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 $2,498 per month in Ajax, ON vs $2,344 in Calgary, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,606 per month in Ajax, ON vs $3,470 in Calgary, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,713 per month in Ajax, ON vs $4,597 in Calgary, rent included.

Ajax, ON costs about 7% more than Calgary, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Ajax, ON and Calgary sit above the global median – Ajax, ON by 83%, Calgary by 71%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.16 CA$25.40

$17.68 CA$24.74

2.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.4 CA$76.0

$71.2 CA$99.6

-23.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.90 CA$15.25

$10.85 CA$15.18

0.46%

Cappuccino

$3.81 CA$5.32

$3.85 CA$5.39

-1.04%

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

$1.78 CA$2.49

$1.95 CA$2.73

-8.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 CA$2.12

$1.79 CA$2.51

-15.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.65 CA$5.11

$4.97 CA$6.95

-26.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.67 CA$7.93

$5.90 CA$8.26

-3.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.01 CA$2.81

$1.84 CA$2.58

9.24%

White Bread (500g)

$2.97 CA$4.16

$2.73 CA$3.82

8.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.51 CA$4.91

$5.44 CA$7.61

-35.48%

Eggs

$3.09 CA$4.33

$3.63 CA$5.07

-14.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.59 CA$13.42

$11.55 CA$16.15

-16.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.64 CA$16.28

$11.57 CA$16.19

0.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.19 CA$24.06

$18.94 CA$26.51

-9.24%

Apples (1kg)

$4.06 CA$5.68

$4.95 CA$6.92

-17.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 CA$2.33

$1.42 CA$1.98

17.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.16 CA$5.82

$4.22 CA$5.91

-1.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.48 CA$4.87

$4.09 CA$5.72

-14.91%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 CA$4.09

$2.56 CA$3.58

14.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 CA$2.78

$2.82 CA$3.95

-29.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.11 CA$4.35

$2.57 CA$3.59

21.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 CA$2.80

$1.55 CA$2.16

29.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.54 CA$20.34

$14.59 CA$20.41

-0.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.06 CA$18.28

$15.60 CA$21.83

-16.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 CA$3.00

$2.58 CA$3.61

-17.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 CA$3.71

$3.23 CA$4.52

-17.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 CA$3.40

$2.96 CA$4.14

-17.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.3 CA$125

$91.1 CA$127

-2.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.38 CA$4.73

$3.17 CA$4.43

6.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 CA$1.95

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.70 CA$34.55

$27.67 CA$38.71

-10.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 CA$1.48

$1.25 CA$1.75

-16.00%

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

$28.2K CA$39.5K

$28.3K CA$39.6K

-0.34%

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

$19.3K CA$27.1K

$21.3K CA$29.8K

-9.12%

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

$129 CA$181

$178 CA$249

-27.29%

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

$27.02 CA$37.80

$39.31 CA$55.0

-31.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.1 CA$81.2

$50.9 CA$71.2

14.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.82 CA$47.31

$54.7 CA$76.6

-38.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.60 CA$14.83

$18.77 CA$26.26

-43.53%

Cinema Ticket

$10.17 CA$14.23

$14.55 CA$20.36

-30.10%

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

$912 CA$1,275

$812 CA$1,135

12.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.6K CA$24.6K

$16.4K CA$23.0K

7.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.1 CA$71.5

$59.4 CA$83.1

-14.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.26 CA$53.5

$40.33 CA$56.4

-5.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.4 CA$122

$92.2 CA$129

-5.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.4 CA$135

$113 CA$158

-14.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,542 CA$2,157

$1,284 CA$1,796

20.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,390 CA$1,945

$1,018 CA$1,425

36.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,361 CA$3,304

$1,977 CA$2,767

19.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,231 CA$3,122

$1,746 CA$2,443

27.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,571 CA$4,995

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,359 CA$4,699

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,991 CA$4,184

$3,213 CA$4,495

-6.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.8

4.48

7.14%

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

Last update for Ajax, ON: September 12, 2026

Last update for Calgary: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,542 in Ajax, ON versus $1,284 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 7% 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 $54.0 in Ajax, ON versus $71.0 in Calgary. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $370 vs $395 – making Ajax, ON the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 7% more than Calgary, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,747 per month in Ajax, ON and $3,515 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 $2,498 in Ajax, ON and $2,344 in Calgary. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 2% less in Calgary. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Calgary, where all-in costs run around $2,344, than in Ajax, ON at $2,498. In Calgary it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ajax, ON it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.