Cost of Living Comparison Between North Bay and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between North Bay and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,414 in North Bay versus $2,462 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,607 in North Bay versus $3,628 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,800 in North Bay versus $4,795 in Calgary.

Living in North Bay costs roughly 2% less than in Calgary, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: North Bay 81% above, Calgary 84% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.88 CA$20.93

$18.33 CA$25.79

-18.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.7 CA$114

$69.9 CA$98.3

15.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.75 CA$12.31

$10.95 CA$15.41

-20.09%

Cappuccino

$3.33 CA$4.68

$3.74 CA$5.26

-10.96%

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

$2.05 CA$2.88

$2.04 CA$2.87

0.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 CA$1.96

$1.67 CA$2.35

-16.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.11 CA$7.20

$5.20 CA$7.32

-1.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.68 CA$9.40

$6.71 CA$9.45

-0.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 CA$2.44

$2.25 CA$3.16

-23.11%

White Bread (500g)

$2.26 CA$3.18

$2.75 CA$3.87

-17.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.70 CA$9.42

$3.23 CA$4.54

107.43%

Eggs

$3.28 CA$4.62

$3.45 CA$4.85

-4.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.83 CA$29.31

$14.40 CA$20.26

44.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.93 CA$25.23

$12.89 CA$18.13

39.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.95 CA$15.41

$15.86 CA$22.32

-30.96%

Apples (1kg)

$4.41 CA$6.21

$4.30 CA$6.05

2.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 CA$1.98

$1.34 CA$1.89

5.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.69 CA$5.19

$3.85 CA$5.42

-4.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.47 CA$4.89

$4.25 CA$5.99

-18.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.40 CA$3.38

$2.55 CA$3.58

-5.88%

Onion (1kg)

$2.09 CA$2.95

$2.62 CA$3.69

-20.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.86 CA$4.03

$2.80 CA$3.94

2.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.68 CA$3.76

$1.95 CA$2.74

37.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.07 CA$18.39

$14.97 CA$21.06

-12.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.88 CA$19.52

$13.90 CA$19.57

-0.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 CA$3.64

$2.92 CA$4.11

-11.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 CA$4.70

$3.91 CA$5.50

-14.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.41 CA$3.39

$2.74 CA$3.85

-12.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.4 CA$105

$87.8 CA$124

-15.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.23 CA$5.96

$3.60 CA$5.06

17.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.11 CA$1.56

$1.30 CA$1.83

-14.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.16 CA$36.81

$28.70 CA$40.39

-8.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 CA$1.59

$1.12 CA$1.57

0.89%

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

$24.9K CA$35.0K

$25.5K CA$35.8K

-2.28%

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

$19.8K CA$27.9K

$21.7K CA$30.6K

-8.97%

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

$144 CA$203

$213 CA$300

-32.37%

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

$34.28 CA$48.24

$40.96 CA$57.6

-16.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.2 CA$84.7

$57.9 CA$81.5

3.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.04 CA$35.24

$54.2 CA$76.2

-53.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.6

Cinema Ticket

$10.81 CA$15.21

$12.63 CA$17.77

-14.41%

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

$917 CA$1,291

$874 CA$1,230

4.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K CA$41.2K

$15.9K CA$22.3K

84.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.76 CA$63.0

$58.6 CA$82.5

-23.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.19 CA$25.59

$47.01 CA$66.2

-61.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.5 CA$86.6

$85.1 CA$120

-27.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.3 CA$113

$108 CA$151

-25.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,354 CA$1,906

$1,380 CA$1,942

-1.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,250 CA$1,759

$1,159 CA$1,631

7.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,241 CA$3,153

$2,324 CA$3,270

-3.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,161 CA$3,041

$1,905 CA$2,680

13.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,786 CA$5,327

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,511 CA$4,940

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,041 CA$4,279

$2,940 CA$4,136

3.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

5.71

12.96%

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

Last update for North Bay: July 11, 2026

Last update for Calgary: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,354 in North Bay and $1,380 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

North Bay pays 3% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $81.0 in North Bay vs $70.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $430 vs $396 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

North Bay vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

North Bay is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 3% higher in North Bay, 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: $1,354 in North Bay versus $1,380 in Calgary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in North Bay – a meal for two runs $81.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,414 per month in North Bay versus $2,462 in Calgary – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,414 in North Bay versus $2,462 in Calgary, a $2,000 budget is realistic in North Bay but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes North Bay 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, North Bay 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 North Bay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.