Cost of Living Comparison Between Sarnia and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Sarnia and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,978 in Sarnia versus $2,462 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,881 in Sarnia versus $3,628 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,783 in Sarnia versus $4,795 in Calgary.

Living in Sarnia costs roughly 20% less than in Calgary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sarnia 48% above, Calgary 84% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.66 CA$20.63

$18.33 CA$25.79

-20.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.75 CA$67.2

$69.9 CA$98.3

-31.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.69 CA$13.63

$10.95 CA$15.41

-11.51%

Cappuccino

$2.56 CA$3.60

$3.74 CA$5.26

-31.55%

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

$1.49 CA$2.09

$2.04 CA$2.87

-26.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 CA$2.20

$1.67 CA$2.35

-6.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.76 CA$6.70

$5.20 CA$7.32

-8.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.08 CA$8.56

$6.71 CA$9.45

-9.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 CA$3.15

$2.25 CA$3.16

-0.44%

White Bread (500g)

$2.23 CA$3.14

$2.75 CA$3.87

-18.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.55 CA$3.59

$3.23 CA$4.54

-21.05%

Eggs

$3.11 CA$4.38

$3.45 CA$4.85

-9.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.23 CA$11.59

$14.40 CA$20.26

-42.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.05 CA$19.77

$12.89 CA$18.13

9.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.81 CA$19.44

$15.86 CA$22.32

-12.93%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 CA$5.61

$4.30 CA$6.05

-7.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 CA$1.65

$1.34 CA$1.89

-11.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.21 CA$4.52

$3.85 CA$5.42

-16.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.73 CA$5.25

$4.25 CA$5.99

-12.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.39 CA$3.36

$2.55 CA$3.58

-6.27%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 CA$3.86

$2.62 CA$3.69

4.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 CA$2.83

$2.80 CA$3.94

-28.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 CA$1.77

$1.95 CA$2.74

-35.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.11 CA$15.63

$14.97 CA$21.06

-25.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.60 CA$13.51

$13.90 CA$19.57

-30.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 CA$3.43

$2.92 CA$4.11

-16.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 CA$4.28

$3.91 CA$5.50

-22.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.27 CA$3.20

$2.74 CA$3.85

-17.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 CA$76.2

$87.8 CA$124

-38.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 CA$3.65

$3.60 CA$5.06

-27.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 CA$2.47

$1.30 CA$1.83

35.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.87 CA$40.62

$28.70 CA$40.39

0.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 CA$1.60

$1.12 CA$1.57

1.79%

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

$25.1K CA$35.4K

$25.5K CA$35.8K

-1.35%

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

$19.9K CA$28.0K

$21.7K CA$30.6K

-8.33%

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

$142 CA$200

$213 CA$300

-33.37%

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

$36.03 CA$50.7

$40.96 CA$57.6

-12.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.6 CA$78.2

$57.9 CA$81.5

-4.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.87 CA$30.77

$54.2 CA$76.2

-59.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 CA$26.07

$53.8 CA$75.6

-65.53%

Cinema Ticket

$11.84 CA$16.65

$12.63 CA$17.77

-6.25%

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

$293 CA$412

$874 CA$1,230

-66.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K CA$14.6K

$15.9K CA$22.3K

-34.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.7 CA$74.2

$58.6 CA$82.5

-10.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.46 CA$35.82

$47.01 CA$66.2

-45.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.1 CA$98.6

$85.1 CA$120

-17.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.1 CA$124

$108 CA$151

-18.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 CA$1,790

$1,380 CA$1,942

-7.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$975 CA$1,371

$1,159 CA$1,631

-15.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,361 CA$3,323

$2,324 CA$3,270

1.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,473 CA$2,072

$1,905 CA$2,680

-22.69%

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)

$3,013 CA$4,239

$2,940 CA$4,136

2.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.33

5.71

10.86%

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

Last update for Sarnia: July 12, 2026

Last update for Calgary: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,272 in Sarnia and $1,380 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sarnia pays 2% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $48.00 in Sarnia vs $70.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $335 vs $396 per month, with Sarnia 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

Sarnia vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sarnia is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 2% higher in Sarnia, 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: $1,272 in Sarnia 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 Sarnia – a meal for two runs $48.00 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,978 per month in Sarnia versus $2,462 in Calgary – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,978 in Sarnia versus $2,462 in Calgary, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Sarnia but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Sarnia 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 Sarnia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.