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: $2,764 in Port Coquitlam, BC versus $2,523 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,634 in Port Coquitlam, BC versus $3,652 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,504 in Port Coquitlam, BC versus $4,780 in Calgary.

Living in Port Coquitlam, BC is roughly 10% more expensive than Calgary, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Port Coquitlam, BC 106% above, Calgary 88% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.95 CA$24.85

$18.59 CA$25.74

-3.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.3 CA$111

$70.0 CA$97.0

14.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.41 CA$13.03

$10.96 CA$15.17

-14.14%

Cappuccino

$4.08 CA$5.64

$3.73 CA$5.17

9.38%

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

$1.98 CA$2.74

$1.99 CA$2.75

-0.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 CA$1.82

$1.72 CA$2.39

-23.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.92 CA$8.20

$5.01 CA$6.94

18.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 CA$8.17

$6.50 CA$9.01

-9.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.09 CA$2.90

$2.22 CA$3.08

-5.86%

White Bread (500g)

$2.32 CA$3.22

$2.67 CA$3.69

-13.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.64 CA$5.04

$3.26 CA$4.52

11.66%

Eggs

$3.15 CA$4.36

$3.35 CA$4.64

-5.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.91 CA$17.87

$14.50 CA$20.07

-10.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.13 CA$19.56

$12.95 CA$17.93

9.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.68 CA$20.33

$16.15 CA$22.36

-9.10%

Apples (1kg)

$3.29 CA$4.56

$4.32 CA$5.98

-23.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 CA$2.10

$1.35 CA$1.88

12.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.20 CA$4.43

$3.83 CA$5.30

-16.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.01 CA$5.55

$4.18 CA$5.79

-4.07%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 CA$3.50

$2.65 CA$3.67

-4.53%

Onion (1kg)

$3.06 CA$4.24

$2.74 CA$3.79

11.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.50 CA$3.46

$2.76 CA$3.82

-9.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 CA$1.61

$1.95 CA$2.70

-40.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.75 CA$20.43

$14.98 CA$20.74

-1.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.73 CA$16.23

$14.67 CA$20.31

-20.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 CA$2.98

$2.84 CA$3.94

-24.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 CA$3.14

$4.02 CA$5.56

-43.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.85 CA$2.56

$2.80 CA$3.88

-33.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$62.3 CA$86.3

$86.2 CA$119

-27.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 CA$4.28

$3.60 CA$4.99

-14.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 CA$1.91

$1.32 CA$1.82

4.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.72 CA$36.99

$29.01 CA$40.17

-7.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 CA$1.84

$1.12 CA$1.55

18.75%

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

$24.9K CA$34.4K

-0.01%

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

$20.1K CA$27.9K

$22.0K CA$30.4K

-8.41%

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

$90.2 CA$125

$217 CA$301

-58.46%

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

$44.64 CA$61.8

$41.55 CA$57.5

7.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.1 CA$73.5

$58.1 CA$80.4

-8.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.87 CA$20.58

$54.7 CA$75.8

-72.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.8 CA$73.1

Cinema Ticket

$11.93 CA$16.52

$12.77 CA$17.68

-6.58%

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

$923 CA$1,278

$874 CA$1,210

5.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.2K CA$15.5K

$15.9K CA$22.1K

-29.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.33 CA$68.3

$58.8 CA$81.5

-16.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.40 CA$46.25

$46.47 CA$64.4

-28.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.3 CA$132

$87.2 CA$121

9.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 CA$164

$109 CA$151

9.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,598 CA$2,212

$1,414 CA$1,957

13.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 CA$2,272

$1,172 CA$1,623

39.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,204 CA$3,051

$2,319 CA$3,211

-4.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,953 CA$2,704

$1,886 CA$2,612

3.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,892 CA$5,389

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,702 CA$7,895

$3,503 CA$4,851

62.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,889 CA$4,000

$3,149 CA$4,360

-8.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.61

5.71

-1.75%

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

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

Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,598 in Port Coquitlam, BC and $1,414 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 9% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $80.0 in Port Coquitlam, BC vs $70.0 in Calgary. Groceries flip the comparison at $360 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

Port Coquitlam, BC and Calgary differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($2,764 vs $2,523 including rent). Calgary is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Calgary earns 9% less. 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: $1,598 in Port Coquitlam, BC versus $1,414 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 $70.0 versus $80.0 in Port Coquitlam, BC. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,764 per month in Port Coquitlam, BC versus $2,523 in Calgary – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Calgary is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 10% less than in Port Coquitlam, BC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.