Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Alberni and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Alberni and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,895 in Port Alberni versus $2,462 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,958 in Port Alberni versus $3,628 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,022 in Port Alberni versus $4,795 in Calgary.

Living in Port Alberni costs roughly 23% less than in Calgary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Port Alberni 42% above, Calgary 84% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.15 CA$24.13

$18.33 CA$25.79

-6.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.4 CA$78.0

$69.9 CA$98.3

-20.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.24 CA$15.82

$10.95 CA$15.41

2.65%

Cappuccino

$4.27 CA$6.01

$3.74 CA$5.26

14.17%

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)

$1.13 CA$1.59

$1.67 CA$2.35

-32.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.57 CA$5.03

$5.20 CA$7.32

-31.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.59 CA$7.86

$6.71 CA$9.45

-16.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.55 CA$3.58

$2.25 CA$3.16

13.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.87 CA$2.62

$2.75 CA$3.87

-32.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.93 CA$4.12

$3.23 CA$4.54

-9.29%

Eggs

$3.56 CA$5.02

$3.45 CA$4.85

3.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.77 CA$8.12

$14.40 CA$20.26

-59.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.43 CA$6.24

$12.89 CA$18.13

-65.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.46 CA$34.42

$15.86 CA$22.32

54.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.97 CA$4.17

$4.30 CA$6.05

-30.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 CA$1.51

$1.34 CA$1.89

-20.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.14 CA$4.42

$3.85 CA$5.42

-18.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.35 CA$4.71

$4.25 CA$5.99

-21.18%

Potato (1kg)

$2.15 CA$3.02

$2.55 CA$3.58

-15.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.89 CA$2.66

$2.62 CA$3.69

-27.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.27 CA$3.19

$2.80 CA$3.94

-18.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 CA$1.07

$1.95 CA$2.74

-61.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.87 CA$15.30

$14.97 CA$21.06

-27.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.54 CA$14.84

$13.90 CA$19.57

-24.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.94 CA$5.54

$2.92 CA$4.11

34.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.01 CA$5.65

$3.91 CA$5.50

2.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 CA$2.10

$2.74 CA$3.85

-45.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.59 CA$50.1

$87.8 CA$124

-59.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 CA$3.84

$3.60 CA$5.06

-24.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 CA$2.10

$1.30 CA$1.83

14.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.16 CA$41.03

$28.70 CA$40.39

1.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 CA$1.84

$1.12 CA$1.57

16.96%

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

$24.7K CA$34.8K

$25.5K CA$35.8K

-2.94%

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

$21.0K CA$29.6K

$21.7K CA$30.6K

-3.27%

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

$190 CA$267

$213 CA$300

-11.01%

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

$38.11 CA$53.6

$40.96 CA$57.6

-6.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.4 CA$93.4

$57.9 CA$81.5

14.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.51 CA$59.8

$54.2 CA$76.2

-21.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.6

Cinema Ticket

$12.61 CA$17.74

$12.63 CA$17.77

-0.16%

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

$887 CA$1,247

$874 CA$1,230

1.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K CA$17.9K

$15.9K CA$22.3K

-19.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 CA$77.6

$58.6 CA$82.5

-5.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.3 CA$74.9

$47.01 CA$66.2

13.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 CA$144

$85.1 CA$120

19.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.4 CA$133

$108 CA$151

-12.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$727 CA$1,023

$1,380 CA$1,942

-47.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$727 CA$1,022

$1,159 CA$1,631

-37.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,684 CA$2,370

$2,324 CA$3,270

-27.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,625 CA$2,287

$1,905 CA$2,680

-14.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,786 CA$5,327

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,511 CA$4,940

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,115 CA$4,384

$2,940 CA$4,136

5.98%

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 Port Alberni: July 11, 2026

Last update for Calgary: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $727 in Port Alberni and $1,380 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Port Alberni pays 6% 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 Port Alberni vs $70.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $311 vs $396 per month, with Port Alberni 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

Port Alberni vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Port Alberni is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 30% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 6% higher in Port Alberni, 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: $727 in Port Alberni 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 Port Alberni – 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 $1,895 per month in Port Alberni versus $2,462 in Calgary – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,895 in Port Alberni versus $2,462 in Calgary, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Port Alberni but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Port Alberni 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.

Expats usually find Port Alberni gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.