Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney, NS and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney, NS and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,863 in Sydney, NS versus $2,523 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,830 in Sydney, NS versus $3,652 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,796 in Sydney, NS versus $4,780 in Calgary.

Living in Sydney, NS costs roughly 26% less than in Calgary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sydney, NS 39% above, Calgary 88% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.89 CA$16.53

$18.59 CA$25.86

-36.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.6 CA$87.1

$70.0 CA$97.4

-10.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.10 CA$9.87

$10.96 CA$15.24

-35.22%

Cappuccino

$2.98 CA$4.15

$3.73 CA$5.19

-20.11%

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

$2.20 CA$3.06

$1.99 CA$2.77

10.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 CA$2.77

$1.72 CA$2.40

15.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.61 CA$7.81

$5.01 CA$6.97

11.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.00 CA$8.35

$6.50 CA$9.05

-7.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.37 CA$3.30

$2.22 CA$3.09

6.76%

White Bread (500g)

$2.69 CA$3.74

$2.67 CA$3.71

0.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.63 CA$3.66

$3.26 CA$4.54

-19.33%

Eggs

$3.54 CA$4.92

$3.35 CA$4.66

5.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.67 CA$9.27

$14.50 CA$20.16

-54.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.32 CA$11.56

$12.95 CA$18.01

-35.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.39 CA$18.63

$16.15 CA$22.46

-17.09%

Apples (1kg)

$7.52 CA$10.46

$4.32 CA$6.01

74.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 CA$1.71

$1.35 CA$1.88

-8.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.76 CA$5.23

$3.83 CA$5.32

-1.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 CA$2.02

$4.18 CA$5.81

-65.31%

Potato (1kg)

$0.90 CA$1.25

$2.65 CA$3.68

-66.04%

Onion (1kg)

$2.65 CA$3.69

$2.74 CA$3.81

-3.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 CA$3.46

$2.76 CA$3.84

-9.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 CA$2.49

$1.95 CA$2.71

-8.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.53 CA$25.77

$14.98 CA$20.83

23.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.67 CA$20.40

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.80 CA$3.89

$2.84 CA$3.95

-1.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.35 CA$6.05

$4.02 CA$5.59

8.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 CA$1.56

$2.80 CA$3.90

-60.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$50.6 CA$70.4

$86.2 CA$120

-41.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.40 CA$6.12

$3.60 CA$5.01

22.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 CA$2.06

$1.32 CA$1.83

12.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.32 CA$35.22

$29.01 CA$40.35

-12.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 CA$1.67

$1.12 CA$1.56

7.14%

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

$25.2K CA$35.1K

$24.9K CA$34.6K

1.57%

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

$20.5K CA$28.5K

$22.0K CA$30.6K

-6.64%

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

$91.9 CA$128

$217 CA$302

-57.70%

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

$46.94 CA$65.3

$41.55 CA$57.8

12.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.9 CA$104

$58.1 CA$80.8

29.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.4 CA$70.1

$54.7 CA$76.1

-7.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.64 CA$5.07

$52.8 CA$73.5

-93.11%

Cinema Ticket

$8.18 CA$11.38

$12.77 CA$17.75

-35.94%

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

$748 CA$1,040

$874 CA$1,215

-14.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.7K CA$16.3K

$15.9K CA$22.2K

-26.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.3 CA$101

$58.8 CA$81.8

22.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.6 CA$96.8

$46.47 CA$64.6

49.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 CA$141

$87.2 CA$121

16.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$151

$109 CA$151

-0.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,100 CA$1,530

$1,414 CA$1,966

-22.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$814 CA$1,131

$1,172 CA$1,630

-30.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,926 CA$2,679

$2,319 CA$3,225

-16.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,435 CA$1,996

$1,886 CA$2,623

-23.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,892 CA$5,413

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,503 CA$4,872

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,630 CA$3,657

$3,149 CA$4,380

-16.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.85

5.71

19.96%

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

Last update for Sydney, NS: May 30, 2026

Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,100 in Sydney, NS and $1,414 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 20% 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: $63.0 in Sydney, NS vs $70.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $307 vs $397 per month, with Sydney, NS 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

Sydney, NS vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sydney, NS is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 35% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Calgary earns 20% less. 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: $1,100 in Sydney, NS 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 Sydney, NS – a meal for two runs $63.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,863 per month in Sydney, NS versus $2,523 in Calgary – a 35% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,863 in Sydney, NS versus $2,523 in Calgary, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sydney, NS but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Sydney, NS 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 Sydney, NS gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.