Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Vancouver 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Vancouver is 6.4% higher than in Calgary (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Vancouver is 19.8% higher than in Calgary | |
| Rent Prices in Vancouver are 54.5% higher than in Calgary | |
| Restaurant Prices in Vancouver are 13.4% higher than in Calgary | |
| Groceries Prices in Vancouver are 6.4% higher than in Calgary | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Vancouver is 4.2% lower than in Calgary | |
Restaurants | Calgary Edit |
Vancouver Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | C$27.50 | C$30.00 | +9.1 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | C$93.13 | C$120.00 | +28.9 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | C$15.00 | C$15.00 | 0.0 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | C$8.00 | C$8.00 | 0.0 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | C$8.00 | C$9.25 | +15.6 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | C$5.21 | C$5.80 | +11.4 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | C$2.77 | C$3.02 | +9.0 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | C$2.54 | C$2.33 | -8.2 % |
Markets | Calgary Edit |
Vancouver Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | C$2.62 | C$2.90 | +10.8 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | C$3.20 | C$3.42 | +6.7 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) | C$2.29 | C$2.80 | +22.3 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | C$4.91 | C$5.83 | +18.8 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | C$7.58 | C$7.78 | +2.6 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | C$7.22 | C$8.81 | +21.9 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | C$10.52 | C$10.18 | -3.2 % |
| Apples (1 lb) | C$2.75 | C$2.60 | -5.5 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) | C$0.89 | C$0.87 | -2.1 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) | C$2.52 | C$2.50 | -0.8 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | C$2.89 | C$2.93 | +1.4 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | C$1.53 | C$1.82 | +19.0 % |
| Onions (1 lb) | C$1.88 | C$1.79 | -5.0 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | C$3.72 | C$3.79 | +2.0 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | C$2.09 | C$2.63 | +25.9 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | C$20.00 | C$21.00 | +5.0 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | C$3.89 | C$4.30 | +10.5 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | C$5.17 | C$4.92 | -4.9 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | C$20.00 | C$22.00 | +10.0 % |
Transportation | Calgary Edit |
Vancouver Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | C$4.00 | C$3.35 | -16.3 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | C$126.00 | C$111.60 | -11.4 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | C$4.75 | C$4.00 | -15.8 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | C$3.09 | C$3.67 | +18.7 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | C$38.00 | C$44.57 | +17.3 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | C$1.47 | C$1.74 | +19.0 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | C$39,580.00 | C$39,580.00 | 0.0 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | C$29,661.67 | C$29,207.08 | -1.5 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Calgary Edit |
Vancouver Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | C$266.89 | C$124.69 | -53.3 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | C$59.77 | C$52.58 | -12.0 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | C$82.36 | C$71.70 | -12.9 % |
Sports And Leisure | Calgary Edit |
Vancouver Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | C$72.10 | C$66.25 | -8.1 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | C$26.04 | C$25.65 | -1.5 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | C$17.00 | C$16.66 | -2.0 % |
Childcare | Calgary Edit |
Vancouver Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | C$1,132.04 | C$1,615.37 | +42.7 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | C$21,480.08 | C$29,246.67 | +36.2 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Calgary Edit |
Vancouver Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | C$81.36 | C$86.20 | +5.9 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | C$63.23 | C$61.25 | -3.1 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | C$123.64 | C$125.62 | +1.6 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | C$148.93 | C$159.74 | +7.3 % |
Rent Per Month | Calgary Edit |
Vancouver Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | C$1,874.21 | C$2,633.70 | +40.5 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | C$1,541.18 | C$2,221.15 | +44.1 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | C$2,865.76 | C$4,894.12 | +70.8 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | C$2,395.94 | C$3,652.94 | +52.5 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Calgary Edit |
Vancouver Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | C$479.31 | C$1,163.66 | +142.8 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | C$448.23 | C$889.71 | +98.5 % |
Salaries And Financing | Calgary Edit |
Vancouver Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | C$4,258.36 | C$4,886.14 | +14.7 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 4.50 | 4.39 | -2.4 % |
| Last update: | 15 May 2026 | 16 May 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 176 | 196 | |
Moving to Calgary? Explore:
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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 |
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 |