Cost of Living Comparison Between Thompson and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Thompson and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,863 in Thompson versus $2,432 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,848 in Thompson versus $3,624 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,834 in Thompson versus $4,816 in Calgary.

Living in Thompson costs roughly 23% less than in Calgary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Thompson 39% above, Calgary 82% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.14 CA$24.18

$18.52 CA$26.12

-7.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.0 CA$97.3

$70.6 CA$99.6

-2.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.95 CA$15.44

$11.03 CA$15.55

-0.73%

Cappuccino

$3.71 CA$5.23

$3.88 CA$5.48

-4.38%

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

$1.96 CA$2.76

$1.97 CA$2.79

-0.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 CA$2.33

$1.66 CA$2.34

-0.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.54 CA$7.81

$5.19 CA$7.32

6.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.79 CA$8.16

$6.58 CA$9.28

-12.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 CA$3.10

$2.21 CA$3.11

-0.45%

White Bread (500g)

$2.73 CA$3.84

$2.67 CA$3.77

2.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.56 CA$5.03

$3.35 CA$4.72

6.27%

Eggs

$3.44 CA$4.85

$3.39 CA$4.78

1.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.35 CA$16.00

$14.59 CA$20.58

-22.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.96 CA$16.86

$12.95 CA$18.27

-7.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.58 CA$20.56

$15.84 CA$22.34

-7.95%

Apples (1kg)

$4.08 CA$5.76

$4.30 CA$6.07

-5.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 CA$1.94

$1.30 CA$1.84

6.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.63 CA$5.11

$3.88 CA$5.47

-6.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.85 CA$5.43

$4.22 CA$5.96

-8.77%

Potato (1kg)

$2.42 CA$3.42

$2.55 CA$3.60

-5.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.47 CA$3.48

$2.72 CA$3.84

-9.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 CA$3.55

$2.74 CA$3.87

-8.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 CA$2.45

$1.93 CA$2.73

-10.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.75 CA$19.39

$15.00 CA$21.15

-8.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.32 CA$17.38

$14.67 CA$20.69

-16.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 CA$3.93

$2.89 CA$4.07

-3.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 CA$4.40

$4.03 CA$5.68

-22.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.32 CA$3.28

$2.79 CA$3.94

-16.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$62.1 CA$87.6

$85.7 CA$121

-27.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 CA$4.43

$3.59 CA$5.06

-12.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 CA$2.03

$1.35 CA$1.91

6.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.83 CA$36.43

$28.84 CA$40.68

-10.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 CA$1.61

$1.08 CA$1.53

5.56%

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

$24.9K CA$35.1K

$25.4K CA$35.8K

-2.07%

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

$20.2K CA$28.5K

$21.7K CA$30.6K

-6.74%

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

$145 CA$204

$216 CA$304

-32.93%

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

$43.28 CA$61.1

$41.66 CA$58.8

3.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.5 CA$86.7

$58.7 CA$82.8

4.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.57 CA$60.0

$53.6 CA$75.6

-20.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.1 CA$73.5

Cinema Ticket

$11.62 CA$16.39

$12.72 CA$17.95

-8.65%

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

$750 CA$1,058

$885 CA$1,248

-15.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K CA$16.3K

$15.8K CA$22.3K

-26.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 CA$75.5

$57.9 CA$81.7

-7.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.18 CA$55.3

$47.31 CA$66.7

-17.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.7 CA$124

$88.3 CA$124

-0.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 CA$149

$107 CA$151

-1.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$686 CA$968

$1,368 CA$1,929

-49.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$690 CA$974

$1,181 CA$1,666

-41.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,143 CA$1,612

$2,364 CA$3,335

-51.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,179 CA$1,662

$1,872 CA$2,641

-37.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,744 CA$6,691

$3,737 CA$5,270

26.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,320 CA$4,683

$3,424 CA$4,829

-3.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,572 CA$2,217

$2,999 CA$4,229

-47.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.46

5.71

13.13%

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

Last update for Thompson: July 21, 2026

Last update for Calgary: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $686 in Thompson and $1,368 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 91% 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: $69.0 in Thompson vs $71.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $365 vs $397 per month, with Thompson 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

Thompson vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Thompson is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 91% 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: $686 in Thompson versus $1,368 in Calgary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Thompson – a meal for two runs $69.0 versus $71.0 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 Thompson versus $2,432 in Calgary – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,863 in Thompson versus $2,432 in Calgary, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Thompson but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Thompson 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 Thompson gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.