Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Coquitlam, BC and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Coquitlam, BC and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,623 in Port Coquitlam, BC versus $2,353 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,575 in Port Coquitlam, BC versus $3,488 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,526 in Port Coquitlam, BC versus $4,622 in Calgary.

Living in Port Coquitlam, BC is roughly 11% more expensive than in Calgary, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Port Coquitlam, BC 91% above, Calgary 71% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.55 CA$20.07

$17.94 CA$24.74

-18.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.4 CA$101

$70.5 CA$97.3

4.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.65 CA$11.92

$10.69 CA$14.74

-19.08%

Cappuccino

$3.51 CA$4.84

$3.79 CA$5.22

-7.39%

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

$2.14 CA$2.95

$2.00 CA$2.76

7.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 CA$2.29

$1.98 CA$2.72

-16.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.80 CA$8.00

$5.19 CA$7.16

11.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.47 CA$8.92

$5.86 CA$8.08

10.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 CA$2.57

$1.95 CA$2.69

-4.62%

White Bread (500g)

$2.57 CA$3.54

$2.82 CA$3.89

-8.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.71 CA$5.12

$5.61 CA$7.74

-33.87%

Eggs

$3.23 CA$4.45

$3.75 CA$5.17

-13.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.04 CA$16.60

$11.50 CA$15.86

4.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.91 CA$17.81

$11.46 CA$15.81

12.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.53 CA$20.04

$18.95 CA$26.14

-23.32%

Apples (1kg)

$4.19 CA$5.78

$4.83 CA$6.66

-13.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.85

$1.37 CA$1.89

-2.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.98 CA$5.49

$4.25 CA$5.86

-6.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.84 CA$5.30

$4.15 CA$5.72

-7.47%

Potato (1kg)

$2.93 CA$4.04

$2.70 CA$3.73

8.52%

Onion (1kg)

$2.49 CA$3.43

$2.83 CA$3.90

-12.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.59 CA$3.57

$2.64 CA$3.64

-1.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 CA$2.35

$1.51 CA$2.08

13.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.98 CA$22.04

$14.60 CA$20.14

9.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.30 CA$19.72

$15.76 CA$21.73

-9.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 CA$3.83

$2.60 CA$3.58

6.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 CA$4.11

$3.08 CA$4.25

-3.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.11 CA$2.91

$2.93 CA$4.04

-27.99%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$112 CA$155

$89.3 CA$123

25.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 CA$3.81

$3.32 CA$4.58

-16.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.61 CA$2.21

$1.43 CA$1.97

12.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.38 CA$44.65

$27.71 CA$38.21

16.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 CA$1.92

$1.26 CA$1.74

10.32%

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

$28.1K CA$38.7K

$28.9K CA$39.9K

-3.02%

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

$19.4K CA$26.7K

$21.3K CA$29.4K

-9.32%

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

$78.9 CA$109

$183 CA$252

-56.89%

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

$35.44 CA$48.88

$38.31 CA$52.8

-7.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.4 CA$69.5

$51.7 CA$71.3

-2.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.56 CA$29.74

$54.9 CA$75.7

-60.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 CA$25.73

Cinema Ticket

$10.76 CA$14.84

$14.26 CA$19.66

-24.54%

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

$1,102 CA$1,519

$828 CA$1,142

32.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.5K CA$28.3K

$15.9K CA$21.9K

28.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.2 CA$84.3

$59.6 CA$82.1

2.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.27 CA$50.0

$39.47 CA$54.4

-8.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.2 CA$118

$94.3 CA$130

-9.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.2 CA$135

$113 CA$156

-12.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,560 CA$2,152

$1,265 CA$1,744

23.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 CA$2,058

$1,051 CA$1,450

41.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,157 CA$2,974

$1,934 CA$2,667

11.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 CA$2,658

$1,700 CA$2,344

13.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,680 CA$5,075

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,702 CA$7,863

$3,333 CA$4,597

71.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,350 CA$3,240

$3,276 CA$4,518

-28.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.23

4.4

-3.86%

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

Last update for Port Coquitlam, BC: September 1, 2026

Last update for Calgary: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,560 in Port Coquitlam, BC and $1,265 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 39% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $73.0 in Port Coquitlam, BC vs $71.0 in Calgary. Groceries flip the comparison at $374 vs $397, with Port Coquitlam, BC cheaper for home cooking.

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 Coquitlam, BC vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 39% 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: $1,560 in Port Coquitlam, BC versus $1,265 in Calgary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Calgary – a meal for two runs $71.0 versus $73.0 in Port Coquitlam, BC. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,623 per month in Port Coquitlam, BC versus $2,353 in Calgary – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,353 in Calgary versus $2,623 in Port Coquitlam, BC, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in Port Coquitlam, BC. The gap between the two cities makes Calgary 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, Port Coquitlam, BC 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 Calgary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Port Coquitlam, BC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.