Cost of Living Comparison Between Squamish, BC and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Squamish, BC and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,729 in Squamish, BC versus $2,523 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,148 in Squamish, BC versus $3,652 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,567 in Squamish, BC versus $4,780 in Calgary.

Living in Squamish, BC is roughly 8% more expensive than Calgary, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Squamish, BC 104% above, Calgary 88% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.75 CA$21.81

$18.59 CA$25.74

-15.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.0 CA$101

$70.0 CA$97.0

4.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.85 CA$15.02

$10.96 CA$15.17

-1.00%

Cappuccino

$4.14 CA$5.73

$3.73 CA$5.17

10.99%

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

$1.97 CA$2.73

$1.99 CA$2.75

-1.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 CA$2.07

$1.72 CA$2.39

-13.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.78 CA$8.00

$5.01 CA$6.94

15.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.92 CA$8.20

$6.50 CA$9.01

-8.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 CA$2.55

$2.22 CA$3.08

-17.12%

White Bread (500g)

$2.73 CA$3.78

$2.67 CA$3.69

2.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.62 CA$5.02

$3.26 CA$4.52

11.04%

Eggs

$3.64 CA$5.04

$3.35 CA$4.64

8.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.22 CA$14.15

$14.50 CA$20.07

-29.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.75 CA$16.26

$12.95 CA$17.93

-9.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.46 CA$28.33

$16.15 CA$22.36

26.69%

Apples (1kg)

$3.51 CA$4.86

$4.32 CA$5.98

-18.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 CA$1.69

$1.35 CA$1.88

-9.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.96 CA$4.10

$3.83 CA$5.30

-22.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.53 CA$4.88

$4.18 CA$5.79

-15.55%

Potato (1kg)

$2.47 CA$3.42

$2.65 CA$3.67

-6.79%

Onion (1kg)

$2.02 CA$2.80

$2.74 CA$3.79

-26.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.45 CA$3.39

$2.76 CA$3.82

-11.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 CA$2.75

$1.95 CA$2.70

2.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.70 CA$20.36

$14.98 CA$20.74

-1.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.88 CA$15.06

$14.67 CA$20.31

-25.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 CA$4.17

$2.84 CA$3.94

5.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 CA$5.02

$4.02 CA$5.56

-9.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.45 CA$2.00

$2.80 CA$3.88

-48.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.49 CA$43.60

$86.2 CA$119

-63.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.78 CA$3.85

$3.60 CA$4.99

-22.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 CA$2.12

$1.32 CA$1.82

15.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.82 CA$39.90

$29.01 CA$40.17

-0.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 CA$1.73

$1.12 CA$1.55

11.61%

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

$25.2K CA$34.9K

$24.9K CA$34.4K

1.28%

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

$20.0K CA$27.7K

$22.0K CA$30.4K

-8.99%

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

$123 CA$171

$217 CA$301

-43.16%

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

$41.85 CA$58.0

$41.55 CA$57.5

0.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.6 CA$90.9

$58.1 CA$80.4

13.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.8 CA$71.7

$54.7 CA$75.8

-5.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.8 CA$73.1

Cinema Ticket

$12.46 CA$17.26

$12.77 CA$17.68

-2.43%

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

$1,115 CA$1,544

$874 CA$1,210

27.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.4K CA$17.2K

$15.9K CA$22.1K

-21.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 CA$77.2

$58.8 CA$81.5

-5.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.96 CA$60.9

$46.47 CA$64.4

-5.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 CA$143

$87.2 CA$121

18.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.7 CA$134

$109 CA$151

-11.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,666 CA$2,306

$1,414 CA$1,957

17.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 CA$2,202

$1,172 CA$1,623

35.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,320 CA$4,596

$2,319 CA$3,211

43.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,933 CA$4,062

$1,886 CA$2,612

55.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,982 CA$8,283

$3,892 CA$5,389

53.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,503 CA$4,851

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,216 CA$4,453

$3,149 CA$4,360

2.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

5.71

14.54%

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

Last update for Squamish, BC: May 30, 2026

Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,666 in Squamish, BC and $1,414 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Squamish, BC pays 2% 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: $73.0 in Squamish, BC vs $70.0 in Calgary. Groceries flip the comparison at $369 vs $397, with Squamish, BC 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

Squamish, BC vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Squamish, BC pays 2% more on average, 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: $1,666 in Squamish, BC versus $1,414 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 $70.0 versus $73.0 in Squamish, BC. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,729 per month in Squamish, BC versus $2,523 in Calgary – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Calgary is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 8% less than in Squamish, BC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.