Cost of Living Comparison Between Prince Rupert, BC and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Prince Rupert, BC and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,007 in Prince Rupert, BC versus $2,353 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,124 in Prince Rupert, BC versus $3,488 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,241 in Prince Rupert, BC versus $4,622 in Calgary.

Living in Prince Rupert, BC costs roughly 15% less than in Calgary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Prince Rupert, BC 46% above, Calgary 71% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.38 CA$25.34

$17.94 CA$24.74

2.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.7 CA$92.0

$70.5 CA$97.3

-5.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.87 CA$14.99

$10.69 CA$14.74

1.68%

Cappuccino

$3.64 CA$5.02

$3.79 CA$5.22

-3.96%

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

$2.07 CA$2.86

$2.00 CA$2.76

3.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 CA$2.25

$1.98 CA$2.72

-17.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.25 CA$7.24

$5.19 CA$7.16

1.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.76 CA$7.94

$5.86 CA$8.08

-1.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.01 CA$2.77

$1.95 CA$2.69

3.08%

White Bread (500g)

$2.63 CA$3.62

$2.82 CA$3.89

-6.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.32 CA$4.58

$5.61 CA$7.74

-40.82%

Eggs

$5.09 CA$7.02

$3.75 CA$5.17

35.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.69 CA$14.74

$11.50 CA$15.86

-7.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.74 CA$17.57

$11.46 CA$15.81

11.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.77 CA$17.61

$18.95 CA$26.14

-32.61%

Apples (1kg)

$1.82 CA$2.51

$4.83 CA$6.66

-62.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 CA$1.52

$1.37 CA$1.89

-19.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.71 CA$5.11

$4.25 CA$5.86

-12.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.77 CA$5.20

$4.15 CA$5.72

-9.16%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 CA$3.50

$2.70 CA$3.73

-5.93%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 CA$3.03

$2.83 CA$3.90

-22.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.59 CA$3.58

$2.64 CA$3.64

-1.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 CA$2.51

$1.51 CA$2.08

20.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.94 CA$17.85

$14.60 CA$20.14

-11.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.44 CA$17.15

$15.76 CA$21.73

-21.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.76 CA$3.81

$2.60 CA$3.58

6.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 CA$3.99

$3.08 CA$4.25

-5.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.41 CA$3.32

$2.93 CA$4.04

-17.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$71.9 CA$99.1

$89.3 CA$123

-19.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.01 CA$4.15

$3.32 CA$4.58

-9.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 CA$1.87

$1.43 CA$1.97

-4.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.79 CA$31.42

$27.71 CA$38.21

-17.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 CA$1.70

$1.26 CA$1.74

-2.38%

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

$28.2K CA$38.9K

$28.9K CA$39.9K

-2.48%

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

$18.9K CA$26.0K

$21.3K CA$29.4K

-11.62%

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

$154 CA$212

$183 CA$252

-15.82%

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

$39.70 CA$54.7

$38.31 CA$52.8

3.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.8 CA$75.6

$51.7 CA$71.3

6.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.79 CA$61.8

$54.9 CA$75.7

-18.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.69 CA$24.39

$18.66 CA$25.73

-5.20%

Cinema Ticket

$11.28 CA$15.56

$14.26 CA$19.66

-20.90%

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

$831 CA$1,146

$828 CA$1,142

0.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.4K CA$18.5K

$15.9K CA$21.9K

-15.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.93 CA$64.7

$59.6 CA$82.1

-21.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.20 CA$61.0

$39.47 CA$54.4

11.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 CA$120

$94.3 CA$130

-8.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.4 CA$136

$113 CA$156

-12.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,097 CA$1,513

$1,265 CA$1,744

-13.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$863 CA$1,189

$1,051 CA$1,450

-17.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,004 CA$2,763

$1,934 CA$2,667

3.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,900 CA$2,620

$1,700 CA$2,344

11.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,883 CA$5,355

$3,680 CA$5,075

5.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,319 CA$4,577

$3,333 CA$4,597

-0.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,250 CA$4,482

$3,276 CA$4,518

-0.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.68

4.4

6.36%

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

Last update for Prince Rupert, BC: August 30, 2026

Last update for Calgary: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,097 in Prince Rupert, BC and $1,265 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 1% 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: $67.0 in Prince Rupert, BC vs $71.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $352 vs $397 per month, with Prince Rupert, BC 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 Rupert, BC vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Prince Rupert, BC is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 1% 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: $1,097 in Prince Rupert, 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 Prince Rupert, BC – a meal for two runs $67.0 versus $71.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,007 per month in Prince Rupert, BC versus $2,353 in Calgary – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,007 in Prince Rupert, BC versus $2,353 in Calgary, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Prince Rupert, BC but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Prince Rupert, BC 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 Rupert, BC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.