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: $1,988 in Victoria versus $2,344 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,110 in Victoria versus $3,499 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,231 in Victoria versus $4,655 in Calgary.

Living in Victoria costs roughly 15% less than in Calgary, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Victoria 44% above, Calgary 70% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.23 SCR 263

$18.45 CA$25.59

-1.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.78 SCR 718

$71.5 CA$99.2

-30.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.65 SCR 183

$10.68 CA$14.81

18.45%

Cappuccino

$3.92 SCR 56.6

$3.93 CA$5.46

-0.25%

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

$2.27 SCR 32.81

$2.02 CA$2.80

12.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 SCR 38.96

$1.97 CA$2.73

37.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.13 SCR 59.7

$4.92 CA$6.82

-16.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 SCR 57.0

$5.90 CA$8.19

-33.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 SCR 28.50

$2.03 CA$2.82

-2.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.72 SCR 24.80

$2.86 CA$3.97

-39.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.65 SCR 38.28

$5.72 CA$7.93

-53.67%

Eggs

$3.83 SCR 55.3

$3.81 CA$5.29

0.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$31.00 SCR 447

$11.56 CA$16.04

168.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.11 SCR 88.2

$11.95 CA$16.57

-48.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.34 SCR 178

$18.97 CA$26.30

-34.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.20 SCR 31.68

$4.91 CA$6.82

-55.19%

Banana (1kg)

$2.72 SCR 39.25

$1.42 CA$1.97

91.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.34 SCR 33.73

$4.36 CA$6.04

-46.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.40 SCR 92.4

$4.03 CA$5.59

58.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 SCR 27.77

$2.72 CA$3.77

-29.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.79 SCR 25.82

$2.88 CA$3.99

-37.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.55 SCR 22.34

$2.57 CA$3.57

-39.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 SCR 18.55

$1.49 CA$2.07

-13.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$24.25 SCR 350

$14.71 CA$20.41

64.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.29 SCR 149

$15.57 CA$21.60

-33.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.37 SCR 63.1

$2.52 CA$3.50

73.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.82 SCR 84.0

$3.27 CA$4.53

77.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 SCR 9.97

$2.94 CA$4.07

-76.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$33.16 SCR 478

$89.8 CA$125

-63.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 CA$4.58

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 CA$1.90

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.07 CA$37.54

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 SCR 22.51

$1.22 CA$1.69

27.87%

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

$27.0K SCR 389.1K

$28.6K CA$39.6K

-5.61%

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

$32.8K SCR 473.0K

$20.9K CA$29.0K

57.05%

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

$142 SCR 2,045

$182 CA$253

-22.29%

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

$41.55 SCR 599

$39.50 CA$54.8

5.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$137 SCR 1,973

$51.4 CA$71.3

166.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.7 SCR 1,136

$54.8 CA$76.0

43.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.06 SCR 116

$18.79 CA$26.07

-57.10%

Cinema Ticket

$7.15 SCR 103

$14.52 CA$20.14

-50.76%

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

$146 SCR 2,113

$819 CA$1,136

-82.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,754 SCR 126.3K

$16.3K CA$22.7K

-46.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.48 SCR 541

$61.8 CA$85.8

-39.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.21 SCR 364

$40.15 CA$55.7

-37.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.6 SCR 1,307

$94.3 CA$131

-3.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.3 SCR 1,433

$114 CA$158

-12.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$957 SCR 13.8K

$1,256 CA$1,741

-23.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$805 SCR 11.6K

$1,089 CA$1,510

-26.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,275 SCR 32.8K

$1,994 CA$2,766

14.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,752 SCR 25.3K

$1,706 CA$2,367

2.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$445 SCR 6,421

$3,627 CA$5,031

-87.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,161 SCR 16.7K

$3,403 CA$4,719

-65.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$948 SCR 13.7K

$3,246 CA$4,502

-70.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.48

167.86%

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

Last update for Victoria: September 8, 2026

Last update for Calgary: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $957 in Victoria and $1,256 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 243% 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: $50.0 in Victoria vs $71.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $401 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, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 243% 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: $957 in Victoria versus $1,256 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 $50.0 versus $71.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,988 per month in Victoria versus $2,344 in Calgary – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,988 in Victoria versus $2,344 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 18% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.