Cost of Living Comparison Between Parry Sound and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Parry Sound and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,329 in Parry Sound versus $2,344 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,226 in Parry Sound versus $3,499 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,122 in Parry Sound versus $4,655 in Calgary.

Living in Parry Sound costs roughly 1% less than in Calgary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Parry Sound 69% above, Calgary 70% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.26 CA$25.32

$18.45 CA$25.59

-1.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.5 CA$71.5

$71.5 CA$99.2

-27.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.93 CA$15.16

$10.68 CA$14.81

2.34%

Cappuccino

$3.29 CA$4.57

$3.93 CA$5.46

-16.28%

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

$1.44 CA$1.99

$2.02 CA$2.80

-28.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 CA$1.53

$1.97 CA$2.73

-43.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.76 CA$6.59

$4.92 CA$6.82

-3.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 CA$5.91

$5.90 CA$8.19

-27.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 CA$2.70

$2.03 CA$2.82

-3.94%

White Bread (500g)

$2.23 CA$3.09

$2.86 CA$3.97

-22.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 CA$2.18

$5.72 CA$7.93

-72.55%

Eggs

$3.23 CA$4.48

$3.81 CA$5.29

-15.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.19 CA$5.81

$11.56 CA$16.04

-63.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.92 CA$15.15

$11.95 CA$16.57

-8.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.35 CA$10.20

$18.97 CA$26.30

-61.25%

Apples (1kg)

$3.41 CA$4.73

$4.91 CA$6.82

-30.55%

Banana (1kg)

$0.70 CA$0.97

$1.42 CA$1.97

-50.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.71 CA$0.98

$4.36 CA$6.04

-83.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.22 CA$3.08

$4.03 CA$5.59

-44.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.73 CA$2.40

$2.72 CA$3.77

-36.40%

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 CA$1.96

$2.88 CA$3.99

-51.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.47 CA$2.04

$2.57 CA$3.57

-42.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 CA$2.24

$1.49 CA$2.07

8.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.40 CA$17.20

$14.71 CA$20.41

-15.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.66 CA$16.17

$15.57 CA$21.60

-25.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 CA$4.05

$2.52 CA$3.50

15.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.64 CA$5.05

$3.27 CA$4.53

11.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 CA$4.07

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.8 CA$125

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$8.64 CA$11.98

$3.30 CA$4.58

161.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 CA$1.90

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.84 CA$26.12

$27.07 CA$37.54

-30.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 CA$1.50

$1.22 CA$1.69

-11.48%

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

$28.4K CA$39.4K

$28.6K CA$39.6K

-0.65%

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

$18.6K CA$25.8K

$20.9K CA$29.0K

-10.97%

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

$132 CA$183

$182 CA$253

-27.67%

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

$27.32 CA$37.89

$39.50 CA$54.8

-30.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.09 CA$63.9

$51.4 CA$71.3

-10.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.47 CA$46.42

$54.8 CA$76.0

-38.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.79 CA$26.07

Cinema Ticket

$10.16 CA$14.08

$14.52 CA$20.14

-30.03%

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

$887 CA$1,231

$819 CA$1,136

8.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.2K CA$39.1K

$16.3K CA$22.7K

72.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.24 CA$60.0

$61.8 CA$85.8

-30.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.02 CA$54.1

$40.15 CA$55.7

-2.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.6 CA$135

$94.3 CA$131

3.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.9 CA$137

$114 CA$158

-13.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,135 CA$1,574

$1,256 CA$1,741

-9.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,350 CA$1,873

$1,089 CA$1,510

24.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,148 CA$2,980

$1,994 CA$2,766

7.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,184 CA$3,030

$1,706 CA$2,367

28.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,627 CA$5,031

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,403 CA$4,719

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,166 CA$3,004

$3,246 CA$4,502

-33.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.56

4.48

1.79%

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

Last update for Parry Sound: September 5, 2026

Last update for Calgary: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,135 in Parry Sound and $1,256 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 50% 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: $52.0 in Parry Sound vs $71.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $264 vs $401 per month, with Parry Sound 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

Parry Sound vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Parry Sound is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 50% lower in Calgary. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,135 in Parry Sound versus $1,256 in Calgary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $887 in Parry Sound 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 Parry Sound – a meal for two runs $52.0 versus $71.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,329 in Parry Sound versus $2,344 in Calgary, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Parry Sound but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Parry Sound 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, Parry Sound 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 Parry Sound gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.