😐A single person spends $2,353 per month in Calgary vs $998 in Aurora, ON, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,488 per month in Calgary vs $2,650 in Aurora, ON, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,622 per month in Calgary vs $4,303 in Aurora, ON, rent included.
😐Calgary costs about 136% more than Aurora, ON, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Calgary sits 71% above the global median, while Aurora, ON is 27% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Calgary
Aurora, ON
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.94CA$24.82
$17.88CA$24.75
0.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.5CA$97.6
$53.4CA$73.9
32.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.69CA$14.79
$10.71CA$14.82
-0.19%
Cappuccino
$3.79CA$5.24
$3.65CA$5.05
3.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00CA$2.77
$1.83CA$2.53
9.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98CA$2.73
$1.25CA$1.73
58.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.19CA$7.18
$4.98CA$6.89
4.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.86CA$8.11
$6.90CA$9.54
-15.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Calgary
Aurora, ON
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.95CA$2.70
$2.35CA$3.25
-17.02%
White Bread(500g)
$2.82CA$3.91
$2.14CA$2.97
31.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.61CA$7.77
$2.88CA$3.98
94.79%
Eggs
$3.75CA$5.19
$3.25CA$4.50
15.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.50CA$15.91
$4.21CA$5.83
173.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.46CA$15.86
$9.80CA$13.56
16.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.95CA$26.23
$7.25CA$10.04
161.38%
Apples(1kg)
$4.83CA$6.69
$3.57CA$4.94
35.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.37CA$1.89
$1.36CA$1.88
0.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.25CA$5.88
$2.35CA$3.25
80.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.15CA$5.74
$3.33CA$4.61
24.62%
Potato(1kg)
$2.70CA$3.74
$2.14CA$2.96
26.17%
Onion(1kg)
$2.83CA$3.91
$2.00CA$2.76
41.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.64CA$3.65
$2.48CA$3.43
6.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.51CA$2.09
$1.51CA$2.10
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.60CA$20.21
$12.83CA$17.75
13.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.76CA$21.80
$12.77CA$17.66
23.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.60CA$3.59
$2.38CA$3.29
9.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08CA$4.26
$2.41CA$3.34
27.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Calgary
Aurora, ON
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.93CA$4.05
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$89.3CA$124
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.32CA$4.59
$2.99CA$4.14
11.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.43CA$1.98
$1.30CA$1.80
10.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.71CA$38.34
$18.78CA$25.99
47.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26CA$1.74
$1.09CA$1.50
15.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.9KCA$40.0K
$28.9KCA$40.0K
0.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.3KCA$29.5K
$18.7KCA$25.9K
14.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calgary
Aurora, ON
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$183CA$253
$158CA$219
15.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.31CA$53.0
$28.34CA$39.22
35.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.7CA$71.5
$53.8CA$74.4
-3.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Calgary
Aurora, ON
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.9CA$75.9
$33.59CA$46.48
63.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.66CA$25.82
$23.16CA$32.04
-19.43%
Cinema Ticket
$14.26CA$19.73
$12.36CA$17.10
15.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Calgary
Aurora, ON
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$828CA$1,146
$908CA$1,256
-8.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9KCA$22.0K
$21.6KCA$29.9K
-26.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Calgary
Aurora, ON
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.6CA$82.4
$54.4CA$75.2
9.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.47CA$54.6
$43.17CA$59.7
-8.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.3CA$131
$97.3CA$135
-3.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113CA$156
$113CA$156
-0.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Calgary
Aurora, ON
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,265CA$1,750
$1,608CA$2,225
-21.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,051CA$1,454
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,934CA$2,676
$2,411CA$3,336
-19.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,700CA$2,352
$2,064CA$2,856
-17.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,680CA$5,092
$2,492CA$3,447
47.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,333CA$4,613
$4,050CA$5,604
-17.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Calgary
Aurora, ON
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,276CA$4,533
$3,049CA$4,218
7.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.4
4.72
-6.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Calgary: September 1, 2026
Last update for Aurora, ON: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,265 in Calgary versus $1,608 in Aurora, 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 7% 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 $71.0 in Calgary versus $53.0 in Aurora, ON. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $397 vs $286 – making Aurora, 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
Calgary vs Aurora, ON: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Aurora, ON cheaper than Calgary?
Yes – Calgary is pricier by about 136%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,530 per month in Calgary and $1,496 in Aurora, ON. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Aurora, ON, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Calgary and in Aurora, ON?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,353 in Calgary and $998 in Aurora, ON. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $828 per month in Calgary and $908 in Aurora, ON. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Calgary or in Aurora, ON?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Aurora, ON, where all-in costs run around $998, than in Calgary at $2,353. In Aurora, ON it covers expenses comfortably, while in Calgary it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Calgary or Aurora, ON more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Aurora, ON – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Aurora, ON. 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.