Cost of living comparison

compared to

Bern vs. Calgary Cost of Living Summary

Bern is 54.5% more expensive than Calgary.

Restaurants
pay 83.6% more in Bern
Groceries
pay 16.9% more in Bern
Transportation
pay 66.2% more in Bern
Housing
pay 46.9% more in Bern
Childcare
pay 2.8 times more in Bern
Entertainment and Sports
pay 62.3% more in Bern
Clothing
pay 83.5% more in Bern

The cost of childcare, restaurants, clothing, transportation, entertainment and sports, and housing in Bern are more expensive than in Calgary. Notably, childcare, restaurants, and clothing are significantly more expensive in Bern.

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Bern vs. Calgary Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Bern instead of Calgary, you would:

pay 83.6% more for restaurants

 
Calgary
Bern
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $17.53
CA$24.82
$28.80
CHF23.79
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
 $10.52
CA$14.89
$15.60
CHF12.88
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $1.95
CA$2.76
$6.23
CHF5.15
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pay 16.9% more for groceries

 
Calgary
Bern
Bread
1 loaf
 $2.70
CA$3.82
$2.95
CHF2.43
Local cheese (8 oz) $5.64
CA$7.98
$12.12
CHF10.01
Milk (1 gallon) $7.26
CA$10.27
$8.18
CHF6.75
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pay 66.2% more for transportation

 
Calgary
Bern
Gasoline (1 gallon) $4.49
CA$6.36
$8.82
CHF7.29
Monthly public transit pass $88.37
CA$125.11
$98.40
CHF81.27
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $27,760.48
CA$39,301.90
$42,598.89
CHF35,183.79
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pay 46.9% more for housing

 
Calgary
Bern
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
 $50.56
CA$71.59
$54.60
CHF45.09
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,217.89
CA$1,724.23
$1,861.45
CHF1,537.43
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $1,008.23
CA$1,427.40
$1,408.46
CHF1,163.29
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pay 2.8 times more for childcare

 
Calgary
Bern
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $793.84
CA$1,123.88
$3,125.25
CHF2,581.25
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $15,746.76
CA$22,293.47
$30,462.54
CHF25,159.99
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pay 62.3% more for entertainment and sports

 
Calgary
Bern
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $4.91
CA$6.95
$9.00
CHF7.43
Cappuccino in mid-range area $3.72
CA$5.27
$6.78
CHF5.60
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
 $14.03
CA$19.86
$11.23
CHF9.28
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pay 83.5% more for clothing

 
Calgary
Bern
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
 $57.61
CA$81.56
$139.98
CHF115.62
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
 $39.55
CA$55.99
$60.81
CHF50.22
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
 $90.77
CA$128.50
$155.71
CHF128.60
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We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Sources: MyLifeElsewhere's cost-of-living dataset (prices updated October 2026). How we calculate this

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Compare further: Calgary vs. Bern

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