Cost of Living Comparison Between Picton and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Picton and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,323 in Picton versus $2,462 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,301 in Picton versus $3,628 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,280 in Picton versus $4,795 in Calgary.

Living in Picton costs roughly 6% less than in Calgary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Picton 74% above, Calgary 84% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.59 CA$26.16

$18.33 CA$25.79

1.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.8 CA$77.1

$69.9 CA$98.3

-21.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.91 CA$8.31

$10.95 CA$15.41

-46.03%

Cappuccino

$3.63 CA$5.11

$3.74 CA$5.26

-2.94%

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

$1.88 CA$2.64

$2.04 CA$2.87

-7.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 CA$2.10

$1.67 CA$2.35

-10.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.44 CA$6.25

$5.20 CA$7.32

-14.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.54 CA$9.21

$6.71 CA$9.45

-2.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 CA$3.16

$2.25 CA$3.16

-0.44%

White Bread (500g)

$2.02 CA$2.84

$2.75 CA$3.87

-26.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.63 CA$5.10

$3.23 CA$4.54

12.38%

Eggs

$3.01 CA$4.24

$3.45 CA$4.85

-12.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.36 CA$18.80

$14.40 CA$20.26

-7.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.22 CA$18.60

$12.89 CA$18.13

2.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.72 CA$23.53

$15.86 CA$22.32

5.42%

Apples (1kg)

$3.67 CA$5.16

$4.30 CA$6.05

-14.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 CA$1.65

$1.34 CA$1.89

-12.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.22 CA$4.53

$3.85 CA$5.42

-16.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.60 CA$5.07

$4.25 CA$5.99

-15.29%

Potato (1kg)

$2.51 CA$3.54

$2.55 CA$3.58

-1.57%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 CA$4.05

$2.62 CA$3.69

9.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 CA$3.49

$2.80 CA$3.94

-11.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 CA$1.56

$1.95 CA$2.74

-43.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.65 CA$20.62

$14.97 CA$21.06

-2.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.05 CA$19.77

$13.90 CA$19.57

1.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 CA$3.95

$2.92 CA$4.11

-3.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 CA$4.49

$3.91 CA$5.50

-18.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.31 CA$3.25

$2.74 CA$3.85

-15.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.2 CA$88.9

$87.8 CA$124

-28.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.67 CA$5.16

$3.60 CA$5.06

1.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 CA$2.08

$1.30 CA$1.83

13.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.90 CA$36.44

$28.70 CA$40.39

-9.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 CA$1.55

$1.12 CA$1.57

-1.79%

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

$25.2K CA$35.4K

$25.5K CA$35.8K

-1.18%

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

$21.4K CA$30.1K

$21.7K CA$30.6K

-1.61%

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

$116 CA$163

$213 CA$300

-45.70%

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

$36.86 CA$51.9

$40.96 CA$57.6

-10.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.9 CA$75.9

$57.9 CA$81.5

-6.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.21 CA$59.4

$54.2 CA$76.2

-22.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.6

Cinema Ticket

$11.61 CA$16.33

$12.63 CA$17.77

-8.08%

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

$1,143 CA$1,608

$874 CA$1,230

30.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.3K CA$25.8K

$15.9K CA$22.3K

15.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 CA$79.9

$58.6 CA$82.5

-3.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.61 CA$55.7

$47.01 CA$66.2

-15.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.9 CA$126

$85.1 CA$120

5.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 CA$162

$108 CA$151

6.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,332 CA$1,874

$1,380 CA$1,942

-3.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,158 CA$1,630

$1,159 CA$1,631

-0.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,006 CA$2,822

$2,324 CA$3,270

-13.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,814 CA$2,552

$1,905 CA$2,680

-4.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,853 CA$5,421

$3,786 CA$5,327

1.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,511 CA$4,940

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,084 CA$4,339

$2,940 CA$4,136

4.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.16

5.71

-9.63%

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

Last update for Picton: July 13, 2026

Last update for Calgary: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,332 in Picton and $1,380 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Picton pays 5% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $55.0 in Picton vs $70.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $367 vs $396 per month, with Picton 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

Picton vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Picton is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 5% higher in Picton, 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: $1,332 in Picton 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 Picton – a meal for two runs $55.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,323 per month in Picton versus $2,462 in Calgary – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,323 in Picton versus $2,462 in Calgary, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Picton but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Picton 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, Picton 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 Picton gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.