Cost of Living Comparison Between Vernon, BC and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Vernon, BC and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,356 in Vernon, BC versus $2,485 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,195 in Vernon, BC versus $3,590 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,035 in Vernon, BC versus $4,694 in Calgary.

Living in Vernon, BC costs roughly 5% less than in Calgary, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Vernon, BC 77% above, Calgary 86% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.50 CA$20.29

$18.34 CA$25.67

-20.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.8 CA$99.1

$71.0 CA$99.4

-0.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.22 CA$15.70

$11.25 CA$15.75

-0.27%

Cappuccino

$3.83 CA$5.36

$3.83 CA$5.35

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

$1.86 CA$2.61

$1.96 CA$2.74

-5.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 CA$2.11

$1.65 CA$2.31

-8.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.78 CA$8.09

$5.29 CA$7.40

9.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.77 CA$9.47

$6.79 CA$9.50

-0.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 CA$3.08

$2.24 CA$3.14

-1.79%

White Bread (500g)

$2.74 CA$3.83

$2.73 CA$3.83

0.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.24 CA$4.53

$3.38 CA$4.73

-4.14%

Eggs

$3.74 CA$5.24

$3.29 CA$4.61

13.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.92 CA$13.88

$14.76 CA$20.66

-32.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.25 CA$14.35

$12.70 CA$17.77

-19.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.34 CA$18.67

$15.95 CA$22.32

-16.36%

Apples (1kg)

$3.90 CA$5.46

$4.31 CA$6.03

-9.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 CA$2.41

$1.35 CA$1.89

27.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.36 CA$6.10

$3.78 CA$5.29

15.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.44 CA$7.61

$4.22 CA$5.90

28.91%

Potato (1kg)

$3.10 CA$4.34

$2.58 CA$3.61

20.16%

Onion (1kg)

$3.01 CA$4.22

$2.69 CA$3.77

11.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.02 CA$4.22

$2.74 CA$3.83

10.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 CA$2.44

$1.94 CA$2.71

-9.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.59 CA$19.03

$14.75 CA$20.64

-7.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.85 CA$23.59

$14.09 CA$19.71

19.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.53 CA$4.94

$2.81 CA$3.93

25.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.84 CA$5.37

$3.96 CA$5.54

-3.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.91 CA$2.67

$2.81 CA$3.94

-32.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.07 CA$57.5

$86.6 CA$121

-52.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.51 CA$3.51

$3.41 CA$4.78

-26.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 CA$2.21

$1.36 CA$1.90

16.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.35 CA$39.68

$29.03 CA$40.64

-2.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 CA$1.78

$1.07 CA$1.50

18.69%

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

$25.4K CA$35.6K

$25.0K CA$35.0K

1.51%

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

$19.9K CA$27.9K

$22.1K CA$30.9K

-9.88%

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

$162 CA$227

$215 CA$300

-24.36%

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

$45.22 CA$63.3

$40.33 CA$56.5

12.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.8 CA$87.8

$57.9 CA$81.1

8.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.79 CA$44.49

$54.8 CA$76.7

-42.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.90 CA$22.25

$53.6 CA$75.0

-70.32%

Cinema Ticket

$10.88 CA$15.23

$12.66 CA$17.71

-14.06%

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

$444 CA$622

$872 CA$1,221

-49.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,801 CA$8,119

$16.1K CA$22.6K

-64.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.5 CA$84.7

$57.8 CA$80.9

4.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.28 CA$56.4

$47.36 CA$66.3

-14.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.0 CA$123

$86.9 CA$122

1.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.1 CA$109

$109 CA$152

-28.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,080 CA$1,511

$1,414 CA$1,979

-23.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,229 CA$1,720

$1,153 CA$1,614

6.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,606 CA$2,248

$2,311 CA$3,234

-30.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,482 CA$2,074

$1,876 CA$2,626

-21.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,800 CA$9,517

$3,833 CA$5,365

77.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,891 CA$6,846

$3,392 CA$4,747

44.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,056 CA$4,278

$3,127 CA$4,377

-2.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.36

5.71

11.38%

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

Last update for Vernon, BC: June 14, 2026

Last update for Calgary: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,080 in Vernon, BC and $1,414 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: $71.0 in Vernon, BC vs $71.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $380 vs $395 per month, with Vernon, BC 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

Vernon, BC vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Vernon, BC is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Calgary earns 2% 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: $1,080 in Vernon, BC versus $1,414 in Calgary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

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

All in, you'll spend $2,356 per month in Vernon, BC versus $2,485 in Calgary – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,356 in Vernon, BC versus $2,485 in Calgary, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Vernon, BC but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Vernon, BC 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 Vernon, BC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.