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: $2,130 in Thetford Mines versus $2,517 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,665 in Thetford Mines versus $3,646 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,199 in Thetford Mines versus $4,776 in Calgary.

Living in Thetford Mines costs roughly 15% less than in Calgary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Thetford Mines 58% above, Calgary 87% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.97 CA$16.71

$18.37 CA$25.65

-34.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.8 CA$98.9

$69.7 CA$97.4

1.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.70 CA$12.15

$10.88 CA$15.19

-20.04%

Cappuccino

$3.69 CA$5.15

$3.69 CA$5.16

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

$2.19 CA$3.06

$2.03 CA$2.84

7.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.89 CA$1.25

$1.74 CA$2.43

-48.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.38 CA$4.72

$5.30 CA$7.40

-36.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.72 CA$6.59

$6.74 CA$9.42

-29.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 CA$2.41

$2.23 CA$3.12

-22.87%

White Bread (500g)

$2.59 CA$3.62

$2.68 CA$3.75

-3.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.27 CA$3.17

$3.35 CA$4.68

-32.24%

Eggs

$2.54 CA$3.54

$3.33 CA$4.65

-23.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.19 CA$14.23

$14.41 CA$20.12

-29.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.79 CA$9.48

$12.50 CA$17.46

-45.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.69 CA$20.52

$16.33 CA$22.81

-10.04%

Apples (1kg)

$2.19 CA$3.06

$4.28 CA$5.98

-48.83%

Banana (1kg)

$2.27 CA$3.16

$1.35 CA$1.89

68.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.18 CA$3.05

$3.74 CA$5.22

-41.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.18 CA$3.05

$4.17 CA$5.83

-47.72%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 CA$3.16

$2.56 CA$3.58

-11.72%

Onion (1kg)

$2.63 CA$3.67

$2.68 CA$3.74

-1.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 CA$0.94

$2.66 CA$3.71

-74.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 CA$1.68

$1.88 CA$2.62

-36.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.87 CA$15.18

$14.66 CA$20.47

-25.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.81 CA$15.10

$14.23 CA$19.87

-24.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 CA$2.01

$2.95 CA$4.12

-51.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 CA$3.51

$3.89 CA$5.44

-35.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.35 CA$3.28

$2.71 CA$3.79

-13.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.1 CA$89.5

$87.7 CA$122

-26.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.19 CA$8.64

$3.46 CA$4.83

78.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.74 CA$3.83

$1.30 CA$1.81

110.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.75 CA$35.97

$28.30 CA$39.52

-9.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 CA$1.55

$1.09 CA$1.52

1.83%

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

$22.1K CA$30.9K

$25.0K CA$34.9K

-11.67%

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

$20.1K CA$28.1K

$22.2K CA$31.0K

-9.39%

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

$105 CA$146

$211 CA$295

-50.35%

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

$56.2 CA$78.5

$40.40 CA$56.4

39.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.29 CA$66.1

$58.5 CA$81.7

-19.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.63 CA$59.5

$53.8 CA$75.1

-20.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.2

Cinema Ticket

$11.03 CA$15.40

$12.64 CA$17.66

-12.74%

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

$700 CA$978

$865 CA$1,208

-19.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,369 CA$6,101

$16.1K CA$22.4K

-72.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.97 CA$67.0

$58.1 CA$81.1

-17.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.46 CA$35.56

$47.18 CA$65.9

-46.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.3 CA$88.5

$85.4 CA$119

-25.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.9 CA$99.0

$106 CA$148

-33.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,328 CA$1,854

$1,416 CA$1,977

-6.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,186 CA$1,657

$1,153 CA$1,611

2.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$892 CA$1,245

$2,370 CA$3,309

-62.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$963 CA$1,344

$1,864 CA$2,603

-48.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,509 CA$6,297

$3,834 CA$5,354

17.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,856 CA$5,384

$3,443 CA$4,808

11.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,267 CA$1,770

$3,105 CA$4,337

-59.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

5.71

-21.19%

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

Last update for Thetford Mines: June 6, 2026

Last update for Calgary: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,328 in Thetford Mines and $1,416 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 145% 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: $71.0 in Thetford Mines vs $70.0 in Calgary. Groceries flip the comparison at $278 vs $393, with Thetford Mines cheaper for home cooking.

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, Sport & Entertainment. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Calgary earns 145% 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: $1,328 in Thetford Mines 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 Thetford Mines – a meal for two runs $71.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,130 per month in Thetford Mines versus $2,517 in Calgary – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,130 in Thetford Mines versus $2,517 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 18% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.