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 $2,462 per month in Calgary vs $3,045 in Ajax, ON, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,628 per month in Calgary vs $3,923 in Ajax, ON, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,795 per month in Calgary vs $4,802 in Ajax, ON, rent included.

Calgary is about 19% cheaper than Ajax, ON, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Calgary and Ajax, ON sit above the global median – Calgary by 84%, Ajax, ON by 128%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.33 CA$25.79

$14.56 CA$20.49

25.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.9 CA$98.3

$75.2 CA$106

-7.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.95 CA$15.41

$10.13 CA$14.25

8.09%

Cappuccino

$3.74 CA$5.26

$3.53 CA$4.97

5.95%

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

$2.04 CA$2.87

$1.96 CA$2.76

4.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.35

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.20 CA$7.32

$3.59 CA$5.04

44.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 CA$9.45

$5.74 CA$8.07

16.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 CA$3.16

$1.73 CA$2.43

30.06%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 CA$3.87

$2.90 CA$4.09

-5.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.23 CA$4.54

$4.73 CA$6.66

-31.71%

Eggs

$3.45 CA$4.85

$3.32 CA$4.67

3.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 CA$20.26

$9.65 CA$13.57

49.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.89 CA$18.13

$9.91 CA$13.95

30.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 CA$22.32

$16.15 CA$22.72

-1.80%

Apples (1kg)

$4.30 CA$6.05

$4.44 CA$6.24

-3.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.89

$1.57 CA$2.21

-14.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.85 CA$5.42

$2.80 CA$3.94

37.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.99

$4.34 CA$6.11

-2.07%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 CA$3.58

$2.47 CA$3.47

3.24%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.69

$2.47 CA$3.48

6.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 CA$3.94

$2.84 CA$4.00

-1.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.74

$1.73 CA$2.43

12.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.97 CA$21.06

$14.15 CA$19.91

5.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.90 CA$19.57

$13.93 CA$19.61

-0.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 CA$4.11

$2.16 CA$3.04

35.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 CA$5.50

$2.33 CA$3.28

67.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.85

$2.65 CA$3.72

3.40%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.8 CA$124

$66.0 CA$92.9

32.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.06

$3.22 CA$4.53

11.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 CA$1.83

$2.85 CA$4.01

-54.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.70 CA$40.39

$25.70 CA$36.16

11.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.57

$1.13 CA$1.58

-0.88%

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

$25.5K CA$35.8K

$25.3K CA$35.5K

0.86%

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

$21.7K CA$30.6K

$20.0K CA$28.1K

8.97%

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

$213 CA$300

$186 CA$261

14.80%

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

$40.96 CA$57.6

$33.62 CA$47.30

21.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 CA$81.5

$60.1 CA$84.5

-3.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 CA$76.2

$33.55 CA$47.21

61.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.6

$11.00 CA$15.47

388.64%

Cinema Ticket

$12.63 CA$17.77

$10.82 CA$15.22

16.73%

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

$874 CA$1,230

$907 CA$1,276

-3.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.3K

$18.5K CA$26.1K

-14.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 CA$82.5

$50.2 CA$70.7

16.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.01 CA$66.2

$36.58 CA$51.5

28.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 CA$120

$90.1 CA$127

-5.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$151

$110 CA$155

-2.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,380 CA$1,942

$1,840 CA$2,590

-25.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,159 CA$1,631

$1,867 CA$2,627

-37.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,324 CA$3,270

$2,468 CA$3,473

-5.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,905 CA$2,680

$2,215 CA$3,117

-14.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,786 CA$5,327

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,511 CA$4,940

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,940 CA$4,136

$3,047 CA$4,288

-3.53%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Ajax, ON: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,380 in Calgary versus $1,840 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 4% higher in Ajax, ON, 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 $70.0 in Calgary versus $75.0 in Ajax, ON. Groceries tell a different story – $396 in Calgary vs $358 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 24% 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 $3,693 per month in Calgary and $4,567 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 $2,462 in Calgary and $3,045 in Ajax, ON. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 33% 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 $2,462, than in Ajax, ON at $3,045. 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.