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: $1,993 in Victoria versus $2,481 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,174 in Victoria versus $3,599 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,355 in Victoria versus $4,716 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 50% above, Calgary 86% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.85 SCR 228

$18.64 CA$26.16

-14.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.53 SCR 640

$70.3 CA$98.7

-36.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.09 SCR 131

$11.26 CA$15.80

-19.27%

Cappuccino

$5.03 SCR 72.3

$3.70 CA$5.19

35.95%

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

$2.71 SCR 38.94

$2.05 CA$2.88

32.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.62 SCR 37.61

$1.67 CA$2.34

56.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.93 SCR 56.5

$5.26 CA$7.38

-25.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.67 SCR 67.1

$6.74 CA$9.45

-30.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 SCR 26.67

$2.23 CA$3.13

-16.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.80 SCR 25.85

$2.75 CA$3.86

-34.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.85 SCR 40.92

$3.28 CA$4.60

-13.11%

Eggs

$3.52 SCR 50.7

$3.40 CA$4.78

3.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$33.94 SCR 488

$14.45 CA$20.28

134.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.01 SCR 86.3

$12.58 CA$17.66

-52.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.86 SCR 170

$15.85 CA$22.24

-25.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 SCR 32.26

$4.42 CA$6.20

-49.10%

Banana (1kg)

$2.54 SCR 36.44

$1.34 CA$1.88

89.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 SCR 31.77

$3.84 CA$5.39

-42.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.00 SCR 86.3

$4.33 CA$6.08

38.57%

Potato (1kg)

$2.09 SCR 30.00

$2.54 CA$3.57

-17.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.53 SCR 22.03

$2.73 CA$3.84

-43.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.37 SCR 19.68

$2.69 CA$3.78

-49.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 SCR 21.59

$1.90 CA$2.67

-21.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$22.12 SCR 318

$14.81 CA$20.79

49.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.19 SCR 146

$14.43 CA$20.25

-29.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.21 SCR 60.5

$2.94 CA$4.12

43.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.44 SCR 92.5

$3.98 CA$5.59

61.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 SCR 11.38

$2.70 CA$3.79

-70.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.32 SCR 364

$88.3 CA$124

-71.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.79 SCR 97.6

$3.42 CA$4.81

98.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.02 SCR 29.07

$1.31 CA$1.84

54.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.89 SCR 300

$28.41 CA$39.88

-26.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 SCR 20.18

$1.12 CA$1.58

25.00%

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

$26.0K SCR 372.9K

$24.9K CA$35.0K

4.22%

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

$34.2K SCR 491.1K

$21.7K CA$30.5K

57.29%

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

$136 SCR 1,959

$210 CA$295

-35.15%

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

$41.83 SCR 601

$41.33 CA$58.0

1.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$150 SCR 2,159

$57.8 CA$81.2

159.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$92.6 SCR 1,330

$55.3 CA$77.7

67.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.48 SCR 223

$52.2 CA$73.3

-70.37%

Cinema Ticket

$5.23 SCR 75.2

$12.47 CA$17.50

-58.06%

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

$157 SCR 2,262

$886 CA$1,244

-82.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,459 SCR 121.6K

$15.9K CA$22.4K

-46.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.1 SCR 921

$59.1 CA$82.9

8.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.35 SCR 393

$47.08 CA$66.1

-41.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.9 SCR 990

$87.1 CA$122

-20.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.5 SCR 1,042

$110 CA$154

-33.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$962 SCR 13.8K

$1,415 CA$1,986

-32.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$744 SCR 10.7K

$1,180 CA$1,657

-36.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,007 SCR 28.8K

$2,374 CA$3,332

-15.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,807 SCR 26.0K

$1,855 CA$2,603

-2.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$435 SCR 6,247

$3,755 CA$5,271

-88.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,134 SCR 16.3K

$3,479 CA$4,883

-67.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$957 SCR 13.8K

$3,035 CA$4,260

-68.47%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Calgary: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $962 in Victoria and $1,415 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 217% 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: $45.00 in Victoria vs $70.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $382 vs $396 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, salaries run 217% lower in Calgary. 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: $962 in Victoria versus $1,415 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 $45.00 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,993 per month in Victoria versus $2,481 in Calgary – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,993 in Victoria versus $2,481 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.