Cost of Living Comparison Between Surrey and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Surrey and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,737 in Surrey versus $2,517 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,155 in Surrey versus $3,646 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,573 in Surrey versus $4,776 in Calgary.

Living in Surrey is roughly 9% more expensive than Calgary, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Surrey 104% above, Calgary 87% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.61 CA$25.99

$18.37 CA$25.65

1.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.9 CA$112

$69.7 CA$97.4

14.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.92 CA$15.25

$10.88 CA$15.19

0.37%

Cappuccino

$4.14 CA$5.78

$3.69 CA$5.16

12.20%

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

$2.04 CA$2.85

$2.03 CA$2.84

0.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 CA$2.42

$1.74 CA$2.43

-0.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 CA$8.16

$5.30 CA$7.40

10.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.19 CA$10.04

$6.74 CA$9.42

6.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.65 CA$3.71

$2.23 CA$3.12

18.83%

White Bread (500g)

$2.64 CA$3.69

$2.68 CA$3.75

-1.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.56 CA$7.77

$3.35 CA$4.68

65.97%

Eggs

$3.59 CA$5.02

$3.33 CA$4.65

7.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.42 CA$14.55

$14.41 CA$20.12

-27.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.79 CA$16.47

$12.50 CA$17.46

-5.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.99 CA$34.90

$16.33 CA$22.81

53.03%

Apples (1kg)

$3.46 CA$4.83

$4.28 CA$5.98

-19.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.87

$1.35 CA$1.89

-0.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.08 CA$4.30

$3.74 CA$5.22

-17.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.53 CA$4.92

$4.17 CA$5.83

-15.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.40 CA$3.35

$2.56 CA$3.58

-6.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.02 CA$2.82

$2.68 CA$3.74

-24.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 CA$3.47

$2.66 CA$3.71

-6.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 CA$2.83

$1.88 CA$2.62

7.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.57 CA$20.35

$14.66 CA$20.47

-0.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.30 CA$19.98

$14.23 CA$19.87

0.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.82 CA$5.33

$2.95 CA$4.12

29.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 CA$5.55

$3.89 CA$5.44

2.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.09 CA$4.32

$2.71 CA$3.79

14.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$129 CA$181

$87.7 CA$122

47.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.69 CA$3.76

$3.46 CA$4.83

-22.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 CA$2.06

$1.30 CA$1.81

13.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.31 CA$39.53

$28.30 CA$39.52

0.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 CA$1.89

$1.09 CA$1.52

23.85%

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

$24.7K CA$34.5K

$25.0K CA$34.9K

-1.31%

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

$20.7K CA$29.0K

$22.2K CA$31.0K

-6.69%

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

$188 CA$263

$211 CA$295

-10.85%

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

$42.02 CA$58.7

$40.40 CA$56.4

4.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.8 CA$94.7

$58.5 CA$81.7

15.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.10 CA$61.6

$53.8 CA$75.1

-18.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.11 CA$25.29

$53.8 CA$75.2

-66.35%

Cinema Ticket

$12.33 CA$17.22

$12.64 CA$17.66

-2.45%

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

$907 CA$1,267

$865 CA$1,208

4.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.6K CA$17.5K

$16.1K CA$22.4K

-21.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.0 CA$79.5

$58.1 CA$81.1

-1.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.6 CA$74.8

$47.18 CA$65.9

13.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 CA$147

$85.4 CA$119

23.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.8 CA$132

$106 CA$148

-10.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,631 CA$2,278

$1,416 CA$1,977

15.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,363 CA$1,904

$1,153 CA$1,611

18.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,112 CA$4,346

$2,370 CA$3,309

31.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,444 CA$3,413

$1,864 CA$2,603

31.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,608 CA$13.4K

$3,834 CA$5,354

150.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,793 CA$12.3K

$3,443 CA$4,808

155.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,153 CA$4,403

$3,105 CA$4,337

1.52%

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 Surrey: June 8, 2026

Last update for Calgary: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,631 in Surrey and $1,416 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Surrey 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: $80.0 in Surrey vs $70.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $411 vs $393 per month, with Calgary 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

Surrey vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Surrey 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: $1,631 in Surrey versus $1,416 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 $80.0 in Surrey. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,737 per month in Surrey versus $2,517 in Calgary – a 9% 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 9% less than in Surrey. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.