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: $2,391 in Nanaimo, BC versus $2,510 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,507 in Nanaimo, BC versus $3,653 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,622 in Nanaimo, BC versus $4,795 in Calgary.

Living in Nanaimo, BC costs roughly 5% less than in Calgary, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Nanaimo, BC 79% above, Calgary 87% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.70 CA$25.62

$18.65 CA$25.54

0.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.3 CA$86.7

$71.1 CA$97.4

-11.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.43 CA$18.39

$10.82 CA$14.82

24.12%

Cappuccino

$4.14 CA$5.67

$3.80 CA$5.21

8.95%

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

$2.63 CA$3.60

$2.05 CA$2.81

28.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 CA$2.71

$1.67 CA$2.29

18.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.96 CA$8.17

$5.22 CA$7.15

14.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.91 CA$8.09

$6.45 CA$8.84

-8.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 CA$2.47

$2.22 CA$3.04

-18.47%

White Bread (500g)

$3.27 CA$4.48

$2.78 CA$3.81

17.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.13 CA$5.65

$3.41 CA$4.67

21.11%

Eggs

$3.96 CA$5.43

$3.47 CA$4.75

14.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.78 CA$16.14

$14.42 CA$19.75

-18.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.57 CA$21.33

$12.85 CA$17.61

21.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.44 CA$25.26

$16.24 CA$22.25

13.55%

Apples (1kg)

$4.35 CA$5.96

$4.46 CA$6.11

-2.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 CA$2.11

$1.30 CA$1.78

18.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.38 CA$4.63

$3.73 CA$5.11

-9.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.69 CA$6.43

$4.27 CA$5.86

9.84%

Potato (1kg)

$3.10 CA$4.25

$2.67 CA$3.66

16.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 CA$3.88

$2.68 CA$3.67

5.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.06 CA$4.19

$2.75 CA$3.76

11.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 CA$3.20

$1.96 CA$2.69

19.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.20 CA$18.08

$14.55 CA$19.94

-9.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.03 CA$17.85

$14.66 CA$20.09

-11.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 CA$3.21

$2.81 CA$3.86

-16.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 CA$4.64

$3.99 CA$5.47

-15.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.91 CA$2.62

$2.74 CA$3.75

-30.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.16 CA$66.0

$86.7 CA$119

-44.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.87 CA$3.93

$3.58 CA$4.90

-19.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 CA$1.89

$1.29 CA$1.77

6.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.13 CA$46.76

$28.58 CA$39.15

19.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 CA$1.86

$1.08 CA$1.48

25.93%

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

$25.0K CA$34.2K

$25.4K CA$34.8K

-1.83%

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

$20.0K CA$27.5K

$21.6K CA$29.5K

-6.98%

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

$117 CA$161

$215 CA$294

-45.36%

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

$46.31 CA$63.5

$40.83 CA$55.9

13.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.1 CA$90.6

$57.9 CA$79.4

14.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.75 CA$42.13

$54.0 CA$74.0

-43.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.17 CA$15.30

$51.7 CA$70.9

-78.40%

Cinema Ticket

$11.26 CA$15.43

$12.56 CA$17.21

-10.35%

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

$771 CA$1,056

$871 CA$1,193

-11.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.2K CA$16.7K

$16.1K CA$22.1K

-24.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.21 CA$63.3

$58.6 CA$80.3

-21.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.25 CA$46.92

$46.97 CA$64.4

-27.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.8 CA$111

$86.3 CA$118

-6.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 CA$138

$109 CA$150

-7.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,324 CA$1,813

$1,388 CA$1,901

-4.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,163 CA$1,594

$1,181 CA$1,618

-1.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,079 CA$2,849

$2,337 CA$3,202

-11.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,940 CA$2,657

$1,886 CA$2,583

2.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,950 CA$5,411

$3,823 CA$5,237

3.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,573 CA$4,894

$3,596 CA$4,926

-0.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,197 CA$4,380

$3,125 CA$4,281

2.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.47

5.71

13.31%

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

Last update for Nanaimo, BC: April 25, 2026

Last update for Calgary: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,324 in Nanaimo, BC and $1,388 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nanaimo, BC pays 2% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $63.0 in Nanaimo, BC vs $71.0 in Calgary. Groceries flip the comparison at $419 vs $399, with Calgary cheaper for home cooking.

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

Nanaimo, BC is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Nanaimo, BC pays 2% more on average, 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: $1,324 in Nanaimo, BC versus $1,388 in Calgary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Nanaimo, BC – a meal for two runs $63.0 versus $71.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,391 per month in Nanaimo, BC versus $2,510 in Calgary – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,391 in Nanaimo, BC versus $2,510 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.

Expats usually find Nanaimo, BC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.