Cost of living in Calgary

Calgary, Canada is Very expensive overall. Monthly costs are about $2149 for one person and $4908 for a family of four, including rent.

How expensive is Calgary compared to other cities?

Compared to the European benchmark, Calgary is 50% more expensive overall.

How does Calgary compare to your city?

Calgary is 37% cheaper than New York City, without rent.

Rent in Calgary is, on average, 52% lower than in New York City.

What drives the cost of living in Calgary?

Who is Calgary a good fit for?

Calgary tends to fit higher-income residents who can comfortably absorb housing costs. It can be challenging on a moderate budget, mainly due to rent and utilities.

FAQ

Why is Calgary so expensive?

The high cost of living in Calgary is primarily driven by rent and utilities, which significantly impact monthly expenses.

Is food expensive in Calgary?

Yes, food costs in Calgary are 24% higher than the European benchmark, making grocery shopping more costly.

Is public transport affordable in Calgary?

Public transport in Calgary is 128% higher than the European benchmark, which can strain budgets for commuters.

Cost of living breakdown

Cost of Living, one person, including rent
2149 $
Without Rent
898 $
Rent & Utilities
1251 $
Food
593 $
Transport
170 $
Monthly Salary, after tax
3509 $
GDP per Capita
53,372 $
Freedom Index
8.55
Lifespan
81 years
Speak English
82%
Population
1.3M

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Update Prices

Restaurants

Lunch menu, inexpensive restaurant 16.9 $
Dinner 64.6 $
Fast food, McDonalds or KFC 10.2 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 5.43 $
Capuccino 4.28 $
Coke, 330ml 2.04 $

Compare Calgary with:

Markets

Milk, 1 L or 1 qt 2.07 $
Bread, 0.5 kg or 1 lb 2.49 $
Rice, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.17 $
Eggs, 12 pack 3.96 $
Cheese, 1 kg or 2 lb 15.5 $
Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2 lb 14.2 $
Round Steak, 1 kg or 2 lb 15.9 $
Apples, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.35 $
Banana, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.44 $
Oranges, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.96 $
Tomato, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.15 $
Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 2.5 $
Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 2.31 $
Water, 1 L or 1 qt 1.33 $
Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz 2.61 $
Wine, 750 mL bottle 14.9 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 2.97 $
Cigarette pack 13.6 $

Transportation

One-way Ticket 2.75 $
Monthly Pass 83.8 $
Gas or Petrol, 1l or 0.26 gal 1.12 $
Taxi, 8 km 15.5 $

Personal Care

Doctor Visit, private clinic 65.5 $
Cold medicine, for 1 week 8.18 $
Hair Shampoo, 400 ml or 12 oz. 5.97 $
Toilet paper, 4 rolls 2.9 $
Toothpaste, 1 tube 2.32 $

Utilities per Month

1 person, electricity, heating, water & garbage 134 $
Family of 4, electricity, heating, water & garbage 206 $
Internet plan, +60 Mbps 59.9 $

Rent per Month

1 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 40 sq.m 1,002 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 85 sq.m 1,707 $
1 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 40 sq.m 1,277 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 85 sq.m 2,181 $

Buy Apartment Price

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment, in city center 3,298 $
Price per Square Meter to Buy House, in suburbs 3,114 $

Salaries and Financing

Average Monthly Net Salary, after tax 3,509 $
Mortgage Interest Rate, for 20 years fixed-rate 6.34%

Sports and Leisure

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 53 $
Cinema, 1 seat 13 $
Haircut 23.4 $

Clothing and Shoes

Brand Sneakers, mid-range, Nike or similar 84.7 $
Brand Jeans, Levis 501 55 $

Childcare

Preschool, full day, monthly for 1 child 984 $
International Primary School, yearly for 1 child 19,196 $

Compare Calgary with other top cities

Cayman Islands
Calgary vs George Town (George Town is 70% more expensive)
Bahamas
Calgary vs Nassau (Nassau is 28% more expensive) Calgary vs Freeport (Freeport is 2% more expensive)
Vanuatu
Calgary vs Port Vila (Port Vila is 9% more expensive) Calgary vs Luganville (Luganville is 42% more expensive)
United States
Calgary vs New York City (New York City is 89% more expensive) Calgary vs Los Angeles (Los Angeles is 48% more expensive) Calgary vs Chicago (Chicago is 24% more expensive) Calgary vs Houston (Houston is 5% more expensive) Calgary vs Phoenix (Phoenix is 10% more expensive) Calgary vs Philadelphia (Philadelphia is 18% more expensive) Calgary vs San Antonio (San Antonio is 2% more expensive) Calgary vs San Diego (San Diego is 56% more expensive) Calgary vs Dallas (Dallas is 19% more expensive) Calgary vs San Jose (San Jose is 71% more expensive)
Canada
Calgary vs Toronto (Toronto is 20% more expensive) Calgary vs Montreal (Montreal is 9% less expensive) Calgary vs Calgary (Calgary has similar costs) Calgary vs Ottawa (Ottawa is 4% more expensive) Calgary vs Edmonton (Edmonton is 17% less expensive) Calgary vs Winnipeg (Winnipeg is 18% less expensive) Calgary vs Mississauga (Mississauga is 15% more expensive) Calgary vs Vancouver (Vancouver is 23% more expensive) Calgary vs Brampton (Brampton is 1% less expensive) Calgary vs Hamilton (Hamilton is 0% more expensive)
Barbados
Calgary vs Bridgetown (Bridgetown is 37% less expensive) Calgary vs Holetown (Holetown is 35% less expensive)
Panama
Calgary vs Panama City (Panama City is 36% less expensive) Calgary vs Colon (Colon is 45% less expensive) Calgary vs Tocumen (Tocumen is 43% less expensive) Calgary vs Santiago de Veraguas (Santiago de Veraguas is 51% less expensive) Calgary vs David (David is 61% less expensive) Calgary vs La Chorrera (La Chorrera is 56% less expensive) Calgary vs Balboa (Balboa is 42% less expensive) Calgary vs Pacora (Pacora is 42% less expensive) Calgary vs Chitre (Chitre is 49% less expensive) Calgary vs Penonome (Penonome is 49% less expensive)
Saint Kitts And Nevis
Calgary vs Basseterre (Basseterre is 42% less expensive) Calgary vs Cayon (Cayon is 42% less expensive)
Cuba
Calgary vs Havana (Havana is 52% less expensive) Calgary vs Santiago de Cuba (Santiago de Cuba is 34% less expensive) Calgary vs Holguin (Holguin is 40% less expensive) Calgary vs Camaguey (Camaguey is 29% less expensive) Calgary vs Santa Clara (Santa Clara is 51% less expensive) Calgary vs Bayamo (Bayamo is 46% less expensive) Calgary vs Guantanamo (Guantanamo is 28% less expensive) Calgary vs Las Tunas (Las Tunas is 28% less expensive) Calgary vs Pinar del Rio (Pinar del Rio is 49% less expensive) Calgary vs Cienfuegos (Cienfuegos is 59% less expensive)
Costa Rica
Calgary vs San Jose (San Jose is 42% less expensive) Calgary vs Limon (Limon is 44% less expensive) Calgary vs Liberia (Liberia is 58% less expensive) Calgary vs Alajuela (Alajuela is 43% less expensive) Calgary vs Puntarenas (Puntarenas is 41% less expensive) Calgary vs Cartago (Cartago is 55% less expensive) Calgary vs Heredia (Heredia is 42% less expensive) Calgary vs Tamarindo (Tamarindo is 21% less expensive) Calgary vs Santa Teresa (Santa Teresa is 39% less expensive)
Saint Lucia
Calgary vs Castries (Castries is 46% less expensive) Calgary vs Vieux Fort (Vieux Fort is 44% less expensive)
Jamaica
Calgary vs Kingston (Kingston is 38% less expensive) Calgary vs Spanish Town (Spanish Town is 64% less expensive) Calgary vs Montego Bay (Montego Bay is 53% less expensive) Calgary vs Half Way Tree (Half Way Tree is 46% less expensive) Calgary vs May Pen (May Pen is 62% less expensive) Calgary vs Mandeville (Mandeville is 54% less expensive) Calgary vs Old Harbour (Old Harbour is 60% less expensive) Calgary vs Linstead (Linstead is 51% less expensive) Calgary vs Savanna-la-Mar (Savanna-la-Mar is 48% less expensive) Calgary vs Port Antonio (Port Antonio is 47% less expensive)
El Salvador
Calgary vs San Salvador (San Salvador is 45% less expensive) Calgary vs Santa Ana (Santa Ana is 67% less expensive) Calgary vs Soyapango (Soyapango is 45% less expensive) Calgary vs San Miguel (San Miguel is 50% less expensive) Calgary vs Mejicanos (Mejicanos is 46% less expensive) Calgary vs Apopa (Apopa is 47% less expensive) Calgary vs Santa Tecla (Santa Tecla is 44% less expensive) Calgary vs Ahuachapan (Ahuachapan is 32% less expensive) Calgary vs Usulutan (Usulutan is 49% less expensive) Calgary vs Sonsonate (Sonsonate is 59% less expensive)
Antigua And Barbuda
Calgary vs St. John's (St. John's is 50% less expensive) Calgary vs All Saints (All Saints is 50% less expensive)
Grenada
Calgary vs St. George's (St. George's is 50% less expensive) Calgary vs Grenville (Grenville is 51% less expensive)
Dominica
Calgary vs Roseau (Roseau is 53% less expensive) Calgary vs Portsmouth (Portsmouth is 47% less expensive)
Saint Vincent
Calgary vs Kingstown (Kingstown is 54% less expensive) Calgary vs Georgetown (Georgetown is 53% less expensive)
Belize
Calgary vs Belize City (Belize City is 59% less expensive) Calgary vs San Ignacio (San Ignacio is 49% less expensive) Calgary vs Belmopan (Belmopan is 66% less expensive) Calgary vs San Pedro Town (San Pedro Town is 38% less expensive) Calgary vs Caye Caulker (Caye Caulker is 27% less expensive)
Guatemala
Calgary vs Guatemala City (Guatemala City is 53% less expensive) Calgary vs Mixco (Mixco is 70% less expensive) Calgary vs Coban (Coban is 58% less expensive) Calgary vs Quetzaltenango (Quetzaltenango is 64% less expensive) Calgary vs Jalapa (Jalapa is 58% less expensive) Calgary vs San Miguel Petapa (San Miguel Petapa is 58% less expensive) Calgary vs Momostenango (Momostenango is 59% less expensive) Calgary vs Mazatenango (Mazatenango is 60% less expensive) Calgary vs Flores (Flores is 60% less expensive) Calgary vs Panajachel (Panajachel is 63% less expensive)
Honduras
Calgary vs Tegucigalpa (Tegucigalpa is 61% less expensive) Calgary vs San Pedro Sula (San Pedro Sula is 52% less expensive) Calgary vs Choloma (Choloma is 72% less expensive) Calgary vs La Ceiba (La Ceiba is 70% less expensive) Calgary vs El Progreso (El Progreso is 59% less expensive) Calgary vs Villanueva (Villanueva is 60% less expensive) Calgary vs Comayagua (Comayagua is 67% less expensive) Calgary vs Puerto Cortes (Puerto Cortes is 66% less expensive) Calgary vs Yoro (Yoro is 66% less expensive) Calgary vs La Lima (La Lima is 60% less expensive)
Dominican Republic
Calgary vs Santiago de los Caballeros (Santiago de los Caballeros is 63% less expensive) Calgary vs Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo is 51% less expensive) Calgary vs Puerto Plata (Puerto Plata is 64% less expensive) Calgary vs Higuey (Higuey is 64% less expensive) Calgary vs La Vega (La Vega is 73% less expensive) Calgary vs San Cristobal (San Cristobal is 61% less expensive) Calgary vs San Pedro de Macoris (San Pedro de Macoris is 66% less expensive) Calgary vs San Francisco de Macoris (San Francisco de Macoris is 75% less expensive) Calgary vs San Juan de la Maguana (San Juan de la Maguana is 71% less expensive) Calgary vs Bonao (Bonao is 75% less expensive)
Nicaragua
Calgary vs Managua (Managua is 64% less expensive) Calgary vs Leon (Leon is 70% less expensive) Calgary vs Masaya (Masaya is 67% less expensive) Calgary vs Matagalpa (Matagalpa is 74% less expensive) Calgary vs Chinandega (Chinandega is 70% less expensive) Calgary vs Esteli (Esteli is 72% less expensive) Calgary vs Granada (Granada is 68% less expensive) Calgary vs Jinotega (Jinotega is 79% less expensive) Calgary vs Juigalpa (Juigalpa is 69% less expensive) Calgary vs San Juan del Sur (San Juan del Sur is 59% less expensive)