Cost of Living Comparison Between Prince Albert and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Prince Albert and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,742 in Prince Albert versus $2,344 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,496 in Prince Albert versus $3,470 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,249 in Prince Albert versus $4,597 in Calgary.

Living in Prince Albert costs roughly 26% less than in Calgary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Prince Albert 27% above, Calgary 71% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.13 CA$25.36

$17.68 CA$24.74

2.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.6 CA$102

$71.2 CA$99.6

1.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.48 CA$13.26

$10.85 CA$15.18

-12.63%

Cappuccino

$3.77 CA$5.27

$3.85 CA$5.39

-2.08%

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

$2.09 CA$2.93

$1.95 CA$2.73

7.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 CA$2.60

$1.79 CA$2.51

3.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.24 CA$5.93

$4.97 CA$6.95

-14.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.58 CA$9.20

$5.90 CA$8.25

11.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 CA$1.71

$1.84 CA$2.58

-33.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 CA$1.98

$2.73 CA$3.82

-47.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.45 CA$3.42

$5.44 CA$7.60

-54.96%

Eggs

$3.53 CA$4.94

$3.63 CA$5.07

-2.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.99 CA$9.78

$11.55 CA$16.15

-39.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.82 CA$12.34

$11.57 CA$16.19

-23.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.23 CA$5.92

$18.94 CA$26.50

-77.67%

Apples (1kg)

$4.23 CA$5.91

$4.95 CA$6.92

-14.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 CA$1.98

Oranges (1kg)

$4.35 CA$6.08

$4.22 CA$5.90

3.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.30 CA$4.62

$4.09 CA$5.72

-19.32%

Potato (1kg)

$2.11 CA$2.95

$2.56 CA$3.58

-17.58%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 CA$3.04

$2.82 CA$3.95

-23.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 CA$3.92

$2.57 CA$3.59

8.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 CA$2.05

$1.55 CA$2.16

-5.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.58 CA$14.80

$14.59 CA$20.41

-27.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.16 CA$19.81

$15.60 CA$21.83

-9.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 CA$4.01

$2.58 CA$3.61

11.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 CA$4.92

$3.23 CA$4.52

8.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.85 CA$2.59

$2.96 CA$4.14

-37.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.75 CA$54.2

$91.1 CA$127

-57.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 CA$4.27

$3.17 CA$4.43

-3.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 CA$1.13

$1.39 CA$1.95

-41.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.55 CA$20.36

$27.67 CA$38.70

-47.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 CA$1.56

$1.25 CA$1.75

-11.20%

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

$22.6K CA$31.6K

$28.3K CA$39.6K

-20.17%

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

$21.3K CA$29.9K

$21.3K CA$29.8K

0.25%

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

$53.3 CA$74.6

$178 CA$249

-70.02%

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

$50.3 CA$70.3

$39.31 CA$55.0

27.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.3 CA$87.1

$50.9 CA$71.2

22.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$117 CA$164

$54.7 CA$76.5

114.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.72 CA$24.79

$18.77 CA$26.25

-5.59%

Cinema Ticket

$9.23 CA$12.91

$14.55 CA$20.36

-36.56%

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

$506 CA$708

$812 CA$1,135

-37.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K CA$20.9K

$16.4K CA$23.0K

-9.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.4 CA$70.5

$59.4 CA$83.1

-15.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.52 CA$51.1

$40.33 CA$56.4

-9.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.0 CA$120

$92.2 CA$129

-6.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 CA$150

$113 CA$158

-4.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$917 CA$1,283

$1,284 CA$1,796

-28.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$683 CA$956

$1,018 CA$1,424

-32.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,435 CA$2,007

$1,977 CA$2,766

-27.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$788 CA$1,102

$1,746 CA$2,443

-54.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,571 CA$4,995

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,359 CA$4,698

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,727 CA$3,814

$3,213 CA$4,495

-15.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.8

4.48

7.14%

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

Last update for Prince Albert: September 15, 2026

Last update for Calgary: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $917 in Prince Albert and $1,284 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 18% 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: $73.0 in Prince Albert vs $71.0 in Calgary. Groceries flip the comparison at $281 vs $395, with Prince Albert 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

Prince Albert vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Prince Albert is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 35% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 18% 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: $917 in Prince Albert versus $1,284 in Calgary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

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

All in, you'll spend $1,742 per month in Prince Albert versus $2,344 in Calgary – a 35% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,742 in Prince Albert versus $2,344 in Calgary, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Prince Albert but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Prince Albert 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 Prince Albert gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.