Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,731 in Vancouver versus $2,353 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,956 in Vancouver versus $3,488 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,181 in Vancouver versus $4,622 in Calgary.

Living in Vancouver is roughly 16% more expensive than in Calgary, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Vancouver 99% above, Calgary 71% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.36 CA$25.41

$17.94 CA$24.82

2.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.9 CA$101

$70.5 CA$97.6

3.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.88 CA$15.05

$10.69 CA$14.79

1.78%

Cappuccino

$4.25 CA$5.88

$3.79 CA$5.24

12.14%

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

$2.12 CA$2.93

$2.00 CA$2.77

6.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 CA$2.34

$1.98 CA$2.73

-14.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.75 CA$7.95

$5.19 CA$7.18

10.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.65 CA$9.21

$5.86 CA$8.11

13.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 CA$2.97

$1.95 CA$2.70

9.74%

White Bread (500g)

$2.55 CA$3.53

$2.82 CA$3.91

-9.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.41 CA$6.11

$5.61 CA$7.77

-21.39%

Eggs

$4.24 CA$5.87

$3.75 CA$5.19

13.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.14 CA$16.80

$11.50 CA$15.91

5.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.66 CA$18.91

$11.46 CA$15.86

19.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.78 CA$28.76

$18.95 CA$26.23

9.66%

Apples (1kg)

$4.31 CA$5.96

$4.83 CA$6.69

-10.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 CA$1.93

$1.37 CA$1.89

1.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.00 CA$5.53

$4.25 CA$5.88

-5.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.06 CA$5.62

$4.15 CA$5.74

-2.17%

Potato (1kg)

$2.82 CA$3.90

$2.70 CA$3.74

4.44%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 CA$4.08

$2.83 CA$3.91

4.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 CA$3.83

$2.64 CA$3.65

4.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 CA$2.25

$1.51 CA$2.09

7.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.06 CA$22.22

$14.60 CA$20.21

10.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.54 CA$20.11

$15.76 CA$21.80

-7.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.73 CA$3.78

$2.60 CA$3.59

5.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 CA$4.25

$3.08 CA$4.26

-0.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 CA$3.52

$2.93 CA$4.05

-12.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$85.1 CA$118

$89.3 CA$124

-4.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 CA$3.75

$3.32 CA$4.59

-18.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 CA$2.27

$1.43 CA$1.98

14.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.75 CA$43.93

$27.71 CA$38.34

14.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 CA$1.98

$1.26 CA$1.74

13.49%

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

$28.9K CA$40.0K

-0.11%

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

$19.7K CA$27.2K

$21.3K CA$29.5K

-7.81%

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

$77.6 CA$107

$183 CA$253

-57.60%

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

$35.35 CA$48.91

$38.31 CA$53.0

-7.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.6 CA$71.5

$51.7 CA$71.5

-0.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.26 CA$64.0

$54.9 CA$75.9

-15.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.37 CA$18.51

$18.66 CA$25.82

-28.35%

Cinema Ticket

$11.55 CA$15.98

$14.26 CA$19.73

-19.00%

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

$1,137 CA$1,573

$828 CA$1,146

37.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K CA$29.3K

$15.9K CA$22.0K

33.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 CA$82.0

$59.6 CA$82.4

-0.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.02 CA$48.45

$39.47 CA$54.6

-11.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.1 CA$125

$94.3 CA$131

-4.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.3 CA$133

$113 CA$156

-14.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,845 CA$2,553

$1,265 CA$1,750

45.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,595 CA$2,206

$1,051 CA$1,454

51.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,271 CA$4,527

$1,934 CA$2,676

69.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,499 CA$3,458

$1,700 CA$2,352

47.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,039 CA$12.5K

$3,680 CA$5,092

145.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,985 CA$9,665

$3,333 CA$4,613

109.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,659 CA$5,062

$3,276 CA$4,533

11.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.23

4.4

-3.86%

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

Last update for Vancouver: August 30, 2026

Last update for Calgary: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,845 in Vancouver and $1,265 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vancouver pays 12% 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: $73.0 in Vancouver vs $71.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $409 vs $397 per month, with Calgary 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

Vancouver vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 12% higher in Vancouver, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,845 in Vancouver versus $1,265 in Calgary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Calgary – a meal for two runs $71.0 versus $73.0 in Vancouver. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,731 per month in Vancouver versus $2,353 in Calgary – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,353 in Calgary versus $2,731 in Vancouver, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in Vancouver. The gap between the two cities makes Calgary 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 Calgary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.