Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint John, New Brunswick and Lethbridge, AB Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint John, New Brunswick and Lethbridge, AB

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,091 per month in Saint John, New Brunswick vs $1,981 in Lethbridge, AB, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,020 per month in Saint John, New Brunswick vs $2,972 in Lethbridge, AB, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,949 per month in Saint John, New Brunswick vs $3,963 in Lethbridge, AB, rent included.

Saint John, New Brunswick costs about 6% more than Lethbridge, AB, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Saint John, New Brunswick and Lethbridge, AB sit above the global median – Saint John, New Brunswick by 55%, Lethbridge, AB by 47%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.77 CA$29.82

$18.70 CA$25.62

16.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.0 CA$83.6

$70.6 CA$96.7

-13.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.45 CA$14.31

$11.12 CA$15.24

-6.03%

Cappuccino

$3.03 CA$4.15

$3.66 CA$5.01

-17.21%

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

$1.70 CA$2.33

$1.66 CA$2.28

2.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 CA$1.67

$1.75 CA$2.40

-30.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.39 CA$6.01

$5.09 CA$6.98

-13.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.09 CA$6.97

$6.33 CA$8.68

-19.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 CA$2.69

$2.11 CA$2.89

-6.64%

White Bread (500g)

$2.91 CA$3.99

$2.31 CA$3.17

25.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.79 CA$2.45

$3.34 CA$4.57

-46.41%

Eggs

$3.55 CA$4.87

$3.43 CA$4.70

3.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.56 CA$15.84

$12.24 CA$16.77

-5.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.61 CA$11.79

$12.88 CA$17.65

-33.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.26 CA$22.28

$12.47 CA$17.09

30.39%

Apples (1kg)

$4.03 CA$5.52

$4.23 CA$5.80

-4.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 CA$2.06

$1.35 CA$1.84

11.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.63 CA$4.98

$3.74 CA$5.13

-2.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.43 CA$6.06

$4.42 CA$6.05

0.23%

Potato (1kg)

$2.10 CA$2.88

$2.59 CA$3.54

-18.92%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 CA$3.01

$2.68 CA$3.67

-17.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.75 CA$3.77

$2.68 CA$3.67

2.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 CA$2.06

$1.96 CA$2.69

-22.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.35 CA$25.14

$14.98 CA$20.52

22.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.28 CA$14.08

$13.31 CA$18.23

-22.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.31 CA$4.54

$2.26 CA$3.10

46.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 CA$4.62

$2.94 CA$4.03

14.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.24 CA$3.07

$2.26 CA$3.10

-0.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.5 CA$82.8

$57.0 CA$78.1

6.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 CA$4.90

$3.59 CA$4.92

-0.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.12 CA$1.53

$1.36 CA$1.86

-17.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.47 CA$40.37

$28.63 CA$39.23

2.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 CA$1.61

$1.08 CA$1.48

8.33%

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

$25.1K CA$34.3K

$24.8K CA$34.0K

1.06%

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

$19.9K CA$27.3K

$20.9K CA$28.6K

-4.68%

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

$127 CA$175

$202 CA$277

-36.96%

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

$38.36 CA$52.6

$41.58 CA$57.0

-7.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.4 CA$86.9

$59.0 CA$80.9

7.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.93 CA$58.8

$46.57 CA$63.8

-7.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.01 CA$50.7

Cinema Ticket

$11.06 CA$15.16

$11.62 CA$15.92

-4.82%

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

$168 CA$231

$889 CA$1,217

-81.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K CA$15.9K

$16.0K CA$21.9K

-27.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.92 CA$56.1

$43.45 CA$59.5

-5.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.57 CA$58.3

$46.69 CA$64.0

-8.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 CA$116

$87.6 CA$120

-2.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 CA$168

$108 CA$147

14.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,038 CA$1,422

$965 CA$1,321

7.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$973 CA$1,333

$799 CA$1,095

21.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 CA$2,178

$1,401 CA$1,920

13.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,445 CA$1,979

$1,247 CA$1,708

15.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,133 CA$2,922

$5,706 CA$7,817

-62.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,202 CA$3,016

$2,134 CA$2,923

3.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,684 CA$3,677

$2,971 CA$4,070

-9.67%

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 Saint John, New Brunswick: April 12, 2026

Last update for Lethbridge, AB: April 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,038 in Saint John, New Brunswick versus $965 in Lethbridge, AB. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 11% higher in Lethbridge, AB, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61 in Saint John, New Brunswick versus $71 in Lethbridge, AB. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $346 vs $367 – making Saint John, New Brunswick the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Saint John, New Brunswick vs Lethbridge, AB: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,091 in Saint John, New Brunswick, $1,981 in Lethbridge, AB – roughly 6% apart. Saint John, New Brunswick costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,136 per month in Saint John, New Brunswick and $2,971 in Lethbridge, AB. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lethbridge, AB, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Saint John, New Brunswick – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Saint John, New Brunswick and $71.0 in Lethbridge, AB. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Lethbridge, AB, where all-in costs run around $1,981, than in Saint John, New Brunswick at $2,091. In Lethbridge, AB it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saint John, New Brunswick it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Lethbridge, AB – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Lethbridge, AB. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Saint John, New Brunswick makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.