Cost of Living Comparison Between Saguenay and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Saguenay and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,332 in Saguenay versus $2,462 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,353 in Saguenay versus $3,628 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,374 in Saguenay versus $4,795 in Calgary.

Living in Saguenay costs roughly 46% less than in Calgary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Saguenay 0% above, Calgary 84% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.01 CA$18.31

$18.33 CA$25.79

-29.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.95 CA$63.3

$69.9 CA$98.3

-35.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.22 CA$15.79

$10.95 CA$15.41

2.47%

Cappuccino

$3.91 CA$5.50

$3.74 CA$5.26

4.55%

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

$1.52 CA$2.13

$2.04 CA$2.87

-25.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 CA$1.79

$1.67 CA$2.35

-23.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.59 CA$7.86

$5.20 CA$7.32

7.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.09 CA$7.16

$6.71 CA$9.45

-24.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 CA$3.07

$2.25 CA$3.16

-3.11%

White Bread (500g)

$2.98 CA$4.19

$2.75 CA$3.87

8.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.45 CA$6.27

$3.23 CA$4.54

37.77%

Eggs

$2.60 CA$3.66

$3.45 CA$4.85

-24.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.81 CA$18.02

$14.40 CA$20.26

-11.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.59 CA$12.08

$12.89 CA$18.13

-33.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.73 CA$19.32

$15.86 CA$22.32

-13.43%

Apples (1kg)

$3.99 CA$5.61

$4.30 CA$6.05

-7.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.25 CA$1.76

$1.34 CA$1.89

-6.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.95 CA$5.56

$3.85 CA$5.42

2.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.96 CA$5.57

$4.25 CA$5.99

-6.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.96 CA$2.75

$2.55 CA$3.58

-23.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.59 CA$2.24

$2.62 CA$3.69

-39.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.59 CA$3.64

$2.80 CA$3.94

-7.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 CA$1.16

$1.95 CA$2.74

-57.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.92 CA$16.77

$14.97 CA$21.06

-20.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.24 CA$15.82

$13.90 CA$19.57

-19.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.07 CA$4.32

$2.92 CA$4.11

5.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 CA$2.81

$3.91 CA$5.50

-48.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 CA$3.97

$2.74 CA$3.85

2.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.8 CA$79.9

$87.8 CA$124

-35.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.66 CA$5.15

$3.60 CA$5.06

1.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 CA$2.75

$1.30 CA$1.83

50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.28 CA$44.02

$28.70 CA$40.39

8.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 CA$1.62

$1.12 CA$1.57

2.68%

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

$25.0K CA$35.2K

$25.5K CA$35.8K

-1.69%

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

$20.3K CA$28.6K

$21.7K CA$30.6K

-6.60%

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

$87.2 CA$123

$213 CA$300

-59.05%

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

$38.88 CA$54.7

$40.96 CA$57.6

-5.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.25 CA$60.9

$57.9 CA$81.5

-25.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.57 CA$47.24

$54.2 CA$76.2

-38.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.11 CA$19.85

$53.8 CA$75.6

-73.75%

Cinema Ticket

$9.74 CA$13.70

$12.63 CA$17.77

-22.88%

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

$613 CA$863

$874 CA$1,230

-29.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,342 CA$8,923

$15.9K CA$22.3K

-60.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.2 CA$84.6

$58.6 CA$82.5

2.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 CA$74.8

$47.01 CA$66.2

13.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.1 CA$135

$85.1 CA$120

12.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 CA$180

$108 CA$151

18.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 CA$862

$1,380 CA$1,942

-55.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$300 CA$422

$1,159 CA$1,631

-74.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,299 CA$1,827

$2,324 CA$3,270

-44.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,065 CA$1,498

$1,905 CA$2,680

-44.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,707 CA$8,031

$3,786 CA$5,327

50.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,425 CA$4,820

$3,511 CA$4,940

-2.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,588 CA$3,642

$2,940 CA$4,136

-11.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.87

5.71

20.32%

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

Last update for Saguenay: July 13, 2026

Last update for Calgary: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Saguenay and $1,380 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 14% 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: $45.00 in Saguenay vs $70.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $337 vs $396 per month, with Saguenay 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

Saguenay vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saguenay is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 85% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 14% 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: $613 in Saguenay 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 Saguenay – a meal for two runs $45.00 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,332 per month in Saguenay versus $2,462 in Calgary – a 85% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,332 in Saguenay versus $2,462 in Calgary, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Saguenay but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Saguenay 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 Saguenay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 85% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.