Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Terrace and Calgary

For one person, living is cheaper in Terrace: $1,887 a month against $2,223 in Calgary, rent and utilities included – about $4,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Terrace
🇨🇦 Canada
$1,887
/mo nomad
Calgary
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,223
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Terrace and in Calgary

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Terrace and in Calgary actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,887 in Terrace versus $2,223 in Calgary.

  • Terrace $1,887
  • Calgary $2,223

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,853 in Terrace versus $3,301 in Calgary.

  • Terrace $2,853
  • Calgary $3,301

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,819 in Terrace versus $4,379 in Calgary.

  • Terrace $3,819
  • Calgary $4,379

Living in Terrace costs roughly 15% less than in Calgary, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Terrace 40% above, Calgary 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Terrace
Calgary
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.53 CA$24.78
$17.22 CA$24.34
1.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.9 CA$113
$71.1 CA$100
12.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.87 CA$13.95
$10.53 CA$14.89
-6.27%
Cappuccino
$3.93 CA$5.55
$3.66 CA$5.18
7.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 CA$2.95
$1.98 CA$2.80
5.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 CA$2.29
$1.94 CA$2.74
-16.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.19 CA$7.34
$4.95 CA$7.00
4.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.15 CA$8.69
$5.57 CA$7.87
10.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Terrace
Calgary
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.25 CA$3.19
$1.88 CA$2.65
19.68%
White Bread (500g)
$2.63 CA$3.72
$2.67 CA$3.78
-1.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.10 CA$7.21
$5.32 CA$7.52
-4.14%
Eggs
$3.60 CA$5.10
$3.79 CA$5.35
-5.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.81 CA$12.45
$11.09 CA$15.68
-20.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.36 CA$21.71
$11.36 CA$16.05
35.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.51 CA$19.10
$18.40 CA$26.01
-26.58%
Apples (1kg)
$4.06 CA$5.73
$4.56 CA$6.45
-10.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.21 CA$1.72
$1.44 CA$2.04
-15.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.99 CA$4.23
$4.08 CA$5.76
-26.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.67 CA$5.20
$3.89 CA$5.50
-5.66%
Potato (1kg)
$3.14 CA$4.44
$2.64 CA$3.73
18.94%
Onion (1kg)
$3.13 CA$4.43
$2.64 CA$3.73
18.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.37 CA$3.36
$2.50 CA$3.54
-5.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 CA$1.43
$1.50 CA$2.12
-32.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.27 CA$15.94
$14.05 CA$19.86
-19.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.44 CA$18.99
$15.70 CA$22.20
-14.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09 CA$2.96
$2.44 CA$3.45
-14.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 CA$2.52
$3.09 CA$4.37
-42.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Terrace
Calgary
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.38 CA$1.95
$2.82 CA$3.99
-51.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.40 CA$44.40
$88.6 CA$125
-64.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.30 CA$4.66
$3.12 CA$4.41
5.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.50 CA$2.12
$1.35 CA$1.91
11.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.03 CA$28.31
$27.02 CA$38.20
-25.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 CA$1.72
$1.16 CA$1.64
5.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K CA$39.3K
$27.9K CA$39.5K
-0.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.7K CA$26.5K
$20.3K CA$28.8K
-7.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Terrace
Calgary
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.2 CA$132
$161 CA$227
-42.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.92 CA$55.0
$38.13 CA$53.9
2.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.3 CA$82.5
$50.0 CA$70.7
16.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Terrace
Calgary
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.14 CA$56.7
$51.5 CA$72.8
-22.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.45 CA$23.26
$18.14 CA$25.64
-9.32%
Cinema Ticket
$8.91 CA$12.60
$13.82 CA$19.54
-35.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Terrace
Calgary
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$733 CA$1,037
$786 CA$1,111
-6.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.4K CA$18.9K
$15.5K CA$21.8K
-13.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Terrace
Calgary
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.65 CA$51.8
$58.3 CA$82.4
-37.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.29 CA$42.82
$39.27 CA$55.5
-22.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.8 CA$113
$89.8 CA$127
-11.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 CA$147
$110 CA$155
-5.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Terrace
Calgary
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$992 CA$1,402
$1,229 CA$1,737
-19.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$845 CA$1,194
$1,001 CA$1,415
-15.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,556 CA$2,200
$1,921 CA$2,716
-19.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,325 CA$1,874
$1,621 CA$2,292
-18.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,127 CA$5,835
$3,549 CA$5,018
16.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,426 CA$4,843
$3,335 CA$4,715
2.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Terrace
Calgary
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,096 CA$4,376
$3,165 CA$4,474
-2.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.05
4.51
11.97%

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

Last update for Terrace: October 11, 2026

Last update for Calgary: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Terrace
$845
Calgary
$1K 18.5% $156
Groceries & Markets
Terrace
$364
Calgary
$385 6% $22
Eating Out
Terrace
$270
Calgary
$265 1.9% $5.1
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Terrace
$191
Calgary
$249 30.7% $58
Clothing & Footwear
Terrace
$113
Calgary
$134 18.6% $21
Sport & Entertainment
Terrace
$58
Calgary
$79 36.5% $21
Getting Around
Terrace
$48
Calgary
$110 130% $62

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $992 in Terrace and $1,229 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary 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 Terrace vs $71.0 in Calgary. Groceries flip the comparison at $364 vs $385, with Terrace cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Terrace
🇨🇦 Calgary
🕒 Local time
12:24 12:24 PM
13:24 1:24 PM
1 h ahead of Terrace
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
19,443
1,267,344
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Terrace Calgary 1,050 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Terrace
  • Calgary

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Terrace vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Calgary cheaper than Terrace?
Terrace is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and leisure. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Terrace or Calgary?
On paper, salaries run 2% 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.
What is the rent difference between Terrace and Calgary?
Rent for a central apartment: $992 in Terrace versus $1,229 in Calgary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Terrace or in Calgary?
Dining out is cheaper in Terrace – a meal for two runs $80.0 versus $71.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Terrace and in Calgary?
All in, you'll spend $1,887 per month in Terrace versus $2,223 in Calgary – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Terrace or in Calgary?
At $1,887 in Terrace versus $2,223 in Calgary, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Terrace but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Terrace the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Terrace or in 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 Terrace gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Terrace vs other spots: cost of living compared

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