Cost of Living Comparison Between Saanich and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Saanich and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,643 in Saanich versus $2,462 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,643 in Saanich versus $3,628 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,644 in Saanich versus $4,795 in Calgary.

Living in Saanich is roughly 7% more expensive than in Calgary, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Saanich 98% above, Calgary 84% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.59 CA$20.53

$18.33 CA$25.79

-20.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.3 CA$93.3

$69.9 CA$98.3

-5.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.18 CA$15.73

$10.95 CA$15.41

2.10%

Cappuccino

$4.03 CA$5.68

$3.74 CA$5.26

7.75%

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

$2.27 CA$3.19

$2.04 CA$2.87

11.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 CA$2.60

$1.67 CA$2.35

10.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.17 CA$7.27

$5.20 CA$7.32

-0.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.65 CA$9.35

$6.71 CA$9.45

-0.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 CA$2.37

$2.25 CA$3.16

-24.89%

White Bread (500g)

$2.69 CA$3.78

$2.75 CA$3.87

-2.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.11 CA$7.19

$3.23 CA$4.54

58.20%

Eggs

$3.59 CA$5.06

$3.45 CA$4.85

4.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.33 CA$15.94

$14.40 CA$20.26

-21.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.96 CA$18.23

$12.89 CA$18.13

0.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.15 CA$18.50

$15.86 CA$22.32

-17.09%

Apples (1kg)

$4.36 CA$6.14

$4.30 CA$6.05

1.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 CA$2.25

$1.34 CA$1.89

19.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.54 CA$6.39

$3.85 CA$5.42

17.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 CA$7.00

$4.25 CA$5.99

16.94%

Potato (1kg)

$3.81 CA$5.37

$2.55 CA$3.58

49.41%

Onion (1kg)

$3.25 CA$4.58

$2.62 CA$3.69

24.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.66 CA$3.75

$2.80 CA$3.94

-5.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 CA$3.45

$1.95 CA$2.74

25.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.74 CA$16.51

$14.97 CA$21.06

-21.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.42 CA$21.70

$13.90 CA$19.57

10.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.93 CA$5.53

$2.92 CA$4.11

34.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.58 CA$6.44

$3.91 CA$5.50

17.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.79 CA$2.52

$2.74 CA$3.85

-34.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.3 CA$113

$87.8 CA$124

-8.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 CA$3.77

$3.60 CA$5.06

-25.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 CA$1.86

$1.30 CA$1.83

1.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.64 CA$45.92

$28.70 CA$40.39

13.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 CA$1.89

$1.12 CA$1.57

19.64%

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

$25.1K CA$35.4K

$25.5K CA$35.8K

-1.33%

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

$20.7K CA$29.2K

$21.7K CA$30.6K

-4.62%

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

$134 CA$188

$213 CA$300

-37.25%

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

$21.19 CA$29.81

$40.96 CA$57.6

-48.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.1 CA$103

$57.9 CA$81.5

26.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.8 CA$104

$54.2 CA$76.2

36.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.6

Cinema Ticket

$11.66 CA$16.40

$12.63 CA$17.77

-7.68%

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

$628 CA$884

$874 CA$1,230

-28.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.0K CA$19.7K

$15.9K CA$22.3K

-11.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 CA$80.1

$58.6 CA$82.5

-2.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.29 CA$52.5

$47.01 CA$66.2

-20.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.1 CA$135

$85.1 CA$120

12.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 CA$158

$108 CA$151

4.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,525 CA$2,146

$1,380 CA$1,942

10.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,347 CA$1,896

$1,159 CA$1,631

16.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,148 CA$3,022

$2,324 CA$3,270

-7.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,951 CA$2,745

$1,905 CA$2,680

2.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,786 CA$5,327

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,511 CA$4,940

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,956 CA$4,160

$2,940 CA$4,136

0.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.18

5.71

8.23%

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

Last update for Saanich: July 11, 2026

Last update for Calgary: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,525 in Saanich and $1,380 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saanich 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: $66.0 in Saanich vs $70.0 in Calgary. Groceries flip the comparison at $409 vs $396, with Calgary 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

Saanich vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 1% higher in Saanich, 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: $1,525 in Saanich versus $1,380 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 $66.0 in Saanich. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,643 per month in Saanich versus $2,462 in Calgary – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,462 in Calgary versus $2,643 in Saanich, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in Saanich. The gap between the two cities makes Calgary 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 Calgary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Saanich. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.