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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,235 in Prince George versus $2,517 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,385 in Prince George versus $3,646 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,536 in Prince George versus $4,776 in Calgary.

Living in Prince George costs roughly 11% less than in Calgary, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Prince George 66% above, Calgary 87% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.33 CA$25.59

$18.37 CA$25.65

-0.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.3 CA$101

$69.7 CA$97.4

3.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.52 CA$11.89

$10.88 CA$15.19

-21.69%

Cappuccino

$3.99 CA$5.58

$3.69 CA$5.16

8.13%

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

$2.25 CA$3.15

$2.03 CA$2.84

10.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 CA$3.27

$1.74 CA$2.43

34.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.85 CA$8.16

$5.30 CA$7.40

10.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.32 CA$11.62

$6.74 CA$9.42

23.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 CA$2.75

$2.23 CA$3.12

-11.66%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 CA$3.42

$2.68 CA$3.75

-8.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.85 CA$6.78

$3.35 CA$4.68

44.78%

Eggs

$5.05 CA$7.05

$3.33 CA$4.65

51.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.54 CA$9.14

$14.41 CA$20.12

-54.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.13 CA$18.33

$12.50 CA$17.46

5.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.84 CA$23.52

$16.33 CA$22.81

3.12%

Apples (1kg)

$4.29 CA$5.99

$4.28 CA$5.98

0.23%

Banana (1kg)

$2.81 CA$3.92

$1.35 CA$1.89

108.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.17 CA$7.22

$3.74 CA$5.22

38.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.15 CA$7.20

$4.17 CA$5.83

23.50%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 CA$4.31

$2.56 CA$3.58

20.70%

Onion (1kg)

$3.02 CA$4.22

$2.68 CA$3.74

12.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.04 CA$4.24

$2.66 CA$3.71

14.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.96 CA$4.14

$1.88 CA$2.62

57.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.81 CA$20.69

$14.66 CA$20.47

1.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.68 CA$14.91

$14.23 CA$19.87

-24.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.57 CA$7.77

$2.95 CA$4.12

88.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 CA$4.02

$3.89 CA$5.44

-25.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.80 CA$3.90

$2.71 CA$3.79

3.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.66 CA$61.0

$87.7 CA$122

-50.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.21 CA$5.88

$3.46 CA$4.83

21.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 CA$2.09

$1.30 CA$1.81

15.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.33 CA$35.38

$28.30 CA$39.52

-10.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 CA$1.77

$1.09 CA$1.52

16.51%

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

$25.4K CA$35.4K

$25.0K CA$34.9K

1.36%

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

$22.1K CA$30.9K

$22.2K CA$31.0K

-0.38%

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

$175 CA$245

$211 CA$295

-16.91%

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

$48.77 CA$68.1

$40.40 CA$56.4

20.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.4 CA$85.8

$58.5 CA$81.7

4.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.26 CA$61.8

$53.8 CA$75.1

-17.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.28 CA$25.53

$53.8 CA$75.2

-66.03%

Cinema Ticket

$9.28 CA$12.95

$12.64 CA$17.66

-26.58%

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

$595 CA$832

$865 CA$1,208

-31.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.7K CA$16.3K

$16.1K CA$22.4K

-27.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 CA$88.0

$58.1 CA$81.1

8.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.91 CA$57.1

$47.18 CA$65.9

-13.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.0 CA$134

$85.4 CA$119

12.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$152 CA$212

$106 CA$148

43.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 CA$1,358

$1,416 CA$1,977

-31.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$911 CA$1,273

$1,153 CA$1,611

-20.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,742 CA$2,433

$2,370 CA$3,309

-26.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,618 CA$2,260

$1,864 CA$2,603

-13.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,834 CA$5,354

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,443 CA$4,808

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,137 CA$4,381

$3,105 CA$4,337

1.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.32

5.71

10.68%

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

Last update for Prince George: June 7, 2026

Last update for Calgary: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Prince George and $1,416 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Prince George pays 1% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $72.0 in Prince George vs $70.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $422 vs $393 per month, with Calgary 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

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

Prince George is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Prince George pays 1% more on average, 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: $973 in Prince George versus $1,416 in Calgary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Prince George – a meal for two runs $72.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,235 per month in Prince George versus $2,517 in Calgary – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,235 in Prince George versus $2,517 in Calgary, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Prince George but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Prince George 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 George gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.