Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Brampton Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Brampton

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,523 in Calgary versus $2,366 in Brampton.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,652 in Calgary versus $3,488 in Brampton.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,780 in Calgary versus $4,610 in Brampton.

Living in Calgary is roughly 7% more expensive than Brampton, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 88% above, Brampton 77% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.59 CA$25.83

$14.84 CA$20.62

25.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.0 CA$97.3

$44.53 CA$61.9

57.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.96 CA$15.22

$11.21 CA$15.57

-2.23%

Cappuccino

$3.73 CA$5.19

$3.39 CA$4.71

10.03%

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

$1.99 CA$2.76

$1.85 CA$2.57

7.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 CA$2.39

$1.32 CA$1.83

30.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.01 CA$6.97

$5.02 CA$6.98

-0.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.50 CA$9.04

$5.98 CA$8.31

8.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 CA$3.09

$3.41 CA$4.74

-34.90%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 CA$3.71

$2.19 CA$3.05

21.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 CA$4.53

$2.93 CA$4.08

11.26%

Eggs

$3.35 CA$4.66

$3.36 CA$4.66

-0.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 CA$20.14

$8.46 CA$11.75

71.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.95 CA$17.99

$9.17 CA$12.74

41.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.15 CA$22.44

$14.76 CA$20.51

9.42%

Apples (1kg)

$4.32 CA$6.00

$4.01 CA$5.57

7.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.88

$1.69 CA$2.35

-20.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.83 CA$5.32

$3.37 CA$4.68

13.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 CA$5.81

$3.51 CA$4.87

19.09%

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 CA$3.68

$2.13 CA$2.95

24.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 CA$3.81

$2.18 CA$3.03

25.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.76 CA$3.84

$1.79 CA$2.48

54.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.71

$1.88 CA$2.62

3.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.98 CA$20.81

$13.08 CA$18.17

14.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.67 CA$20.38

$11.79 CA$16.38

24.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 CA$3.95

$2.43 CA$3.37

16.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 CA$5.58

$2.77 CA$3.85

45.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.80 CA$3.89

$3.27 CA$4.54

-14.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.2 CA$120

$102 CA$142

-15.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.00

$3.09 CA$4.29

16.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 CA$1.83

$1.21 CA$1.69

9.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.01 CA$40.31

$21.88 CA$30.41

32.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.56

$1.12 CA$1.55

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

$24.9K CA$34.5K

$25.5K CA$35.4K

-2.48%

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

$22.0K CA$30.5K

$20.7K CA$28.8K

6.09%

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

$217 CA$302

$171 CA$238

26.78%

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

$41.55 CA$57.7

$34.22 CA$47.55

21.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.1 CA$80.7

$53.3 CA$74.1

8.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 CA$76.0

$28.25 CA$39.25

93.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.8 CA$73.4

$26.18 CA$36.38

101.76%

Cinema Ticket

$12.77 CA$17.74

$13.40 CA$18.62

-4.70%

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

$874 CA$1,214

$974 CA$1,354

-10.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.1K

$11.5K CA$16.0K

38.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 CA$81.7

$61.5 CA$85.5

-4.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.47 CA$64.6

$43.62 CA$60.6

6.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 CA$121

$96.7 CA$134

-9.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CA$151

$93.7 CA$130

16.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,414 CA$1,964

$1,491 CA$2,071

-5.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,172 CA$1,629

$1,195 CA$1,660

-1.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,319 CA$3,222

$2,228 CA$3,095

4.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,886 CA$2,621

$2,029 CA$2,819

-7.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,892 CA$5,407

$5,874 CA$8,161

-33.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,503 CA$4,867

$5,393 CA$7,494

-35.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,149 CA$4,375

$2,881 CA$4,003

9.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.51

-12.29%

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

Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026

Last update for Brampton: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,414 in Calgary and $1,491 in Brampton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 9% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $70.0 in Calgary vs $45.00 in Brampton for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $397 vs $340 per month, with Brampton cheaper across the board.

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 Brampton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brampton is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Calgary pays 9% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,414 in Calgary versus $1,491 in Brampton. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,523 per month in Calgary versus $2,366 in Brampton – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Brampton runs roughly 19% less than in Calgary. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,366 in Brampton versus $2,523 in Calgary, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Brampton but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Brampton the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Brampton gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.