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: $1,047 in Picton versus $2,344 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,731 in Picton versus $3,499 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,415 in Picton versus $4,655 in Calgary.

Living in Picton costs roughly 55% less than in Calgary, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Picton is 24% below, Calgary is 70% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.34 CA$25.44

$18.45 CA$25.59

-0.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.5 CA$97.8

$71.5 CA$99.2

-1.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.32 CA$10.15

$10.68 CA$14.81

-31.46%

Cappuccino

$3.60 CA$4.99

$3.93 CA$5.46

-8.40%

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

$2.17 CA$3.01

$2.02 CA$2.80

7.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 CA$2.36

$1.97 CA$2.73

-13.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.64 CA$7.82

$4.92 CA$6.82

14.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.87 CA$8.14

$5.90 CA$8.19

-0.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 CA$2.39

$2.03 CA$2.82

-15.27%

White Bread (500g)

$2.12 CA$2.94

$2.86 CA$3.97

-25.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.53 CA$3.50

$5.72 CA$7.93

-55.77%

Eggs

$2.95 CA$4.09

$3.81 CA$5.29

-22.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.09 CA$13.99

$11.56 CA$16.04

-12.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.21 CA$16.94

$11.95 CA$16.57

2.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.82 CA$21.94

$18.97 CA$26.30

-16.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.80 CA$3.89

$4.91 CA$6.82

-42.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 CA$1.76

$1.42 CA$1.97

-10.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.76 CA$5.21

$4.36 CA$6.04

-13.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.22 CA$5.85

$4.03 CA$5.59

4.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 CA$2.57

$2.72 CA$3.77

-31.99%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 CA$2.06

$2.88 CA$3.99

-48.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.36 CA$3.27

$2.57 CA$3.57

-8.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 CA$1.73

$1.49 CA$2.07

-16.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.30 CA$19.83

$14.71 CA$20.41

-2.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.55 CA$20.18

$15.57 CA$21.60

-6.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 CA$3.08

$2.52 CA$3.50

-11.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 CA$3.54

$3.27 CA$4.53

-22.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.14 CA$2.97

$2.94 CA$4.07

-27.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.66 CA$27.26

$89.8 CA$125

-78.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 CA$4.21

$3.30 CA$4.58

-8.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 CA$1.81

$1.37 CA$1.90

-4.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.32 CA$30.96

$27.07 CA$37.54

-17.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 CA$1.51

$1.22 CA$1.69

-10.66%

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

$27.2K CA$37.7K

$28.6K CA$39.6K

-4.97%

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

$21.2K CA$29.4K

$20.9K CA$29.0K

1.57%

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

$128 CA$177

$182 CA$253

-30.04%

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

$29.09 CA$40.35

$39.50 CA$54.8

-26.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.34 CA$67.1

$51.4 CA$71.3

-5.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.58 CA$60.5

$54.8 CA$76.0

-20.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.79 CA$26.07

Cinema Ticket

$8.67 CA$12.02

$14.52 CA$20.14

-40.29%

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

$291 CA$404

$819 CA$1,136

-64.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.9K CA$34.6K

$16.3K CA$22.7K

52.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.3 CA$71.2

$61.8 CA$85.8

-17.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.98 CA$49.90

$40.15 CA$55.7

-10.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 CA$123

$94.3 CA$131

-6.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 CA$169

$114 CA$158

7.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,026 CA$1,422

$1,256 CA$1,741

-18.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,089 CA$1,510

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,696 CA$2,352

$1,994 CA$2,766

-14.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,706 CA$2,367

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,866 CA$5,362

$3,627 CA$5,031

6.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,403 CA$4,719

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,230 CA$4,480

$3,246 CA$4,502

-0.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.47

4.48

-0.22%

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

Last update for Picton: September 6, 2026

Last update for Calgary: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,026 in Picton and $1,256 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 0% 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 Picton vs $71.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $335 vs $401 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, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 124% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 0% 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: $1,026 in Picton versus $1,256 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 $71.0 versus $71.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,047 per month in Picton versus $2,344 in Calgary – a 124% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,047 in Picton versus $2,344 in Calgary, a $2,000 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 124% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.