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: $2,623 in Saanich versus $2,344 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,631 in Saanich versus $3,470 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,638 in Saanich versus $4,597 in Calgary.

Living in Saanich is roughly 12% more expensive than in Calgary, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Saanich 92% above, Calgary 71% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.80 CA$24.90

$17.68 CA$24.74

0.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.0 CA$99.4

$71.2 CA$99.6

-0.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.69 CA$14.95

$10.85 CA$15.18

-1.47%

Cappuccino

$4.41 CA$6.17

$3.85 CA$5.39

14.55%

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

$2.24 CA$3.13

$1.95 CA$2.73

14.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 CA$2.48

$1.79 CA$2.51

-1.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.67 CA$7.93

$4.97 CA$6.95

14.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.65 CA$9.30

$5.90 CA$8.25

12.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 CA$2.87

$1.84 CA$2.58

11.41%

White Bread (500g)

$3.07 CA$4.29

$2.73 CA$3.82

12.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.09 CA$4.33

$5.44 CA$7.60

-43.20%

Eggs

$4.08 CA$5.71

$3.63 CA$5.07

12.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.49 CA$16.07

$11.55 CA$16.15

-0.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.47 CA$17.44

$11.57 CA$16.19

7.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.29 CA$24.18

$18.94 CA$26.50

-8.71%

Apples (1kg)

$4.48 CA$6.27

$4.95 CA$6.92

-9.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 CA$1.96

$1.42 CA$1.98

-1.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.26 CA$5.96

$4.22 CA$5.90

0.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.72 CA$6.60

$4.09 CA$5.72

15.40%

Potato (1kg)

$3.60 CA$5.04

$2.56 CA$3.58

40.63%

Onion (1kg)

$2.90 CA$4.06

$2.82 CA$3.95

2.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.22 CA$4.51

$2.57 CA$3.59

25.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 CA$3.24

$1.55 CA$2.16

49.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.35 CA$17.28

$14.59 CA$20.41

-15.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.53 CA$21.72

$15.60 CA$21.83

-0.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 CA$3.74

$2.58 CA$3.61

3.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 CA$5.20

$3.23 CA$4.52

14.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.28 CA$3.19

$2.96 CA$4.14

-22.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$78.5 CA$110

$91.1 CA$127

-13.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 CA$3.94

$3.17 CA$4.43

-11.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 CA$2.32

$1.39 CA$1.95

19.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.12 CA$40.74

$27.67 CA$38.70

5.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 CA$1.94

$1.25 CA$1.75

11.20%

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

$28.9K CA$40.5K

$28.3K CA$39.6K

2.22%

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

$19.5K CA$27.3K

$21.3K CA$29.8K

-8.40%

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

$121 CA$169

$178 CA$249

-32.15%

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

$40.77 CA$57.0

$39.31 CA$55.0

3.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.6 CA$91.8

$50.9 CA$71.2

28.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.0 CA$101

$54.7 CA$76.5

31.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.77 CA$26.25

Cinema Ticket

$10.98 CA$15.35

$14.55 CA$20.36

-24.54%

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

$906 CA$1,268

$812 CA$1,135

11.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.1K CA$18.3K

$16.4K CA$23.0K

-20.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.6 CA$75.0

$59.4 CA$83.1

-9.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.91 CA$50.2

$40.33 CA$56.4

-10.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.1 CA$126

$92.2 CA$129

-2.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CA$152

$113 CA$158

-3.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,463 CA$2,047

$1,284 CA$1,796

13.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,353 CA$1,892

$1,018 CA$1,424

32.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,054 CA$2,873

$1,977 CA$2,766

3.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,893 CA$2,647

$1,746 CA$2,443

8.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,571 CA$4,995

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,881 CA$5,429

$3,359 CA$4,698

15.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,027 CA$4,235

$3,213 CA$4,495

-5.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.72

4.48

5.36%

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

Last update for Saanich: September 13, 2026

Last update for Calgary: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,463 in Saanich and $1,284 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 6% 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 Saanich vs $71.0 in Calgary. Groceries flip the comparison at $409 vs $395, 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, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 6% 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: $1,463 in Saanich 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 Calgary – a meal for two runs $71.0 versus $71.0 in Saanich. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,623 per month in Saanich versus $2,344 in Calgary – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,344 in Calgary versus $2,623 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 12% less than in Saanich. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.