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: $2,745 in Squamish, BC versus $2,462 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,106 in Squamish, BC versus $3,628 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,467 in Squamish, BC versus $4,795 in Calgary.

Living in Squamish, BC is roughly 11% more expensive than in Calgary, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Squamish, BC 105% above, Calgary 84% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.18 CA$21.29

$18.33 CA$25.70

-17.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.8 CA$103

$69.9 CA$98.0

5.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.02 CA$15.45

$10.95 CA$15.35

0.64%

Cappuccino

$4.24 CA$5.94

$3.74 CA$5.24

13.37%

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

$2.02 CA$2.84

$2.04 CA$2.86

-0.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 CA$2.01

$1.67 CA$2.34

-13.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.94 CA$8.33

$5.20 CA$7.29

14.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.85 CA$8.20

$6.71 CA$9.41

-12.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 CA$2.56

$2.25 CA$3.15

-19.11%

White Bread (500g)

$2.65 CA$3.72

$2.75 CA$3.85

-3.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.77 CA$5.29

$3.23 CA$4.53

16.72%

Eggs

$3.63 CA$5.10

$3.45 CA$4.83

5.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.36 CA$14.52

$14.40 CA$20.19

-28.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.71 CA$16.42

$12.89 CA$18.07

-9.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.21 CA$28.34

$15.86 CA$22.24

27.43%

Apples (1kg)

$3.37 CA$4.73

$4.30 CA$6.02

-21.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 CA$1.70

$1.34 CA$1.88

-9.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.99 CA$4.20

$3.85 CA$5.40

-22.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.36 CA$4.71

$4.25 CA$5.97

-20.94%

Potato (1kg)

$2.35 CA$3.29

$2.55 CA$3.57

-7.84%

Onion (1kg)

$2.07 CA$2.90

$2.62 CA$3.68

-20.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.50 CA$3.51

$2.80 CA$3.92

-10.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 CA$2.70

$1.95 CA$2.73

-1.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.46 CA$20.28

$14.97 CA$20.99

-3.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.54 CA$14.78

$13.90 CA$19.49

-24.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 CA$4.22

$2.92 CA$4.10

3.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 CA$5.21

$3.91 CA$5.48

-4.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.50 CA$2.10

$2.74 CA$3.84

-45.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.24 CA$43.80

$87.8 CA$123

-64.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 CA$3.80

$3.60 CA$5.04

-24.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 CA$2.08

$1.30 CA$1.82

13.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.62 CA$40.13

$28.70 CA$40.24

-0.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 CA$1.77

$1.12 CA$1.57

12.50%

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

$25.3K CA$35.5K

$25.5K CA$35.7K

-0.53%

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

$20.2K CA$28.3K

$21.7K CA$30.5K

-7.17%

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

$124 CA$174

$213 CA$299

-41.74%

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

$41.80 CA$58.6

$40.96 CA$57.4

2.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.7 CA$93.5

$57.9 CA$81.2

15.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.1 CA$74.5

$54.2 CA$76.0

-1.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.4

Cinema Ticket

$12.47 CA$17.48

$12.63 CA$17.71

-1.27%

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

$1,118 CA$1,567

$874 CA$1,226

27.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.5K CA$17.6K

$15.9K CA$22.3K

-21.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 CA$78.1

$58.6 CA$82.2

-5.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.42 CA$62.3

$47.01 CA$65.9

-5.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 CA$146

$85.1 CA$119

22.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.6 CA$131

$108 CA$151

-13.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,676 CA$2,349

$1,380 CA$1,935

21.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,588 CA$2,226

$1,159 CA$1,625

36.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,371 CA$4,726

$2,324 CA$3,259

45.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,961 CA$4,152

$1,905 CA$2,670

55.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,834 CA$8,179

$3,786 CA$5,308

54.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,511 CA$4,922

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,067 CA$4,299

$2,940 CA$4,121

4.32%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Calgary: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,676 in Squamish, BC and $1,380 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Squamish, BC pays 4% 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: $74.0 in Squamish, BC vs $70.0 in Calgary. Groceries flip the comparison at $365 vs $396, 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 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 4% higher in Squamish, BC, 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: $1,676 in Squamish, BC 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 Calgary – a meal for two runs $70.0 versus $74.0 in Squamish, BC. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,745 per month in Squamish, BC versus $2,462 in Calgary – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,462 in Calgary versus $2,745 in Squamish, BC, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in Squamish, BC. The gap between the two cities makes Calgary 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 Calgary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Squamish, BC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.