Cost of Living Comparison Between Thetford Mines and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Thetford Mines and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,026 in Thetford Mines versus $2,344 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,426 in Thetford Mines versus $3,470 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,826 in Thetford Mines versus $4,597 in Calgary.

Living in Thetford Mines costs roughly 14% less than in Calgary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Thetford Mines 48% above, Calgary 71% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.44 CA$16.00

$17.68 CA$24.74

-35.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.83 CA$58.5

$71.2 CA$99.6

-41.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.42 CA$11.78

$10.85 CA$15.18

-22.40%

Cappuccino

$3.66 CA$5.12

$3.85 CA$5.39

-4.94%

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

$2.03 CA$2.83

$1.95 CA$2.73

4.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 CA$1.30

$1.79 CA$2.51

-48.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 CA$4.59

$4.97 CA$6.95

-34.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.62 CA$6.46

$5.90 CA$8.25

-21.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 CA$2.35

$1.84 CA$2.58

-8.70%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 CA$3.48

$2.73 CA$3.82

-8.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.11 CA$2.95

$5.44 CA$7.60

-61.21%

Eggs

$2.54 CA$3.55

$3.63 CA$5.07

-30.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.24 CA$14.33

$11.55 CA$16.15

-11.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.50 CA$9.10

$11.57 CA$16.19

-43.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.71 CA$20.58

$18.94 CA$26.50

-22.33%

Apples (1kg)

$2.21 CA$3.09

$4.95 CA$6.92

-55.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 CA$2.14

$1.42 CA$1.98

7.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 CA$3.10

$4.22 CA$5.90

-47.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.18 CA$3.06

$4.09 CA$5.72

-46.70%

Potato (1kg)

$2.01 CA$2.81

$2.56 CA$3.58

-21.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.82 CA$2.55

$2.82 CA$3.95

-35.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 CA$0.92

$2.57 CA$3.59

-74.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 CA$2.06

$1.55 CA$2.16

-4.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.34 CA$15.86

$14.59 CA$20.41

-22.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.75 CA$15.03

$15.60 CA$21.83

-31.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 CA$2.05

$2.58 CA$3.61

-43.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 CA$3.91

$3.23 CA$4.52

-13.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.31 CA$3.24

$2.96 CA$4.14

-21.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.2 CA$84.2

$91.1 CA$127

-33.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.33 CA$4.66

$3.17 CA$4.43

5.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 CA$2.10

$1.39 CA$1.95

7.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.86 CA$47.37

$27.67 CA$38.70

22.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 CA$1.50

$1.25 CA$1.75

-14.40%

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

$21.9K CA$30.7K

$28.3K CA$39.6K

-22.55%

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

$20.2K CA$28.3K

$21.3K CA$29.8K

-4.99%

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

$79.1 CA$111

$178 CA$249

-55.52%

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

$35.29 CA$49.36

$39.31 CA$55.0

-10.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.47 CA$59.4

$50.9 CA$71.2

-16.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.54 CA$59.5

$54.7 CA$76.5

-22.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.79 CA$24.89

$18.77 CA$26.25

-5.22%

Cinema Ticket

$11.65 CA$16.30

$14.55 CA$20.36

-19.93%

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

$560 CA$783

$812 CA$1,135

-30.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K CA$22.9K

$16.4K CA$23.0K

-0.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.62 CA$66.6

$59.4 CA$83.1

-19.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.92 CA$34.86

$40.33 CA$56.4

-38.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.8 CA$86.4

$92.2 CA$129

-33.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.6 CA$97.3

$113 CA$158

-38.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,283 CA$1,795

$1,284 CA$1,796

-0.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,150 CA$1,609

$1,018 CA$1,424

12.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$858 CA$1,200

$1,977 CA$2,766

-56.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$947 CA$1,325

$1,746 CA$2,443

-45.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,832 CA$5,360

$3,571 CA$4,995

7.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,854 CA$5,391

$3,359 CA$4,698

14.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,285 CA$1,798

$3,213 CA$4,495

-60.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.44

4.48

-0.89%

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

Last update for Thetford Mines: September 12, 2026

Last update for Calgary: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,283 in Thetford Mines and $1,284 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 150% 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: $42.00 in Thetford Mines vs $71.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $272 vs $395 per month, with Thetford Mines 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

Thetford Mines vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Thetford Mines is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 150% 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: $1,283 in Thetford Mines versus $1,284 in Calgary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Thetford Mines – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $71.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,026 per month in Thetford Mines versus $2,344 in Calgary – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,026 in Thetford Mines versus $2,344 in Calgary, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Thetford Mines but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Thetford Mines 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 Thetford Mines gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.