Cost of Living Comparison Between Ajax, ON and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Ajax, ON and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,038 per month in Ajax, ON vs $2,523 in Calgary, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,920 per month in Ajax, ON vs $3,652 in Calgary, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,802 per month in Ajax, ON vs $4,780 in Calgary, rent included.

Ajax, ON costs about 20% more than Calgary, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ajax, ON and Calgary sit above the global median – Ajax, ON by 127%, Calgary by 88%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.69 CA$20.41

$18.59 CA$25.83

-20.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.8 CA$104

$70.0 CA$97.3

6.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.46 CA$14.54

$10.96 CA$15.22

-4.56%

Cappuccino

$3.52 CA$4.89

$3.73 CA$5.19

-5.63%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 CA$2.73

$1.99 CA$2.76

-1.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.32

$1.72 CA$2.39

-2.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.64 CA$5.06

$5.01 CA$6.97

-27.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.87 CA$8.15

$6.50 CA$9.04

-9.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 CA$2.44

$2.22 CA$3.09

-20.72%

White Bread (500g)

$2.88 CA$4.01

$2.67 CA$3.71

7.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.47 CA$6.21

$3.26 CA$4.53

37.12%

Eggs

$3.27 CA$4.54

$3.35 CA$4.66

-2.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.67 CA$13.43

$14.50 CA$20.14

-33.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.16 CA$14.12

$12.95 CA$17.99

-21.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.25 CA$22.58

$16.15 CA$22.44

0.62%

Apples (1kg)

$4.43 CA$6.15

$4.32 CA$6.00

2.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 CA$2.09

$1.35 CA$1.88

11.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.91 CA$4.04

$3.83 CA$5.32

-24.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.53 CA$6.30

$4.18 CA$5.81

8.37%

Potato (1kg)

$2.42 CA$3.37

$2.65 CA$3.68

-8.68%

Onion (1kg)

$2.56 CA$3.56

$2.74 CA$3.81

-6.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.88 CA$4.00

$2.76 CA$3.84

4.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 CA$2.41

$1.95 CA$2.71

-11.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.21 CA$19.74

$14.98 CA$20.81

-5.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.22 CA$19.75

$14.67 CA$20.38

-3.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 CA$3.11

$2.84 CA$3.95

-21.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 CA$3.22

$4.02 CA$5.58

-42.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.57 CA$3.57

$2.80 CA$3.89

-8.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.8 CA$91.4

$86.2 CA$120

-23.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 CA$4.27

$3.60 CA$5.00

-14.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.79 CA$3.88

$1.32 CA$1.83

111.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.44 CA$35.35

$29.01 CA$40.31

-12.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 CA$1.62

$1.12 CA$1.56

3.57%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.2K CA$35.1K

$24.9K CA$34.5K

1.50%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.1K CA$28.0K

$22.0K CA$30.5K

-8.32%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$188 CA$262

$217 CA$302

-13.31%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$33.41 CA$46.42

$41.55 CA$57.7

-19.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.9 CA$83.2

$58.1 CA$80.7

3.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.59 CA$46.67

$54.7 CA$76.0

-38.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.82 CA$15.04

$52.8 CA$73.4

-79.52%

Cinema Ticket

$10.94 CA$15.20

$12.77 CA$17.74

-14.33%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$905 CA$1,258

$874 CA$1,214

3.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.4K CA$25.5K

$15.9K CA$22.1K

15.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.88 CA$69.3

$58.8 CA$81.7

-15.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.21 CA$51.7

$46.47 CA$64.6

-19.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 CA$121

0.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 CA$156

$109 CA$151

3.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,809 CA$2,513

$1,414 CA$1,964

27.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,856 CA$2,578

$1,172 CA$1,629

58.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,480 CA$3,446

$2,319 CA$3,222

6.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,228 CA$3,096

$1,886 CA$2,621

18.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,892 CA$5,407

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,503 CA$4,867

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,081 CA$4,281

$3,149 CA$4,375

-2.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.83

5.71

19.61%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ajax, ON: June 1, 2026

Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,809 in Ajax, ON versus $1,414 in Calgary. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 2% higher in Calgary, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Ajax, ON versus $70.0 in Calgary. Groceries tell a different story – $360 in Ajax, ON vs $397 in Calgary – so Ajax, ON wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Ajax, ON vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ajax, ON costs about 20% more than Calgary, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,558 per month in Ajax, ON and $3,785 in Calgary. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Calgary, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,038 in Ajax, ON and $2,523 in Calgary. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 31% less in Calgary. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,038 in Ajax, ON and $2,523 in Calgary. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Calgary – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Calgary. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ajax, ON makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.