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: $2,051 in Prince Rupert, BC versus $2,523 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,197 in Prince Rupert, BC versus $3,652 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,343 in Prince Rupert, BC versus $4,780 in Calgary.

Living in Prince Rupert, BC costs roughly 19% less than in Calgary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Prince Rupert, BC 53% above, Calgary 88% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.15 CA$23.85

$18.59 CA$25.86

-7.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.1 CA$98.8

$70.0 CA$97.4

1.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.90 CA$15.16

$10.96 CA$15.24

-0.55%

Cappuccino

$3.81 CA$5.29

$3.73 CA$5.19

2.14%

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

$2.03 CA$2.82

$1.99 CA$2.77

2.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 CA$2.28

$1.72 CA$2.40

-4.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.49 CA$7.63

$5.01 CA$6.97

9.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.80 CA$8.06

$6.50 CA$9.05

-10.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 CA$3.05

$2.22 CA$3.09

-1.35%

White Bread (500g)

$2.27 CA$3.16

$2.67 CA$3.71

-14.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.60 CA$5.01

$3.26 CA$4.54

10.43%

Eggs

$5.29 CA$7.35

$3.35 CA$4.66

57.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.12 CA$15.46

$14.50 CA$20.16

-23.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.67 CA$16.23

$12.95 CA$18.01

-9.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.48 CA$20.14

$16.15 CA$22.46

-10.34%

Apples (1kg)

$1.79 CA$2.49

$4.32 CA$6.01

-58.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 CA$1.49

$1.35 CA$1.88

-20.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.65 CA$5.08

$3.83 CA$5.32

-4.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.85 CA$5.36

$4.18 CA$5.81

-7.89%

Potato (1kg)

$2.52 CA$3.50

$2.65 CA$3.68

-4.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.55 CA$3.55

$2.74 CA$3.81

-6.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.62 CA$3.65

$2.76 CA$3.84

-5.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 CA$2.38

$1.95 CA$2.71

-12.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.20 CA$19.75

$14.98 CA$20.83

-5.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.57 CA$17.48

$14.67 CA$20.40

-14.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 CA$4.04

$2.84 CA$3.95

2.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 CA$4.24

$4.02 CA$5.59

-24.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.36 CA$3.28

$2.80 CA$3.90

-15.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.1 CA$87.8

$86.2 CA$120

-26.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 CA$4.52

$3.60 CA$5.01

-9.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 CA$2.08

$1.32 CA$1.83

13.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.17 CA$36.39

$29.01 CA$40.35

-9.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 CA$1.75

$1.12 CA$1.56

12.50%

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

$25.1K CA$34.9K

$24.9K CA$34.6K

1.09%

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

$20.9K CA$29.1K

$22.0K CA$30.6K

-4.86%

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

$141 CA$197

$217 CA$302

-34.93%

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

$43.98 CA$61.2

$41.55 CA$57.8

5.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.7 CA$87.1

$58.1 CA$80.8

7.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.65 CA$57.9

$54.7 CA$76.1

-23.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.8 CA$73.5

Cinema Ticket

$11.26 CA$15.66

$12.77 CA$17.75

-11.82%

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

$749 CA$1,042

$874 CA$1,215

-14.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.0K CA$16.7K

$15.9K CA$22.2K

-24.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 CA$76.7

$58.8 CA$81.8

-6.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.67 CA$55.2

$46.47 CA$64.6

-14.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 CA$120

$87.2 CA$121

-1.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$150

$109 CA$151

-0.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,124 CA$1,563

$1,414 CA$1,966

-20.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$883 CA$1,229

$1,172 CA$1,630

-24.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,052 CA$2,854

$2,319 CA$3,225

-11.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,812 CA$2,519

$1,886 CA$2,623

-3.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,470 CA$6,216

$3,892 CA$5,413

14.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,909 CA$5,436

$3,503 CA$4,872

11.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,270 CA$4,548

$3,149 CA$4,380

3.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.46

5.71

13.13%

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

Last update for Prince Rupert, BC: June 2, 2026

Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,124 in Prince Rupert, BC and $1,414 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Prince Rupert, BC pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $71.0 in Prince Rupert, BC vs $70.0 in Calgary. Groceries flip the comparison at $354 vs $397, with Prince Rupert, 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

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

Prince Rupert, BC is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Prince Rupert, BC pays 4% 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: $1,124 in Prince Rupert, 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 Prince Rupert, BC – a meal for two runs $71.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,051 per month in Prince Rupert, BC versus $2,523 in Calgary – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,051 in Prince Rupert, BC versus $2,523 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 23% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.