $4,655 in Calgary.

Monthly costs are close between Nanaimo, BC and Calgary; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Nanaimo, BC 70% above, Calgary 70% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.91 CA$24.84

$18.45 CA$25.59

-2.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.0 CA$111

$71.5 CA$99.2

11.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.35 CA$15.75

$10.68 CA$14.81

6.27%

Cappuccino

$3.95 CA$5.48

$3.93 CA$5.46

0.51%

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

$2.35 CA$3.25

$2.02 CA$2.80

16.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 CA$2.33

$1.97 CA$2.73

-14.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.72 CA$7.93

$4.92 CA$6.82

16.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.94 CA$8.24

$5.90 CA$8.19

0.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 CA$2.40

$2.03 CA$2.82

-14.78%

White Bread (500g)

$3.47 CA$4.82

$2.86 CA$3.97

21.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.22 CA$4.46

$5.72 CA$7.93

-43.71%

Eggs

$4.27 CA$5.92

$3.81 CA$5.29

12.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.63 CA$16.13

$11.56 CA$16.04

0.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.74 CA$19.05

$11.95 CA$16.57

14.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.13 CA$23.76

$18.97 CA$26.30

-9.70%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 CA$6.64

$4.91 CA$6.82

-2.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 CA$1.76

$1.42 CA$1.97

-10.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.30 CA$5.96

$4.36 CA$6.04

-1.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.82 CA$6.69

$4.03 CA$5.59

19.60%

Potato (1kg)

$2.80 CA$3.88

$2.72 CA$3.77

2.94%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 CA$3.99

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.90 CA$4.03

$2.57 CA$3.57

12.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 CA$3.20

$1.49 CA$2.07

54.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.83 CA$17.79

$14.71 CA$20.41

-12.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.23 CA$19.74

$15.57 CA$21.60

-8.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 CA$3.60

$2.52 CA$3.50

3.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 CA$3.70

$3.27 CA$4.53

-18.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.88 CA$2.60

$2.94 CA$4.07

-36.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.15 CA$64.0

$89.8 CA$125

-48.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.84 CA$3.94

$3.30 CA$4.58

-13.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.21 CA$3.06

$1.37 CA$1.90

61.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.52 CA$39.56

$27.07 CA$37.54

5.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 CA$1.93

$1.22 CA$1.69

13.93%

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

$28.5K CA$39.5K

$28.6K CA$39.6K

-0.23%

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

$19.3K CA$26.8K

$20.9K CA$29.0K

-7.46%

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

$156 CA$217

$182 CA$253

-14.23%

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

$41.25 CA$57.2

$39.50 CA$54.8

4.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.1 CA$91.6

$51.4 CA$71.3

28.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.33 CA$39.29

$54.8 CA$76.0

-48.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.90 CA$27.60

$18.79 CA$26.07

5.91%

Cinema Ticket

$11.30 CA$15.68

$14.52 CA$20.14

-22.18%

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

$525 CA$728

$819 CA$1,136

-35.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.4K CA$18.5K

$16.3K CA$22.7K

-18.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.6 CA$70.1

$61.8 CA$85.8

-18.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.57 CA$47.95

$40.15 CA$55.7

-13.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 CA$142

$94.3 CA$131

8.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$150

$114 CA$158

-4.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,427 CA$1,979

$1,256 CA$1,741

13.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,187 CA$1,646

$1,089 CA$1,510

9.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,175 CA$3,017

$1,994 CA$2,766

9.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,760 CA$2,441

$1,706 CA$2,367

3.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,969 CA$5,504

$3,627 CA$5,031

9.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,457 CA$4,794

$3,403 CA$4,719

1.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,256 CA$4,515

$3,246 CA$4,502

0.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.72

4.48

5.36%

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

Last update for Nanaimo, BC: September 5, 2026

Last update for Calgary: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,427 in Nanaimo, BC and $1,256 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nanaimo, BC pays 0% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $80.0 in Nanaimo, BC vs $71.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $410 vs $401 per month, with Calgary 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

Nanaimo, BC vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Average pay runs 0% higher in Nanaimo, BC, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,427 in Nanaimo, BC versus $1,256 in Calgary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $525 in Nanaimo, BC versus $819 in Calgary. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Nanaimo, BC – a meal for two runs $80.0 versus $71.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,339 in Nanaimo, BC versus $2,344 in Calgary, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Nanaimo, BC but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Nanaimo, BC 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, Nanaimo, BC 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.

It comes down to priorities – Nanaimo, BC wins on affordability, Calgary on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.