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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Calgary is about 17% cheaper than Ajax, ON, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.59 CA$25.83

$14.69 CA$20.41

26.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.0 CA$97.3

$74.8 CA$104

-6.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.96 CA$15.22

$10.46 CA$14.54

4.78%

Cappuccino

$3.73 CA$5.19

$3.52 CA$4.89

5.97%

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

$1.99 CA$2.76

$1.96 CA$2.73

1.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 CA$2.39

$1.67 CA$2.32

2.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.01 CA$6.97

$3.64 CA$5.06

37.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.50 CA$9.04

$5.87 CA$8.15

10.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 CA$3.09

$1.76 CA$2.44

26.14%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 CA$3.71

$2.88 CA$4.01

-7.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 CA$4.53

$4.47 CA$6.21

-27.07%

Eggs

$3.35 CA$4.66

$3.27 CA$4.54

2.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 CA$20.14

$9.67 CA$13.43

49.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.95 CA$17.99

$10.16 CA$14.12

27.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.15 CA$22.44

$16.25 CA$22.58

-0.62%

Apples (1kg)

$4.32 CA$6.00

$4.43 CA$6.15

-2.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.88

$1.51 CA$2.09

-10.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.83 CA$5.32

$2.91 CA$4.04

31.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 CA$5.81

$4.53 CA$6.30

-7.73%

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 CA$3.68

$2.42 CA$3.37

9.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 CA$3.81

$2.56 CA$3.56

7.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.76 CA$3.84

$2.88 CA$4.00

-4.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.71

$1.73 CA$2.41

12.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.98 CA$20.81

$14.21 CA$19.74

5.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.67 CA$20.38

$14.22 CA$19.75

3.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 CA$3.95

$2.24 CA$3.11

26.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 CA$5.58

$2.32 CA$3.22

73.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.80 CA$3.89

$2.57 CA$3.57

8.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.2 CA$120

$65.8 CA$91.4

31.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.00

$3.07 CA$4.27

17.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 CA$1.83

$2.79 CA$3.88

-52.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.01 CA$40.31

$25.44 CA$35.35

14.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.56

$1.16 CA$1.62

-3.45%

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

$24.9K CA$34.5K

$25.2K CA$35.1K

-1.48%

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

$22.0K CA$30.5K

$20.1K CA$28.0K

9.07%

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

$217 CA$302

$188 CA$262

15.35%

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

$41.55 CA$57.7

$33.41 CA$46.42

24.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.1 CA$80.7

$59.9 CA$83.2

-3.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 CA$76.0

$33.59 CA$46.67

62.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.8 CA$73.4

$10.82 CA$15.04

388.17%

Cinema Ticket

$12.77 CA$17.74

$10.94 CA$15.20

16.73%

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

$874 CA$1,214

$905 CA$1,258

-3.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.1K

$18.4K CA$25.5K

-13.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 CA$81.7

$49.88 CA$69.3

17.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.47 CA$64.6

$37.21 CA$51.7

24.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 CA$121

-0.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CA$151

$112 CA$156

-3.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,414 CA$1,964

$1,809 CA$2,513

-21.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,172 CA$1,629

$1,856 CA$2,578

-36.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,319 CA$3,222

$2,480 CA$3,446

-6.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,886 CA$2,621

$2,228 CA$3,096

-15.35%

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)

$3,149 CA$4,375

$3,081 CA$4,281

2.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.83

-16.40%

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

Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ajax, ON: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,414 in Calgary versus $1,809 in Ajax, ON. 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 $70.0 in Calgary versus $75.0 in Ajax, ON. Groceries tell a different story – $397 in Calgary vs $360 in Ajax, ON – 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

Calgary vs Ajax, ON: 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 $3,785 per month in Calgary and $4,558 in Ajax, ON. 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 $2,523 in Calgary and $3,038 in Ajax, ON. 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 $2,523 in Calgary and $3,038 in Ajax, ON. 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.