Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Wasilla, AK and Calgary

For one person, living is cheaper in Calgary: $2,255 a month against $2,904 in Wasilla, AK, rent and utilities included – about $7,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Wasilla, AK
🇺🇸 United States
$2,904
/mo nomad
Calgary
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,255
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Wasilla, AK 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 Wasilla, AK and in Calgary actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,904 in Wasilla, AK versus $2,255 in Calgary.

  • Wasilla, AK $2,904
  • Calgary $2,255

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,110 in Wasilla, AK versus $3,361 in Calgary.

  • Wasilla, AK $4,110
  • Calgary $3,361

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,317 in Wasilla, AK versus $4,468 in Calgary.

  • Wasilla, AK $5,317
  • Calgary $4,468

Living in Wasilla, AK is roughly 29% more expensive than in Calgary, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Wasilla, AK 114% above, Calgary 66% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Wasilla, AK
Calgary
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.14 $25.14
$17.58 CA$24.85
43.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 $102
$69.1 CA$97.6
47.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.12 $12.12
$10.59 CA$14.97
14.45%
Cappuccino
$4.02 $4.02
$3.84 CA$5.42
4.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$1.93 CA$2.72
2.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$1.88 CA$2.66
8.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.09 CA$7.20
8.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.97 $7.97
$5.64 CA$7.97
41.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Wasilla, AK
Calgary
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 $1.18
$2.00 CA$2.82
-41.00%
White Bread (500g)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.78 CA$3.93
11.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.27 $6.27
$5.59 CA$7.90
12.16%
Eggs
$3.27 $3.27
$3.70 CA$5.23
-11.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.50 $13.50
$11.48 CA$16.23
17.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.49 $10.49
$11.20 CA$15.84
-6.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.25 $15.25
$18.59 CA$26.28
-17.97%
Apples (1kg)
$8.38 $8.38
$4.70 CA$6.64
78.30%
Banana (1kg)
$2.14 $2.14
$1.45 CA$2.05
47.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.94 $3.94
$4.34 CA$6.13
-9.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$3.79 CA$5.36
14.51%
Potato (1kg)
$2.72 $2.72
$2.69 CA$3.81
1.12%
Onion (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.75 CA$3.88
13.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.73 $2.73
$2.56 CA$3.62
6.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 $2.33
$1.50 CA$2.12
55.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.76 $12.76
$14.39 CA$20.34
-11.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.23 $18.23
$15.81 CA$22.35
15.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 $1.78
$2.47 CA$3.49
-27.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 $3.53
$3.10 CA$4.39
13.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Wasilla, AK
Calgary
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.81 CA$3.97
-30.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$60.0 $60.0
$90.6 CA$128
-33.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.78 $2.78
$3.28 CA$4.64
-15.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.69 $1.69
$1.40 CA$1.97
20.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$38.11 $38.11
$26.49 CA$37.45
43.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 $1.01
$1.22 CA$1.72
-17.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1K $25.1K
$28.4K CA$40.1K
-11.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K $25.2K
$20.8K CA$29.5K
20.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wasilla, AK
Calgary
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$272 $272
$165 CA$233
65.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.80 $48.80
$38.24 CA$54.1
27.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$141 $141
$50.1 CA$70.9
180.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Wasilla, AK
Calgary
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$85.6 $85.6
$53.8 CA$76.1
59.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.32 $35.32
$18.04 CA$25.51
95.79%
Cinema Ticket
$8.25 $8.25
$14.04 CA$19.84
-41.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Wasilla, AK
Calgary
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,222 $1,222
$797 CA$1,126
53.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.4K $10.4K
$15.8K CA$22.3K
-34.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Wasilla, AK
Calgary
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.80 $47.80
$59.1 CA$83.5
-19.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.34 $46.34
$40.20 CA$56.8
15.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 $79.9
$90.8 CA$128
-12.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.6 $88.6
$109 CA$155
-19.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Wasilla, AK
Calgary
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,394 $1,394
$1,207 CA$1,707
15.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,380 $1,380
$1,011 CA$1,429
36.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,990 $1,990
$1,949 CA$2,756
2.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,976 $1,976
$1,677 CA$2,371
17.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,532 CA$4,993
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,392 CA$4,795
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Wasilla, AK
Calgary
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$3,152 CA$4,456
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.49
4.51
43.90%

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

Last update for Wasilla, AK: October 18, 2026

Last update for Calgary: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Wasilla, AK
$1.4K
Calgary
$1K 26.8% $369
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wasilla, AK
$461
Calgary
$253 45.2% $208
Groceries & Markets
Wasilla, AK
$418
Calgary
$392 6.2% $26
Eating Out
Wasilla, AK
$345
Calgary
$270 21.7% $75
Clothing & Footwear
Wasilla, AK
$118
Calgary
$135 14% $17
Sport & Entertainment
Wasilla, AK
$102
Calgary
$82 19.8% $20
Getting Around
Wasilla, AK
$79
Calgary
$112 41.9% $33

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,394 in Wasilla, AK and $1,207 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $102 in Wasilla, AK vs $69.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $418 vs $392 per month, with Calgary cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Wasilla, AK
🇨🇦 Calgary
🕒 Local time
14:30 2:30 PM
16:30 4:30 PM
2 h ahead of Wasilla, AK
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,000
1,267,344
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 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
  • Wasilla, AK Calgary 2,430 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Wasilla, AK
  • 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
Wasilla, AK vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Calgary cheaper than Wasilla, AK?
Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and utilities. The 29% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $4,356 in Wasilla, AK and $3,382 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.
What is the rent difference between Wasilla, AK and Calgary?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,394 in Wasilla, AK versus $1,207 in Calgary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Wasilla, AK or in Calgary?
Dining out is cheaper in Calgary – a meal for two runs $69.0 versus $102 in Wasilla, AK. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Wasilla, AK and in Calgary?
All in, you'll spend $2,904 per month in Wasilla, AK versus $2,255 in Calgary – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Wasilla, AK or in Calgary?
At $2,255 in Calgary versus $2,904 in Wasilla, AK, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in Wasilla, AK. The gap between the two cities makes Calgary the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Wasilla, AK 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Calgary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Wasilla, AK. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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