Cost of Living Comparison Between Victoria and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Victoria and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Victoria versus $2,462 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,049 in Victoria versus $3,628 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,403 in Victoria versus $4,795 in Calgary.

Living in Victoria is roughly 9% more expensive than in Calgary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Victoria 102% above, Calgary 84% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.14 CA$25.43

$18.33 CA$25.70

-1.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.6 CA$114

$69.9 CA$98.0

16.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.97 CA$15.38

$10.95 CA$15.35

0.18%

Cappuccino

$4.04 CA$5.66

$3.74 CA$5.24

8.02%

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

$2.42 CA$3.40

$2.04 CA$2.86

18.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 CA$2.87

$1.67 CA$2.34

22.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.05 CA$7.07

$5.20 CA$7.29

-2.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.50 CA$9.12

$6.71 CA$9.41

-3.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.06 CA$4.29

$2.25 CA$3.15

36.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.14 CA$4.41

$2.75 CA$3.85

14.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.08 CA$7.13

$3.23 CA$4.53

57.28%

Eggs

$4.40 CA$6.16

$3.45 CA$4.83

27.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.25 CA$18.58

$14.40 CA$20.19

-7.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.69 CA$20.60

$12.89 CA$18.07

13.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.32 CA$21.48

$15.86 CA$22.24

-3.40%

Apples (1kg)

$4.38 CA$6.14

$4.30 CA$6.02

1.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 CA$2.34

$1.34 CA$1.88

24.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 CA$6.14

$3.85 CA$5.40

13.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 CA$6.97

$4.25 CA$5.97

16.94%

Potato (1kg)

$3.79 CA$5.31

$2.55 CA$3.57

48.63%

Onion (1kg)

$3.13 CA$4.39

$2.62 CA$3.68

19.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.64 CA$3.70

$2.80 CA$3.92

-5.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 CA$3.74

$1.95 CA$2.73

36.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.42 CA$21.62

$14.97 CA$20.99

3.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.95 CA$25.17

$13.90 CA$19.49

29.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.79 CA$5.31

$2.92 CA$4.10

29.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.35 CA$6.10

$3.91 CA$5.48

11.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.89 CA$2.65

$2.74 CA$3.84

-31.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.6 CA$89.1

$87.8 CA$123

-27.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 CA$3.76

$3.60 CA$5.04

-25.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 CA$1.95

$1.30 CA$1.82

6.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.79 CA$47.38

$28.70 CA$40.24

17.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 CA$1.87

$1.12 CA$1.57

18.75%

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

$24.6K CA$34.5K

$25.5K CA$35.7K

-3.45%

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

$21.0K CA$29.5K

$21.7K CA$30.5K

-3.29%

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

$137 CA$192

$213 CA$299

-35.66%

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

$53.2 CA$74.6

$40.96 CA$57.4

29.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.0 CA$99.5

$57.9 CA$81.2

22.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.61 CA$62.5

$54.2 CA$76.0

-17.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.67 CA$23.37

$53.8 CA$75.4

-68.99%

Cinema Ticket

$11.88 CA$16.66

$12.63 CA$17.71

-5.94%

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

$630 CA$883

$874 CA$1,226

-27.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.2K CA$19.9K

$15.9K CA$22.3K

-10.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.2 CA$81.5

$58.6 CA$82.2

-0.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.98 CA$63.1

$47.01 CA$65.9

-4.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.7 CA$131

$85.1 CA$119

10.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 CA$156

$108 CA$151

3.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,592 CA$2,232

$1,380 CA$1,935

15.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,378 CA$1,931

$1,159 CA$1,625

18.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,700 CA$3,785

$2,324 CA$3,259

16.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,446 CA$3,429

$1,905 CA$2,670

28.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,539 CA$7,766

$3,786 CA$5,308

46.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,491 CA$6,296

$3,511 CA$4,922

27.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,060 CA$4,290

$2,940 CA$4,121

4.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

5.71

11.73%

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

Last update for Victoria: July 12, 2026

Last update for Calgary: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,592 in Victoria and $1,380 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Victoria pays 4% 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: $82.0 in Victoria vs $70.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $457 vs $396 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

Victoria vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 4% higher in Victoria, 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: $1,592 in Victoria versus $1,380 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 $70.0 versus $82.0 in Victoria. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,695 per month in Victoria versus $2,462 in Calgary – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,462 in Calgary versus $2,695 in Victoria, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in Victoria. 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 9% less than in Victoria. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.