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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,846 in North Vancouver versus $2,462 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,438 in North Vancouver versus $3,628 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,029 in North Vancouver versus $4,795 in Calgary.

Living in North Vancouver is roughly 16% more expensive than in Calgary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: North Vancouver 113% above, Calgary 84% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.68 CA$26.28

$18.33 CA$25.79

1.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.7 CA$99.4

$69.9 CA$98.3

1.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.34 CA$14.55

$10.95 CA$15.41

-5.57%

Cappuccino

$4.12 CA$5.80

$3.74 CA$5.26

10.16%

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

$2.07 CA$2.91

$2.04 CA$2.87

1.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 CA$1.84

$1.67 CA$2.35

-21.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.01 CA$7.04

$5.20 CA$7.32

-3.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.01 CA$9.87

$6.71 CA$9.45

4.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.11 CA$2.97

$2.25 CA$3.16

-6.22%

White Bread (500g)

$2.66 CA$3.74

$2.75 CA$3.87

-3.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.64 CA$3.72

$3.23 CA$4.54

-18.27%

Eggs

$3.69 CA$5.20

$3.45 CA$4.85

6.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.45 CA$14.70

$14.40 CA$20.26

-27.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.91 CA$16.76

$12.89 CA$18.13

-7.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.47 CA$20.37

$15.86 CA$22.32

-8.76%

Apples (1kg)

$3.32 CA$4.68

$4.30 CA$6.05

-22.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 CA$2.04

$1.34 CA$1.89

8.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.98 CA$4.20

$3.85 CA$5.42

-22.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.83 CA$5.39

$4.25 CA$5.99

-9.88%

Potato (1kg)

$2.47 CA$3.47

$2.55 CA$3.58

-3.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 CA$2.79

$2.62 CA$3.69

-24.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.50 CA$3.51

$2.80 CA$3.94

-10.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 CA$1.69

$1.95 CA$2.74

-38.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.47 CA$20.36

$14.97 CA$21.06

-3.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.66 CA$17.81

$13.90 CA$19.57

-8.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.85 CA$5.41

$2.92 CA$4.11

31.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 CA$3.32

$3.91 CA$5.50

-39.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.51 CA$3.53

$2.74 CA$3.85

-8.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$88.6 CA$125

$87.8 CA$124

0.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.66 CA$3.74

$3.60 CA$5.06

-26.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.56 CA$2.20

$1.30 CA$1.83

20.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.68 CA$40.35

$28.70 CA$40.39

-0.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 CA$1.93

$1.12 CA$1.57

22.32%

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

$24.7K CA$34.8K

$25.5K CA$35.8K

-2.90%

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

$20.3K CA$28.6K

$21.7K CA$30.6K

-6.44%

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

$133 CA$187

$213 CA$300

-37.60%

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

$41.67 CA$58.6

$40.96 CA$57.6

1.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.5 CA$93.6

$57.9 CA$81.5

14.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.76 CA$46.09

$54.2 CA$76.2

-39.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.91 CA$42.09

$53.8 CA$75.6

-44.35%

Cinema Ticket

$12.71 CA$17.88

$12.63 CA$17.77

0.63%

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

$1,227 CA$1,727

$874 CA$1,230

40.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.1K CA$15.6K

$15.9K CA$22.3K

-30.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.1 CA$79.0

$58.6 CA$82.5

-4.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.69 CA$64.3

$47.01 CA$66.2

-2.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.8 CA$135

$85.1 CA$120

12.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 CA$159

$108 CA$151

5.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,870 CA$2,632

$1,380 CA$1,942

35.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,657 CA$2,331

$1,159 CA$1,631

42.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,549 CA$4,993

$2,324 CA$3,270

52.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,468 CA$4,880

$1,905 CA$2,680

82.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,266 CA$11.6K

$3,786 CA$5,327

118.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,664 CA$9,377

$3,511 CA$4,940

89.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,097 CA$4,358

$2,940 CA$4,136

5.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

5.71

14.54%

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

Last update for North Vancouver: July 12, 2026

Last update for Calgary: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,870 in North Vancouver and $1,380 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

North Vancouver pays 5% 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 North Vancouver vs $70.0 in Calgary. Groceries flip the comparison at $349 vs $396, with North Vancouver 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

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

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 5% higher in North Vancouver, 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: $1,870 in North Vancouver 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 Calgary – a meal for two runs $70.0 versus $71.0 in North Vancouver. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,846 per month in North Vancouver versus $2,462 in Calgary – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,462 in Calgary versus $2,846 in North Vancouver, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in North Vancouver. The gap between the two cities makes Calgary the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Calgary is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in North Vancouver, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, North Vancouver 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 Calgary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in North Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.