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: $2,706 in Surrey versus $2,481 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,121 in Surrey versus $3,599 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,535 in Surrey versus $4,716 in Calgary.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Surrey 103% above, Calgary 86% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.30 CA$25.65

$18.64 CA$26.13

-1.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.0 CA$112

$70.3 CA$98.5

13.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.99 CA$15.40

$11.26 CA$15.78

-2.40%

Cappuccino

$4.10 CA$5.75

$3.70 CA$5.19

10.81%

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

$2.03 CA$2.85

$2.05 CA$2.88

-0.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 CA$2.44

$1.67 CA$2.34

4.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 CA$8.48

$5.26 CA$7.37

15.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.03 CA$9.86

$6.74 CA$9.44

4.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.64 CA$3.70

$2.23 CA$3.12

18.39%

White Bread (500g)

$2.61 CA$3.66

$2.75 CA$3.86

-5.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 CA$7.56

$3.28 CA$4.60

64.33%

Eggs

$3.58 CA$5.02

$3.40 CA$4.77

5.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.36 CA$14.52

$14.45 CA$20.25

-28.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.66 CA$16.34

$12.58 CA$17.63

-7.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.92 CA$34.93

$15.85 CA$22.21

57.22%

Apples (1kg)

$3.34 CA$4.68

$4.42 CA$6.19

-24.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 CA$1.86

$1.34 CA$1.88

-0.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.07 CA$4.31

$3.84 CA$5.38

-20.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.41 CA$4.77

$4.33 CA$6.07

-21.25%

Potato (1kg)

$2.46 CA$3.45

$2.54 CA$3.57

-3.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 CA$2.79

$2.73 CA$3.83

-27.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 CA$3.37

$2.69 CA$3.77

-10.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 CA$2.78

$1.90 CA$2.66

4.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.61 CA$20.48

$14.81 CA$20.76

-1.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.99 CA$19.61

$14.43 CA$20.22

-3.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.85 CA$5.40

$2.94 CA$4.12

30.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 CA$5.64

$3.98 CA$5.58

1.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.20 CA$4.49

$2.70 CA$3.79

18.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$127 CA$178

$88.3 CA$124

43.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.78 CA$3.90

$3.42 CA$4.80

-18.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 CA$2.09

$1.31 CA$1.84

13.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.40 CA$39.81

$28.41 CA$39.83

-0.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 CA$1.83

$1.12 CA$1.58

16.96%

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

$25.3K CA$35.5K

$24.9K CA$34.9K

1.79%

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

$20.9K CA$29.3K

$21.7K CA$30.5K

-3.65%

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

$192 CA$269

$210 CA$295

-8.62%

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

$42.36 CA$59.4

$41.33 CA$57.9

2.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.1 CA$92.7

$57.8 CA$81.1

14.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.22 CA$62.0

$55.3 CA$77.5

-20.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.70 CA$26.22

$52.2 CA$73.2

-64.20%

Cinema Ticket

$12.50 CA$17.52

$12.47 CA$17.48

0.24%

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

$909 CA$1,273

$886 CA$1,242

2.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.6K CA$17.6K

$15.9K CA$22.4K

-21.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.6 CA$77.9

$59.1 CA$82.8

-5.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.8 CA$74.1

$47.08 CA$66.0

12.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 CA$145

$87.1 CA$122

18.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.1 CA$133

$110 CA$154

-13.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,630 CA$2,285

$1,415 CA$1,983

15.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,367 CA$1,916

$1,180 CA$1,655

15.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,074 CA$4,308

$2,374 CA$3,328

29.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,424 CA$3,398

$1,855 CA$2,600

30.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,719 CA$13.6K

$3,755 CA$5,263

158.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,636 CA$12.1K

$3,479 CA$4,876

148.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,016 CA$4,228

$3,035 CA$4,254

-0.63%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Calgary: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,630 in Surrey and $1,415 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 1% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $80.0 in Surrey vs $70.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $407 vs $396 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.

On paper, salaries run 1% lower in Calgary. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,630 in Surrey versus $1,415 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 $2,706 per month in Surrey versus $2,481 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.