Cost of Living Comparison Between Sudbury and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Sudbury and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,260 in Sudbury versus $2,523 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,360 in Sudbury versus $3,652 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,461 in Sudbury versus $4,780 in Calgary.

Living in Sudbury costs roughly 10% less than in Calgary, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sudbury 69% above, Calgary 88% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sudbury
Calgary
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.54 CA$25.67
$18.59 CA$25.74
-0.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.2 CA$80.6
$70.0 CA$97.0
-16.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.55 CA$17.38
$10.96 CA$15.17
14.51%
Cappuccino
$3.37 CA$4.66
$3.73 CA$5.17
-9.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 CA$2.62
$1.99 CA$2.75
-5.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 CA$2.37
$1.72 CA$2.39
-0.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.39 CA$7.46
$5.01 CA$6.94
7.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.86 CA$8.11
$6.50 CA$9.01
-9.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sudbury
Calgary
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.00 CA$2.77
$2.22 CA$3.08
-9.91%
White Bread (500g)
$1.97 CA$2.73
$2.67 CA$3.69
-26.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.99 CA$5.52
$3.26 CA$4.52
22.39%
Eggs
$3.04 CA$4.20
$3.35 CA$4.64
-9.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.69 CA$17.57
$14.50 CA$20.07
-12.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.24 CA$22.49
$12.95 CA$17.93
25.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.73 CA$17.62
$16.15 CA$22.36
-21.18%
Apples (1kg)
$3.59 CA$4.97
$4.32 CA$5.98
-16.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.33 CA$1.85
$1.35 CA$1.88
-1.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.06 CA$4.23
$3.83 CA$5.30
-20.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.65 CA$6.44
$4.18 CA$5.79
11.24%
Potato (1kg)
$1.67 CA$2.31
$2.65 CA$3.67
-36.98%
Onion (1kg)
$3.10 CA$4.29
$2.74 CA$3.79
13.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.08 CA$2.87
$2.76 CA$3.82
-24.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 CA$3.84
$1.95 CA$2.70
42.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.01 CA$16.63
$14.98 CA$20.74
-19.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.73 CA$20.39
$14.67 CA$20.31
0.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.43 CA$3.36
$2.84 CA$3.94
-14.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 CA$2.91
$4.02 CA$5.56
-47.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Sudbury
Calgary
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.89 CA$4.01
$2.80 CA$3.88
3.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.4 CA$102
$86.2 CA$119
-14.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.39 CA$4.70
$3.60 CA$4.99
-5.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.16 CA$2.99
$1.32 CA$1.82
63.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.85 CA$48.26
$29.01 CA$40.17
20.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 CA$1.59
$1.12 CA$1.55
2.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5K CA$35.3K
$24.9K CA$34.4K
2.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K CA$28.7K
$22.0K CA$30.4K
-5.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sudbury
Calgary
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$107 CA$148
$217 CA$301
-50.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.88 CA$67.7
$41.55 CA$57.5
17.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$77.0 CA$107
$58.1 CA$80.4
32.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sudbury
Calgary
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.34 CA$68.3
$54.7 CA$75.8
-9.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.51 CA$20.09
$52.8 CA$73.1
-72.53%
Cinema Ticket
$11.13 CA$15.41
$12.77 CA$17.68
-12.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sudbury
Calgary
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$739 CA$1,023
$874 CA$1,210
-15.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,919 CA$12.3K
$15.9K CA$22.1K
-44.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sudbury
Calgary
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.2 CA$87.5
$58.8 CA$81.5
7.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.15 CA$55.6
$46.47 CA$64.4
-13.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 CA$144
$87.2 CA$121
19.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 CA$161
$109 CA$151
6.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sudbury
Calgary
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,066 CA$1,476
$1,414 CA$1,957
-24.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,036 CA$1,434
$1,172 CA$1,623
-11.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,712 CA$2,371
$2,319 CA$3,211
-26.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,722 CA$2,384
$1,886 CA$2,612
-8.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,705 CA$3,745
$3,892 CA$5,389
-30.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,912 CA$2,648
$3,503 CA$4,851
-45.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sudbury
Calgary
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,005 CA$4,161
$3,149 CA$4,360
-4.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.59
5.71
15.41%

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

Last update for Sudbury: May 30, 2026

Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,066 in Sudbury and $1,414 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 5% 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: $58.0 in Sudbury vs $70.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $385 vs $397 per month, with Sudbury 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
Sudbury vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Calgary cheaper than Sudbury?
Sudbury is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Sudbury or Calgary?
On paper, Calgary earns 5% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Sudbury and Calgary?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,066 in Sudbury 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 Sudbury or Calgary?
Dining out is cheaper in Sudbury – a meal for two runs $58.0 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 Sudbury vs Calgary?
All in, you'll spend $2,260 per month in Sudbury versus $2,523 in Calgary – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for Sudbury or Calgary?
At $2,260 in Sudbury versus $2,523 in Calgary, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Sudbury but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Sudbury the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Sudbury 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 Sudbury gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Sudbury vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities