Is $20,000 a good salary in Calgary, Alberta?
Is $20,000 a good salary in Calgary, Alberta?
$20,000 is $44,600 less than the average yearly salary of $64,600 in Calgary. A salary of $20,000 per year means that you would be taking home about $18,690 per year after taxes, or $1,558 per month to pay for things like housing, transportation, groceries, and entertainment. The average household income in Calgary is $129,000.
Updated: May 1, 2026
Average Cost of Living per Month in Calgary
The average cost of living in Calgary is $3,644/month for a single person who rents.This average is based on many factors including the cost of housing, transportation, groceries, and entertainment.
Average cost of living
$3,644/month
Monthly net income of $20,000/year
$1,558/month
Average total income in 2020
$64,600
Average total household income in 2020
$129,000
Average Salary in Calgary
The average salary in Calgary is $64,600, which is 18.6% higher than the Canadian average salary of $54,450. A person making $20,000 a year in Calgary makes 69% less than the average working person in Calgary and will take home about $18,690.
Cost of Living Calculator
Below are the details used to generate the average Cost of Living for Calgary. Change the inputs to match your lifestyle and see how it compares to the average cost of living and a salary of $20,000.
Renter
Homeowner
Housing
The average monthly cost of rental housing in Calgary is $1,544.
| Product | Avg. | Min. | Max. |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre, Rent Per Month
|
$1,878
|
$1,600
|
$2,200
|
|
1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre, Rent Per Month
|
$1,544
|
$1,250
|
$1,800
|
|
3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre, Rent Per Month
|
$2,866
|
$2,500
|
$3,500
|
|
3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre, Rent Per Month
|
$2,396
|
$2,200
|
$2,800
|
Updated: 2026-05-01 (172 contributors in the last 12 months)
Transit
Driver
Transportation
The average monthly cost for a driver in Calgary is $684.
| Product | Avg. | Min. | Max. |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Gasoline (1 Liter), Transportation
|
$1.41
|
$1.22
|
$1.79
|
|
Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car), Transportation
|
$39,580
|
$35,000
|
$39,580
|
|
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car), Transportation
|
$29,631
|
$25,160
|
$35,000
|
Updated: 2026-05-01 (172 contributors in the last 12 months)
Groceries
The average person spends $513 on groceries per month in Calgary.
| Product | Avg. | Min. | Max. |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Milk (Regular, 1 Liter), Markets
|
$2.37
|
$1.59
|
$5.50
|
|
Fresh White Bread (500 g Loaf), Markets
|
$3.46
|
$2.39
|
$4.50
|
|
Eggs (12, Large Size), Markets
|
$4.78
|
$4.00
|
$6.00
|
|
Local Cheese (1 kg), Markets
|
$17.30
|
$10.00
|
$37.00
|
|
Bottled Water (1.5 Liter), Markets
|
$2.09
|
$1.00
|
$3.00
|
|
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range), Markets
|
$20.00
|
$15.00
|
$25.00
|
|
Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter Bottle), Markets
|
$3.65
|
$2.00
|
$6.00
|
|
Imported Beer (0.33 Liter Bottle), Markets
|
$4.97
|
$2.75
|
$9.00
|
|
Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro), Markets
|
$20.00
|
$15.00
|
$25.00
|
|
Apples (1 kg), Markets
|
$5.92
|
$2.25
|
$8.82
|
|
Chicken Fillets (1 kg), Markets
|
$16.07
|
$11.99
|
$21.00
|
|
Oranges (1 kg), Markets
|
$5.55
|
$3.00
|
$9.00
|
|
Potatoes (1 kg), Markets
|
$3.11
|
$1.20
|
$6.00
|
|
Lettuce (1 Head), Markets
|
$3.70
|
$3.00
|
$5.00
|
|
White Rice (1 kg), Markets
|
$5.05
|
$2.00
|
$12.40
|
|
Tomatoes (1 kg), Markets
|
$6.37
|
$3.00
|
$8.35
|
|
Bananas (1 kg), Markets
|
$1.93
|
$1.50
|
$3.00
|
|
Onions (1 kg), Markets
|
$4.16
|
$2.00
|
$6.61
|
|
Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 kg), Markets
|
$23.18
|
$10.00
|
$31.40
|
Updated: 2026-05-01 (172 contributors in the last 12 months)
Utilities
The average monthly cost of utilities in Calgary is $203.
| Product | Avg. | Min. | Max. |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Basic Utilities for 85 m2 Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage), Utilities (Monthly)
|
$266.89
|
$130.77
|
$460.00
|
|
Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher), Utilities (Monthly)
|
$82.73
|
$47.30
|
$125.00
|
|
Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data), Utilities (Monthly)
|
$60.24
|
$35.00
|
$100.00
|
Updated: 2026-05-01 (172 contributors in the last 12 months)
Leisure & Entertainment
The average person in Calgary spends $174 on leisure & entertainment per month.
| Product | Avg. | Min. | Max. |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Monthly Fitness Club Membership, Sports And Leisure
|
$73.00
|
$50.00
|
$100.00
|
|
Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend), Sports And Leisure
|
$26.04
|
$22.86
|
$28.57
|
|
Cinema Ticket (International Release), Sports And Leisure
|
$17.00
|
$15.00
|
$22.00
|
Updated: 2026-05-01 (172 contributors in the last 12 months)
Clothing
The average person in Calgary spends $41 on clothing per month.
| Product | Avg. | Min. | Max. |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar), Clothing And Shoes
|
$77.38
|
$35.00
|
$120.00
|
|
Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M), Clothing And Shoes
|
$62.18
|
$35.00
|
$80.00
|
|
Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range), Clothing And Shoes
|
$124.00
|
$75.00
|
$160.00
|
|
Men's Leather Business Shoes, Clothing And Shoes
|
$145.00
|
$70.00
|
$200.00
|
Updated: 2026-05-01 (172 contributors in the last 12 months)
Restaurants
The average person in Calgary spends $335 on restaurants per month.
| Product | Avg. | Min. | Max. |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant, Restaurants
|
$25.00
|
$18.00
|
$47.87
|
|
Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks), Restaurants
|
$92.87
|
$65.00
|
$125.00
|
|
Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal), Restaurants
|
$15.00
|
$12.00
|
$15.00
|
|
Domestic Draft Beer (0.5 Liter), Restaurants
|
$7.00
|
$4.50
|
$9.00
|
|
Imported Beer (0.33 Liter Bottle), Restaurants
|
$8.50
|
$6.00
|
$12.00
|
|
Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 0.33 Liter Bottle), Restaurants
|
$2.80
|
$2.00
|
$4.00
|
|
Bottled Water (0.33 Liter), Restaurants
|
$2.51
|
$2.00
|
$4.00
|
|
Cappuccino (Regular Size), Restaurants
|
$5.37
|
$3.00
|
$7.00
|
Updated: 2026-05-01 (172 contributors in the last 12 months)
Other
The average person in Calgary spends $150 on miscellaneous goods and services per month.
| Product | Avg. | Min. | Max. |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child, Childcare
|
$1,132
|
$900
|
$1,462
|
|
International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child, Childcare
|
$21,480
|
$17,700
|
$28,240
|
Updated: 2026-05-01 (172 contributors in the last 12 months)
General Disclaimer: This tool is designed for approximation purposes only and should not be used to replace a legal or accounting authority. To simplify the process, some variables are assumed to calculate the numbers included on this page. The results of this calculator should not be relied upon to determine career or tax decisions.
Your Results
Disclaimer: These numbers estimate what it costs to live in Calgary based on Numbeo data. People can live in the city for much less, while others may need much more to fund their lifestyle.
Your cost of living
$3,644/month
Monthly net income of $20,000/year
$1,558/month
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