Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Peterborough, Canada and Calgary

For one person, living is cheaper in Peterborough: $2,107 a month against $2,297 in Calgary, rent and utilities included – about $2,300 less a year. The total is higher in Calgary despite lower rent and utilities.

Peterborough, Canada
Calgary, Canada
Peterborough
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,107
/mo nomad
Calgary
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,297
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Peterborough and in Calgary

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Peterborough and in Calgary actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,107 in Peterborough versus $2,297 in Calgary.

  • Peterborough $2,107
  • Calgary $2,297

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,050 in Peterborough versus $3,378 in Calgary.

  • Peterborough $3,050
  • Calgary $3,378

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,993 in Peterborough versus $4,459 in Calgary.

  • Peterborough $3,993
  • Calgary $4,459

Living in Peterborough costs roughly 8% less than in Calgary, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Peterborough 56% above, Calgary 70% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Peterborough
Calgary
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60 CA$16.22
$17.94 CA$25.09
-35.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.0 CA$101
$68.9 CA$96.3
4.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.75 CA$15.04
$10.94 CA$15.30
-1.74%
Cappuccino
$3.83 CA$5.36
$3.70 CA$5.18
3.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 CA$2.53
$2.07 CA$2.90
-12.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 CA$2.06
$2.04 CA$2.86
-27.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.28 CA$7.38
$5.74 CA$8.03
-8.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.82 CA$8.14
$5.70 CA$7.97
2.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Peterborough
Calgary
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.59 CA$3.62
$1.98 CA$2.76
30.81%
White Bread (500g)
$2.45 CA$3.43
$2.65 CA$3.70
-7.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.48 CA$3.47
$5.84 CA$8.16
-57.53%
Eggs
$3.26 CA$4.56
$3.81 CA$5.33
-14.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.86 CA$15.19
$10.81 CA$15.11
0.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.11 CA$15.54
$11.02 CA$15.41
0.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.80 CA$17.90
$17.87 CA$25.00
-28.37%
Apples (1kg)
$3.35 CA$4.69
$4.88 CA$6.83
-31.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 CA$2.01
$1.45 CA$2.03
-0.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.51 CA$4.90
$4.15 CA$5.81
-15.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.13 CA$5.78
$3.99 CA$5.58
3.51%
Potato (1kg)
$1.63 CA$2.27
$2.93 CA$4.10
-44.37%
Onion (1kg)
$2.31 CA$3.23
$3.02 CA$4.23
-23.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.27 CA$3.18
$2.67 CA$3.73
-14.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.49 CA$2.08
$1.57 CA$2.20
-5.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.57 CA$16.18
$14.11 CA$19.73
-18.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.62 CA$17.65
$15.45 CA$21.60
-18.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42 CA$3.39
$2.50 CA$3.50
-3.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 CA$2.27
$3.18 CA$4.44
-48.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Peterborough
Calgary
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.46 CA$3.44
$2.85 CA$3.98
-13.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.3 CA$76.0
$90.2 CA$126
-39.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 CA$4.32
$3.16 CA$4.42
-2.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.25 CA$1.75
$1.41 CA$1.97
-11.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.57 CA$30.16
$27.46 CA$38.40
-21.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 CA$1.65
$1.18 CA$1.66
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.4K CA$36.9K
$27.9K CA$39.0K
-5.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1K CA$29.5K
$21.1K CA$29.4K
0.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Peterborough
Calgary
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$140 CA$196
$182 CA$254
-22.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.14 CA$49.13
$36.01 CA$50.4
-2.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.89 CA$62.8
$48.80 CA$68.2
-8.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Peterborough
Calgary
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.59 CA$52.6
$48.78 CA$68.2
-22.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.21 CA$19.87
$18.15 CA$25.38
-21.71%
Cinema Ticket
$11.50 CA$16.09
$14.52 CA$20.30
-20.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Peterborough
Calgary
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$344 CA$481
$542 CA$758
-36.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.6K CA$21.8K
$21.2K CA$29.6K
-26.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Peterborough
Calgary
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.52 CA$65.1
$59.1 CA$82.6
-21.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.93 CA$53.0
$42.34 CA$59.2
-10.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.1 CA$123
$94.2 CA$132
-6.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.9 CA$103
$109 CA$152
-32.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Peterborough
Calgary
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,376 CA$1,924
$1,214 CA$1,697
13.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,083 CA$1,514
$1,036 CA$1,449
4.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,057 CA$2,876
$2,045 CA$2,860
0.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,631 CA$2,281
$1,655 CA$2,314
-1.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,479 CA$9,060
$3,653 CA$5,108
77.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,365 CA$8,901
$3,183 CA$4,451
99.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Peterborough
Calgary
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,017 CA$4,219
$3,219 CA$4,501
-6.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.55
4.43
2.71%

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

Last update for Peterborough: November 1, 2026

Last update for Calgary: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Peterborough
$1.1K
Calgary
$1K 4.3% $46
Groceries & Markets
Peterborough
$337
Calgary
$390 15.6% $53
Eating Out
Peterborough
$222
Calgary
$277 24.8% $55
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Peterborough
$220
Calgary
$267 21% $46
Clothing & Footwear
Peterborough
$111
Calgary
$137 23.5% $26
Getting Around
Peterborough
$74
Calgary
$112 52% $38
Sport & Entertainment
Peterborough
$61
Calgary
$78 28.4% $17

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,376 in Peterborough and $1,214 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 7% 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: $72 in Peterborough vs $69 in Calgary. Groceries flip the comparison at $337 vs $390, with Peterborough cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Peterborough
🇨🇦 Calgary
🕒 Local time
12:08 12:08 PM
11:08 11:08 AM
1 h behind Peterborough
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
81,032
1,267,344
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.715 USD). 1 EUR = 1.57 CAD (1 CAD = 0.639 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Peterborough Calgary 2,750 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Peterborough
  • Calgary

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City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

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Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Peterborough vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Peterborough cheaper than Calgary?
Peterborough is about 8% cheaper overall, especially in eating out, groceries, and transport. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Peterborough or Calgary?
On paper, salaries run 6% lower in Peterborough. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Peterborough and Calgary?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,376 in Peterborough versus $1,214 in Calgary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Peterborough or in Calgary?
Dining out is cheaper in Calgary – a meal for two runs $69 versus $72 in Peterborough. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Peterborough and in Calgary?
All in, you’ll spend $2,107 per month in Peterborough versus $2,297 in Calgary – Peterborough is about 8% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Is it better to live in Peterborough or in Calgary?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Peterborough wins on affordability, Calgary on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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