Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Calgary 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Calgary is 6.7% lower than in Vancouver (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Calgary is 17.4% lower than in Vancouver | |
| Rent Prices in Calgary are 36.2% lower than in Vancouver | |
| Restaurant Prices in Calgary are 14.2% lower than in Vancouver | |
| Groceries Prices in Calgary are 5.8% lower than in Vancouver | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Calgary is 7.4% higher than in Vancouver | |
Restaurants | Vancouver Edit |
Calgary Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | 30.00 C$ | 25.00 C$ | -16.7 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | 120.00 C$ | 93.22 C$ | -22.3 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | 15.00 C$ | 15.00 C$ | 0.0 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | 8.00 C$ | 7.50 C$ | -6.3 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 9.50 C$ | 8.50 C$ | -10.5 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | 5.77 C$ | 5.37 C$ | -6.9 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | 3.07 C$ | 2.80 C$ | -8.9 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | 2.44 C$ | 2.58 C$ | +5.7 % |
Markets | Vancouver Edit |
Calgary Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | 2.95 C$ | 2.51 C$ | -14.8 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | 3.56 C$ | 3.24 C$ | -9.0 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) | 2.80 C$ | 2.36 C$ | -15.6 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | 5.65 C$ | 4.80 C$ | -15.1 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | 8.17 C$ | 7.63 C$ | -6.6 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | 8.78 C$ | 7.27 C$ | -17.1 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | 9.54 C$ | 10.16 C$ | +6.5 % |
| Apples (1 lb) | 2.64 C$ | 2.78 C$ | +5.5 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) | 0.86 C$ | 0.86 C$ | -0.6 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) | 2.51 C$ | 2.51 C$ | -0.3 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | 2.91 C$ | 2.71 C$ | -6.6 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | 1.83 C$ | 1.59 C$ | -13.0 % |
| Onions (1 lb) | 1.83 C$ | 1.74 C$ | -4.9 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | 3.66 C$ | 3.69 C$ | +0.7 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | 2.49 C$ | 2.37 C$ | -4.6 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | 21.00 C$ | 20.00 C$ | -4.8 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | 4.54 C$ | 3.69 C$ | -18.7 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 5.03 C$ | 5.09 C$ | +1.3 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | 21.50 C$ | 20.00 C$ | -7.0 % |
Transportation | Vancouver Edit |
Calgary Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | 3.50 C$ | 4.00 C$ | +14.3 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | 114.00 C$ | 123.00 C$ | +7.9 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | 4.00 C$ | 4.50 C$ | +12.5 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | 3.67 C$ | 3.09 C$ | -15.8 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | 44.57 C$ | 38.00 C$ | -14.7 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | 1.66 C$ | 1.33 C$ | -20.0 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | 39,580.00 C$ | 39,580.00 C$ | 0.0 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | 29,037.31 C$ | 31,220.00 C$ | +7.5 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Vancouver Edit |
Calgary Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | 123.59 C$ | 253.81 C$ | +105.4 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | 53.45 C$ | 57.85 C$ | +8.2 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | 72.23 C$ | 84.67 C$ | +17.2 % |
Sports And Leisure | Vancouver Edit |
Calgary Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | 58.30 C$ | 70.00 C$ | +20.1 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | 23.19 C$ | 27.35 C$ | +17.9 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | 16.66 C$ | 17.00 C$ | +2.0 % |
Childcare | Vancouver Edit |
Calgary Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | 1,603.19 C$ | 1,136.89 C$ | -29.1 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | 29,246.67 C$ | 21,295.38 C$ | -27.2 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Vancouver Edit |
Calgary Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | 86.20 C$ | 80.00 C$ | -7.2 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | 57.52 C$ | 63.09 C$ | +9.7 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | 127.19 C$ | 125.68 C$ | -1.2 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | 160.00 C$ | 146.36 C$ | -8.5 % |
Rent Per Month | Vancouver Edit |
Calgary Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 2,644.40 C$ | 1,871.18 C$ | -29.2 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 2,218.75 C$ | 1,525.00 C$ | -31.3 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 4,952.94 C$ | 2,841.95 C$ | -42.6 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 3,682.35 C$ | 2,370.94 C$ | -35.6 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Vancouver Edit |
Calgary Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | 1,165.66 C$ | 479.31 C$ | -58.9 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | 906.23 C$ | 456.91 C$ | -49.6 % |
Salaries And Financing | Vancouver Edit |
Calgary Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | 4,886.14 C$ | 4,334.24 C$ | -11.3 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 4.42 | 4.44 | +0.4 % |
| Last update: | 16 April 2026 | 17 April 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 184 | 172 | |
Moving to Vancouver? Explore:
Moving to Calgary? Explore:
Cities near Vancouver: | Cost of Living in Burnaby | 8.12 miles |
| Cost of Living in New Westminster | 12.02 miles |
| Cost of Living in Coquitlam | 20.00 miles |
| Cost of Living in Surrey | 25.22 miles |
| Cost of Living in Abbotsford | 48.00 miles |
| Cost of Living in Whistler | 77.05 miles |
| Cost of Living in Penticton | 248.52 miles |
Cities near Calgary: | Cost of Living in Red Deer | 90.07 miles |
| Cost of Living in Lethbridge, AB | 139.70 miles |
| Cost of Living in Medicine Hat | 181.87 miles |
| Cost of Living in Edmonton | 183.86 miles |