Cost of Living in Calgary
Canada
Monthly budget (single)
$2,215–$3,508/month
C$3,076 – C$4,872 (local currency)
Last updated: 2026-03
Can you afford to live in Calgary?
Enter your monthly take-home in USD. We compare it to typical budgets for your household size (estimates, not financial advice).
Cost breakdown
| Category | USD | Local currency |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (1-bed, city center) | $1,662–$2,585 | C$2,308 – C$3,590 |
| Rent (1-bed, outside center) | $877–$1,385 | C$1,218 – C$1,924 |
| Utilities (electricity, heating, water) | $69–$134 | C$96 – C$186 |
| Internet & Mobile | $28–$46 | C$39 – C$64 |
| Groceries (monthly) | $351–$526 | C$488 – C$731 |
| Eating out (per meal, mid-range) | $46–$83 | C$64 – C$115 |
| Coffee | $4–$6 | C$6 – C$8 |
| Public transport (monthly pass) | $88–$106 | C$122 – C$147 |
| Gym membership | $32–$60 | C$44 – C$83 |
| Cinema ticket | $13–$17 | C$18 – C$24 |
Budget scenarios
Single
$2,215–$3,508/mo USD
C$3,076 – C$4,872
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$2,585/mo
- Groceries: ~$526/mo
- Transport: ~$106/mo
Couple
$3,508–$5,354/mo USD
C$4,872 – C$7,436
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$2,585/mo
- Groceries: ~$526/mo
- Transport: ~$106/mo
Family
$5,077–$7,846/mo USD
C$7,051 – C$10,897
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$2,585/mo
- Groceries: ~$526/mo
- Transport: ~$106/mo
Neighbourhood guide
Calgary Center
CentralUrban core, transit access
Est. 1-bed rent: $2,078–$3,231/mo (C$2,886 – C$4,488)
Calgary Midtown
CentralMixed residential
Est. 1-bed rent: $1,828–$2,844/mo (C$2,539 – C$3,950)
Calgary Outer
SuburbanQuieter, family-friendly
Est. 1-bed rent: $1,330–$2,068/mo (C$1,847 – C$2,872)
Quality of life scores
Pros & cons
✅ Pros
- • Oil & gas salaries
- • Rockies proximity
- • Clean
❌ Cons
- • Boom-bust economy
- • Winters
Similar cities & cheaper alternatives
Cheaper alternatives
Compare Calgary with another city
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Estimates are for comparison only and do not constitute financial advice. Sources include our internal dataset and periodic third-party index updates.