Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Victoria and Calgary

For one person, living is cheaper in Victoria: $267 a month against $2,223 in Calgary, rent and utilities included – about $23,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Victoria
🇬🇩 Grenada
$267
/mo nomad
Calgary
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,223
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Victoria and in Calgary

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Victoria and in Calgary actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $267 in Victoria versus $2,223 in Calgary.

  • Victoria $267
  • Calgary $2,223

Estimated couple costs with rent: $442 in Victoria versus $3,301 in Calgary.

  • Victoria $442
  • Calgary $3,301

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $616 in Victoria versus $4,379 in Calgary.

  • Victoria $616
  • Calgary $4,379

Living in Victoria costs roughly 88% less than in Calgary, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Victoria is 80% below, Calgary is 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Victoria
Calgary
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$17.22 CA$24.34
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$71.1 CA$100
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$10.53 CA$14.89
-
Cappuccino
-
$3.66 CA$5.18
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.98 CA$2.80
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.94 CA$2.74
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$4.95 CA$7.00
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.57 CA$7.87
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Victoria
Calgary
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$6.40 EC$17.29
$1.88 CA$2.65
240.43%
White Bread (500g)
$1.03 EC$2.79
$2.67 CA$3.78
-61.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.67 EC$4.50
$5.32 CA$7.52
-68.61%
Eggs
$3.80 EC$10.26
$3.79 CA$5.35
0.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.01 EC$21.63
$11.09 CA$15.68
-27.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.49 EC$12.12
$11.36 CA$16.05
-60.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.41 EC$11.90
$18.40 CA$26.01
-76.03%
Apples (1kg)
-
$4.56 CA$6.45
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 EC$4.29
$1.44 CA$2.04
10.42%
Oranges (1kg)
-
$4.08 CA$5.76
-
Tomato (1kg)
$6.37 EC$17.21
$3.89 CA$5.50
63.75%
Potato (1kg)
$2.43 EC$6.55
$2.64 CA$3.73
-7.95%
Onion (1kg)
$2.43 EC$6.57
$2.64 CA$3.73
-7.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.83 EC$4.95
$2.50 CA$3.54
-26.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 EC$5.07
$1.50 CA$2.12
25.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$14.05 CA$19.86
-
Wine (Bottle)
$7.32 EC$19.76
$15.70 CA$22.20
-53.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.89 EC$5.09
$2.44 CA$3.45
-22.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 EC$4.94
$3.09 CA$4.37
-40.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Victoria
Calgary
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.82 CA$3.99
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$88.6 CA$125
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.12 CA$4.41
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.35 CA$1.91
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$27.02 CA$38.20
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$1.16 CA$1.64
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$27.9K CA$39.5K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$20.3K CA$28.8K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Victoria
Calgary
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$161 CA$227
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$38.13 CA$53.9
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$50.0 CA$70.7
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Victoria
Calgary
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$51.5 CA$72.8
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.14 CA$25.64
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$13.82 CA$19.54
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Victoria
Calgary
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$786 CA$1,111
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$15.5K CA$21.8K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Victoria
Calgary
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$58.3 CA$82.4
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$39.27 CA$55.5
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$89.8 CA$127
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$110 CA$155
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Victoria
Calgary
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,229 CA$1,737
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,001 CA$1,415
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,921 CA$2,716
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,621 CA$2,292
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,549 CA$5,018
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,335 CA$4,715
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Victoria
Calgary
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$3,165 CA$4,474
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
4.51
-

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

Last update for Victoria: October 11, 2026

Last update for Calgary: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Victoria
–
Calgary
$1K
Groceries & Markets
Victoria
–
Calgary
$385
Eating Out
Victoria
–
Calgary
$265
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Victoria
–
Calgary
$249
Clothing & Footwear
Victoria
–
Calgary
$134
Getting Around
Victoria
–
Calgary
$110
Sport & Entertainment
Victoria
–
Calgary
$79
Good to know
🇬🇩 Victoria
🇨🇦 Calgary
🕒 Local time
18:05 6:05 PM
16:05 4:05 PM
2 h behind Victoria
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,256
1,267,344
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to XCD – East Caribbean Dollar Converter

East Caribbean Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 2.7 XCD (1 XCD = 0.37 USD). 1 EUR = 3.04 XCD (1 XCD = 0.329 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Victoria Calgary 6,380 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Victoria
  • Calgary

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Is Calgary cheaper than Victoria?
Victoria is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and transport. The 732% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $401 in Victoria and $3,335 in Calgary to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do food prices compare in Victoria and in Calgary?
Supermarket bills run roughly 44% higher in Calgary. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Victoria and in Calgary?
All in, you'll spend $267 per month in Victoria versus $2,223 in Calgary – a 732% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Victoria or in Calgary?
At $267 in Victoria versus $2,223 in Calgary, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Victoria but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Victoria the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Victoria or in Calgary?
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.
Which city is safer, Victoria or Calgary?
Safety-wise, Victoria and Calgary are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Victoria gentler on the wallet – expenses run 732% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Victoria vs other spots: cost of living compared

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