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: $1,965 in Victoria versus $2,517 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,172 in Victoria versus $3,646 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,378 in Victoria versus $4,776 in Calgary.

Living in Victoria costs roughly 22% less than in Calgary, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Victoria 46% above, Calgary 87% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.84 SCR 229

$18.37 CA$25.69

-13.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.95 SCR 649

$69.7 CA$97.6

-35.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.44 SCR 136

$10.88 CA$15.22

-13.24%

Cappuccino

$4.86 SCR 70.2

$3.69 CA$5.16

31.71%

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

$2.76 SCR 39.88

$2.03 CA$2.84

35.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 SCR 38.21

$1.74 CA$2.44

52.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.89 SCR 56.1

$5.30 CA$7.42

-26.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.56 SCR 65.9

$6.74 CA$9.43

-32.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 SCR 26.71

$2.23 CA$3.13

-17.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.71 SCR 24.67

$2.68 CA$3.75

-36.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.86 SCR 41.26

$3.35 CA$4.69

-14.63%

Eggs

$3.52 SCR 50.8

$3.33 CA$4.65

5.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$34.01 SCR 491

$14.41 CA$20.15

136.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.06 SCR 87.6

$12.50 CA$17.49

-51.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.98 SCR 173

$16.33 CA$22.85

-26.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.27 SCR 32.77

$4.28 CA$5.99

-46.96%

Banana (1kg)

$2.54 SCR 36.73

$1.35 CA$1.89

88.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.17 SCR 31.36

$3.74 CA$5.23

-41.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.00 SCR 86.6

$4.17 CA$5.84

43.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 SCR 28.51

$2.56 CA$3.59

-23.05%

Onion (1kg)

$1.51 SCR 21.83

$2.68 CA$3.75

-43.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.38 SCR 19.94

$2.66 CA$3.71

-48.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 SCR 21.68

$1.88 CA$2.62

-20.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$21.77 SCR 314

$14.66 CA$20.51

48.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.55 SCR 152

$14.23 CA$19.90

-25.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.35 SCR 62.8

$2.95 CA$4.13

47.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.64 SCR 96.0

$3.89 CA$5.45

70.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 SCR 11.71

$2.71 CA$3.80

-70.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.11 SCR 363

$87.7 CA$123

-71.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.96 SCR 101

$3.46 CA$4.84

101.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 SCR 30.57

$1.30 CA$1.82

63.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.82 SCR 301

$28.30 CA$39.59

-26.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 SCR 21.01

$1.09 CA$1.52

33.03%

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

$26.0K SCR 375.2K

$25.0K CA$35.0K

3.82%

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

$34.1K SCR 492.1K

$22.2K CA$31.1K

53.30%

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

$135 SCR 1,956

$211 CA$295

-35.83%

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

$40.87 SCR 590

$40.40 CA$56.5

1.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$150 SCR 2,160

$58.5 CA$81.8

155.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$91.7 SCR 1,324

$53.8 CA$75.2

70.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.31 SCR 221

$53.8 CA$75.3

-71.55%

Cinema Ticket

$5.20 SCR 75.1

$12.64 CA$17.69

-58.86%

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

$158 SCR 2,275

$865 CA$1,210

-81.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,479 SCR 122.5K

$16.1K CA$22.5K

-47.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.3 SCR 958

$58.1 CA$81.2

14.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.59 SCR 398

$47.18 CA$66.0

-41.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.3 SCR 1,015

$85.4 CA$120

-17.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.1 SCR 1,027

$106 CA$148

-32.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$933 SCR 13.5K

$1,416 CA$1,981

-34.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$732 SCR 10.6K

$1,153 CA$1,613

-36.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,986 SCR 28.7K

$2,370 CA$3,315

-16.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,809 SCR 26.1K

$1,864 CA$2,607

-2.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$481 SCR 6,942

$3,834 CA$5,363

-87.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,276 SCR 18.4K

$3,443 CA$4,816

-62.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$975 SCR 14.1K

$3,105 CA$4,344

-68.62%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Calgary: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $933 in Victoria and $1,416 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 219% 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 $383 vs $393 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 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Calgary earns 219% 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: $933 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 $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 $1,965 per month in Victoria versus $2,517 in Calgary – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,965 in Victoria versus $2,517 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 28% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.