Cost of Living Comparison Between Brantford and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Brantford and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,099 per month in Brantford vs $2,523 in Calgary, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,194 per month in Brantford vs $3,652 in Calgary, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,289 per month in Brantford vs $4,780 in Calgary, rent included.

Brantford is about 17% cheaper than Calgary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Brantford and Calgary sit above the global median – Brantford by 57%, Calgary by 88%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brantford
Calgary
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.14 CA$18.26
$18.59 CA$25.83
-29.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.3 CA$90.8
$70.0 CA$97.3
-6.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.32 CA$12.95
$10.96 CA$15.22
-14.96%
Cappuccino
$3.06 CA$4.25
$3.73 CA$5.19
-17.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 CA$2.11
$1.99 CA$2.76
-23.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 CA$1.51
$1.72 CA$2.39
-37.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.82 CA$6.70
$5.01 CA$6.97
-3.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.01 CA$8.35
$6.50 CA$9.04
-7.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brantford
Calgary
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.20 CA$3.06
$2.22 CA$3.09
-0.90%
White Bread (500g)
$2.23 CA$3.09
$2.67 CA$3.71
-16.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 CA$3.02
$3.26 CA$4.53
-33.44%
Eggs
$3.02 CA$4.19
$3.35 CA$4.66
-9.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.30 CA$5.98
$14.50 CA$20.14
-70.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.78 CA$12.20
$12.95 CA$17.99
-32.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.12 CA$14.06
$16.15 CA$22.44
-37.34%
Apples (1kg)
$1.81 CA$2.52
$4.32 CA$6.00
-58.10%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 CA$1.35
$1.35 CA$1.88
-28.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.24 CA$3.11
$3.83 CA$5.32
-41.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.72 CA$5.16
$4.18 CA$5.81
-11.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.29 CA$3.19
$2.65 CA$3.68
-13.58%
Onion (1kg)
$1.43 CA$1.98
$2.74 CA$3.81
-47.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.03 CA$2.82
$2.76 CA$3.84
-26.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.64 CA$2.29
$1.95 CA$2.71
-15.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.64 CA$18.96
$14.98 CA$20.81
-8.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.03 CA$13.94
$14.67 CA$20.38
-31.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.51 CA$3.49
$2.84 CA$3.95
-11.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 CA$4.61
$4.02 CA$5.58
-17.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Brantford
Calgary
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.15 CA$2.99
$2.80 CA$3.89
-23.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.7 CA$74.6
$86.2 CA$120
-37.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.53 CA$3.51
$3.60 CA$5.00
-29.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.70 CA$2.36
$1.32 CA$1.83
28.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.72 CA$41.29
$29.01 CA$40.31
2.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 CA$1.54
$1.12 CA$1.56
-0.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K CA$34.2K
$24.9K CA$34.5K
-0.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2K CA$28.1K
$22.0K CA$30.5K
-7.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brantford
Calgary
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$134 CA$186
$217 CA$302
-38.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.04 CA$36.18
$41.55 CA$57.7
-37.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.6 CA$75.8
$58.1 CA$80.7
-5.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brantford
Calgary
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.60 CA$50.9
$54.7 CA$76.0
-33.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.98 CA$41.66
$52.8 CA$73.4
-43.24%
Cinema Ticket
$9.36 CA$13.00
$12.77 CA$17.74
-26.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brantford
Calgary
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$561 CA$779
$874 CA$1,214
-35.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.8K CA$16.3K
$15.9K CA$22.1K
-26.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brantford
Calgary
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.3 CA$69.9
$58.8 CA$81.7
-14.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.82 CA$35.87
$46.47 CA$64.6
-44.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$63.4 CA$88.1
$87.2 CA$121
-27.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.2 CA$97.5
$109 CA$151
-35.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brantford
Calgary
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,391 CA$1,933
$1,414 CA$1,964
-1.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,180 CA$1,639
$1,172 CA$1,629
0.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,052 CA$2,851
$2,319 CA$3,222
-11.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,071 CA$2,877
$1,886 CA$2,621
9.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,057 CA$7,027
$3,892 CA$5,407
29.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,973 CA$5,520
$3,503 CA$4,867
13.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brantford
Calgary
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,072 CA$4,268
$3,149 CA$4,375
-2.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.31
5.71
10.51%

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

Last update for Brantford: June 2, 2026

Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,391 in Brantford 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 3% higher in Calgary, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Brantford versus $70.0 in Calgary. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $271 vs $397 – making Brantford 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
Brantford vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Brantford and Calgary compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,099 in Brantford, $2,523 in Calgary – roughly 20% apart. Calgary costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Brantford compared to Calgary?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,148 per month in Brantford and $3,785 in Calgary. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Brantford and Calgary?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Brantford, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Brantford or Calgary?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,099 in Brantford and $2,523 in Calgary. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Brantford and Calgary?
Public transport costs about 61% less in Brantford. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Brantford, where all-in costs run around $2,099, than in Calgary at $2,523. In Brantford it covers expenses comfortably, while in Calgary it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Brantford or Calgary?
Families tend to lean toward Brantford – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Brantford and Calgary?
If budget matters most, go with Brantford. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Calgary makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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