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: $1,975 in Victoria versus $2,475 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,175 in Victoria versus $3,595 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,375 in Victoria versus $4,715 in Calgary.

Living in Victoria costs roughly 20% less than in Calgary, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Victoria 47% above, Calgary 85% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.52 SCR 227

$18.25 CA$25.00

-14.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.51 SCR 664

$70.0 CA$95.9

-34.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.27 SCR 135

$11.12 CA$15.24

-16.64%

Cappuccino

$5.05 SCR 73.7

$3.82 CA$5.23

32.20%

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

$2.74 SCR 40.05

$1.96 CA$2.69

39.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 SCR 38.50

$1.65 CA$2.27

60.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.89 SCR 56.8

$5.07 CA$6.95

-23.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.69 SCR 68.5

$6.56 CA$8.98

-28.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 SCR 27.03

$2.16 CA$2.96

-14.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.80 SCR 26.30

$2.71 CA$3.72

-33.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.86 SCR 41.80

$3.30 CA$4.53

-13.33%

Eggs

$3.70 SCR 54.1

$3.40 CA$4.66

8.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$33.90 SCR 495

$14.42 CA$19.76

135.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.15 SCR 89.8

$12.70 CA$17.40

-51.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.68 SCR 171

$16.11 CA$22.07

-27.50%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 SCR 32.91

$4.42 CA$6.06

-49.10%

Banana (1kg)

$2.63 SCR 38.37

$1.30 CA$1.78

102.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 SCR 32.48

$3.87 CA$5.30

-42.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.32 SCR 92.3

$4.43 CA$6.07

42.66%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 SCR 29.99

$2.56 CA$3.51

-19.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.52 SCR 22.15

$2.58 CA$3.54

-41.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.38 SCR 20.11

$2.71 CA$3.71

-49.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 SCR 21.15

$1.88 CA$2.58

-22.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$22.16 SCR 323

$14.46 CA$19.81

53.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.96 SCR 145

$14.47 CA$19.83

-31.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.25 SCR 62.1

$2.80 CA$3.83

51.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.42 SCR 93.7

$3.97 CA$5.44

61.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.80 SCR 11.69

$2.72 CA$3.73

-70.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.62 SCR 359

$85.4 CA$117

-71.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.96 SCR 102

$3.41 CA$4.67

104.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 SCR 30.95

$1.36 CA$1.86

55.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.71 SCR 302

$29.18 CA$39.97

-29.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 SCR 20.42

$1.09 CA$1.49

28.44%

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

$26.6K SCR 388.5K

$24.6K CA$33.7K

8.11%

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

$34.0K SCR 496.4K

$21.8K CA$29.8K

56.24%

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

$137 SCR 2,006

$211 CA$289

-34.82%

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

$41.44 SCR 605

$41.13 CA$56.4

0.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$154 SCR 2,245

$58.3 CA$79.9

163.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$93.9 SCR 1,372

$53.8 CA$73.7

74.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.51 SCR 226

$52.9 CA$72.4

-70.66%

Cinema Ticket

$5.21 SCR 76.1

$12.68 CA$17.37

-58.91%

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

$153 SCR 2,238

$875 CA$1,199

-82.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,371 SCR 122.2K

$16.0K CA$21.9K

-47.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 SCR 932

$58.1 CA$79.5

10.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.91 SCR 393

$47.11 CA$64.5

-42.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.7 SCR 1,032

$87.7 CA$120

-19.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.7 SCR 1,046

$107 CA$146

-32.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$954 SCR 13.9K

$1,416 CA$1,940

-32.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$727 SCR 10.6K

$1,171 CA$1,604

-37.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,973 SCR 28.8K

$2,288 CA$3,135

-13.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,764 SCR 25.7K

$1,841 CA$2,523

-4.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$434 SCR 6,334

$3,718 CA$5,093

-88.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,150 SCR 16.8K

$3,594 CA$4,924

-67.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$856 SCR 12.5K

$3,131 CA$4,289

-72.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.5

5.71

188.97%

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

Last update for Victoria: April 22, 2026

Last update for Calgary: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $954 in Victoria and $1,416 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 266% 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: $46 in Victoria vs $70 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $384 vs $395 per month, with Victoria 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

Victoria is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Calgary earns 266% 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: $954 in Victoria versus $1,416 in Calgary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Victoria – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,975 per month in Victoria versus $2,475 in Calgary – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,975 in Victoria versus $2,475 in Calgary, a $3,000 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.

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.

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.

Expats usually find Victoria gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.