Cost of Living Comparison Between Washington, DC and Calgary 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Calgary is 27.7% lower than in Washington, DC (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Calgary is 38.8% lower than in Washington, DC | |
| Rent Prices in Calgary are 56.0% lower than in Washington, DC | |
| Restaurant Prices in Calgary are 31.5% lower than in Washington, DC | |
| Groceries Prices in Calgary are 21.7% lower than in Washington, DC | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Calgary is 15.4% lower than in Washington, DC | |
Restaurants | Washington, DC Edit |
Calgary Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
25.00 $ (34.04 C$) |
18.36 $ (25.00 C$) |
-26.6 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
115.00 $ (156.59 C$) |
68.05 $ (92.66 C$) |
-40.8 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
12.00 $ (16.34 C$) |
11.02 $ (15.00 C$) |
-8.2 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
8.00 $ (10.89 C$) |
5.88 $ (8.00 C$) |
-26.6 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
10.00 $ (13.62 C$) |
6.43 $ (8.75 C$) |
-35.7 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
6.14 $ (8.36 C$) |
3.94 $ (5.37 C$) |
-35.8 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
3.41 $ (4.64 C$) |
2.02 $ (2.75 C$) |
-40.6 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
2.73 $ (3.72 C$) |
1.95 $ (2.65 C$) |
-28.7 % |
Markets | Washington, DC Edit |
Calgary Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
1.13 $ (1.54 C$) |
1.92 $ (2.61 C$) |
+70.0 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
3.94 $ (5.37 C$) |
2.34 $ (3.18 C$) |
-40.7 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
3.11 $ (4.24 C$) |
1.74 $ (2.36 C$) |
-44.2 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
4.77 $ (6.49 C$) |
3.50 $ (4.77 C$) |
-26.5 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
7.29 $ (9.93 C$) |
5.60 $ (7.63 C$) |
-23.2 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
7.93 $ (10.80 C$) |
5.40 $ (7.35 C$) |
-32.0 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
8.95 $ (12.19 C$) |
7.31 $ (9.96 C$) |
-18.3 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
3.00 $ (4.08 C$) |
2.01 $ (2.74 C$) |
-32.8 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
0.90 $ (1.22 C$) |
0.63 $ (0.85 C$) |
-30.3 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
2.34 $ (3.19 C$) |
1.84 $ (2.51 C$) |
-21.5 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
2.72 $ (3.70 C$) |
1.99 $ (2.71 C$) |
-26.7 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
1.36 $ (1.85 C$) |
1.22 $ (1.66 C$) |
-9.9 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
1.69 $ (2.31 C$) |
1.28 $ (1.74 C$) |
-24.5 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
2.50 $ (3.41 C$) |
2.71 $ (3.69 C$) |
+8.3 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
2.44 $ (3.32 C$) |
1.76 $ (2.40 C$) |
-27.6 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
16.00 $ (21.79 C$) |
14.69 $ (20.00 C$) |
-8.2 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
3.28 $ (4.47 C$) |
2.78 $ (3.78 C$) |
-15.4 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
5.50 $ (7.50 C$) |
3.75 $ (5.11 C$) |
-31.8 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
13.94 $ (18.98 C$) |
14.69 $ (20.00 C$) |
+5.4 % |
Transportation | Washington, DC Edit |
Calgary Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
2.75 $ (3.74 C$) |
2.94 $ (4.00 C$) |
+6.8 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
117.50 $ (159.99 C$) |
86.66 $ (118.00 C$) |
-26.2 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
4.00 $ (5.45 C$) |
3.30 $ (4.50 C$) |
-17.4 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
2.56 $ (3.49 C$) |
2.27 $ (3.09 C$) |
-11.4 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
25.00 $ (34.04 C$) |
27.91 $ (38.00 C$) |
+11.6 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
0.87 $ (1.18 C$) |
0.97 $ (1.33 C$) |
+12.5 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
36,375.00 $ (49,530.02 C$) |
29,067.68 $ (39,580.00 C$) |
-20.1 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
26,366.59 $ (35,902.06 C$) |
21,259.60 $ (28,948.14 C$) |
-19.4 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Washington, DC Edit |
Calgary Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
199.50 $ (271.64 C$) |
187.07 $ (254.72 C$) |
-6.2 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
66.68 $ (90.79 C$) |
43.89 $ (59.77 C$) |
-34.2 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
70.48 $ (95.96 C$) |
64.30 $ (87.55 C$) |
-8.8 % |
Sports And Leisure | Washington, DC Edit |
Calgary Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
117.50 $ (159.99 C$) |
52.41 $ (71.36 C$) |
-55.4 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
74.17 $ (100.99 C$) |
21.49 $ (29.27 C$) |
-71.0 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
17.25 $ (23.49 C$) |
12.48 $ (17.00 C$) |
-27.6 % |
Childcare | Washington, DC Edit |
Calgary Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
3,106.00 $ (4,229.28 C$) |
834.94 $ (1,136.89 C$) |
-73.1 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
40,477.67 $ (55,116.41 C$) |
15,639.40 $ (21,295.38 C$) |
-61.4 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Washington, DC Edit |
Calgary Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
75.58 $ (102.92 C$) |
59.23 $ (80.65 C$) |
-21.6 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
47.75 $ (65.02 C$) |
45.73 $ (62.27 C$) |
-4.2 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
104.57 $ (142.39 C$) |
89.80 $ (122.27 C$) |
-14.1 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
150.72 $ (205.22 C$) |
107.49 $ (146.36 C$) |
-28.7 % |
Rent Per Month | Washington, DC Edit |
Calgary Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
2,642.32 $ (3,597.92 C$) |
1,395.82 $ (1,900.62 C$) |
-47.2 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
2,109.74 $ (2,872.72 C$) |
1,121.19 $ (1,526.67 C$) |
-46.9 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
5,368.00 $ (7,309.34 C$) |
2,129.50 $ (2,899.64 C$) |
-60.3 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
4,404.17 $ (5,996.93 C$) |
1,741.22 $ (2,370.94 C$) |
-60.5 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Washington, DC Edit |
Calgary Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
813.14 $ (1,107.21 C$) |
352.01 $ (479.31 C$) |
-56.7 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
366.32 $ (498.80 C$) |
335.56 $ (456.91 C$) |
-8.4 % |
Salaries And Financing | Washington, DC Edit |
Calgary Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
6,145.86 $ (8,368.51 C$) |
3,183.08 $ (4,334.24 C$) |
-48.2 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.44 | 4.53 | -29.7 % |
| Last update: | 12 February 2026 | 14 February 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 79 | 168 | |
Moving to Washington, DC? Explore:
Moving to Calgary? Explore:
Cities near Washington, DC: | Cost of Living in Arlington, Virginia | 4.38 miles |
| Cost of Living in Chevy Chase, Maryland | 7.01 miles |
| Cost of Living in Springfield, Virginia | 13.51 miles |
| Cost of Living in Rockville, Maryland | 17.91 miles |
| Cost of Living in Baltimore, Maryland | 38.92 miles |
| Cost of Living in Fredericksburg, Virginia | 52.45 miles |
| Cost of Living in Lexington Park, Maryland | 61.00 miles |
| Cost of Living in Richmond, Virginia | 106.83 miles |
| Cost of Living in Lancaster, Pennsylvania | 113.70 miles |
| Cost of Living in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania | 117.62 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 |