🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,339 in Saint Andrews versus $2,523 in Calgary.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,384 in Saint Andrews versus $3,652 in Calgary.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,430 in Saint Andrews versus $4,780 in Calgary.
🙂Living in Saint Andrews costs roughly 7% less than in Calgary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Saint Andrews75% above, Calgary88% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saint Andrews
Calgary
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.96CA$23.59
$18.59CA$25.86
-8.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.1CA$98.8
$70.0CA$97.4
1.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.86CA$15.10
$10.96CA$15.24
-0.91%
Cappuccino
$3.86CA$5.37
$3.73CA$5.19
3.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04CA$2.84
$1.99CA$2.77
2.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71CA$2.38
$1.72CA$2.40
-0.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.63CA$7.82
$5.01CA$6.97
12.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.82CA$8.10
$6.50CA$9.05
-10.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saint Andrews
Calgary
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.21CA$3.07
$2.22CA$3.09
-0.45%
White Bread(500g)
$2.70CA$3.75
$2.67CA$3.71
1.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.53CA$4.92
$3.26CA$4.54
8.28%
Eggs
$3.50CA$4.87
$3.35CA$4.66
4.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.99CA$15.29
$14.50CA$20.16
-24.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.61CA$16.14
$12.95CA$18.01
-10.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.56CA$20.25
$16.15CA$22.46
-9.85%
Apples(1kg)
$4.17CA$5.80
$4.32CA$6.01
-3.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.43CA$1.99
$1.35CA$1.88
5.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.65CA$5.08
$3.83CA$5.32
-4.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.87CA$5.38
$4.18CA$5.81
-7.42%
Potato(1kg)
$2.48CA$3.44
$2.65CA$3.68
-6.42%
Onion(1kg)
$2.50CA$3.48
$2.74CA$3.81
-8.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.50CA$3.47
$2.76CA$3.84
-9.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.77CA$2.46
$1.95CA$2.71
-9.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.75CA$19.12
$14.98CA$20.83
-8.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.56CA$18.86
$14.67CA$20.40
-7.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.86CA$3.97
$2.84CA$3.95
0.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17CA$4.41
$4.02CA$5.59
-21.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Saint Andrews
Calgary
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.41CA$3.35
$2.80CA$3.90
-13.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$63.3CA$88.0
$86.2CA$120
-26.61%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08CA$4.29
$3.60CA$5.01
-14.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.44CA$2.00
$1.32CA$1.83
9.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.98CA$36.12
$29.01CA$40.35
-10.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15CA$1.60
$1.12CA$1.56
2.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1KCA$34.9K
$24.9KCA$34.6K
0.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.9KCA$29.1K
$22.0KCA$30.6K
-4.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint Andrews
Calgary
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$140CA$195
$217CA$302
-35.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.27CA$61.6
$41.55CA$57.8
6.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.0CA$86.2
$58.1CA$80.8
6.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saint Andrews
Calgary
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.38CA$58.9
$54.7CA$76.1
-22.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$52.8CA$73.5
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.25CA$15.65
$12.77CA$17.75
-11.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint Andrews
Calgary
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$750CA$1,043
$874CA$1,215
-14.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6KCA$16.2K
$15.9KCA$22.2K
-27.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saint Andrews
Calgary
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.0CA$76.5
$58.8CA$81.8
-6.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.25CA$54.6
$46.47CA$64.6
-15.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.3CA$120
$87.2CA$121
-1.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106CA$147
$109CA$151
-2.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint Andrews
Calgary
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,319CA$1,834
$1,414CA$1,966
-6.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,193CA$1,659
$1,172CA$1,630
1.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,004CA$2,786
$2,319CA$3,225
-13.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,789CA$2,487
$1,886CA$2,623
-5.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,939CA$6,869
$3,892CA$5,413
26.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,447CA$4,793
$3,503CA$4,872
-1.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saint Andrews
Calgary
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$3,149CA$4,380
-
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 Saint Andrews: June 2, 2026
Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,319 in Saint Andrews and $1,414 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $71.0 in Saint Andrews vs $70.0 in Calgary. Groceries flip the comparison at $367 vs $397, with Saint Andrews cheaper for home cooking.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Saint Andrews vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Calgary cheaper than Saint Andrews?
Saint Andrews is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,508 in Saint Andrews and $3,785 in Calgary to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Saint Andrews and Calgary?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,319 in Saint Andrews versus $1,414 in Calgary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Saint Andrews or Calgary?
Dining out is cheaper in Saint Andrews – 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.
What are total monthly expenses in Saint Andrews vs Calgary?
All in, you'll spend $2,339 per month in Saint Andrews versus $2,523 in Calgary – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for Saint Andrews or Calgary?
At $2,339 in Saint Andrews versus $2,523 in Calgary, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Saint Andrews but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Saint Andrews the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Saint Andrews or Calgary?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Saint Andrews gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Saint Andrews vs other spots: cost of living compared