Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Burlington Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Burlington

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,462 per month in Calgary vs $2,724 in Burlington, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,628 per month in Calgary vs $4,059 in Burlington, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,795 per month in Calgary vs $5,393 in Burlington, rent included.

Calgary is about 10% cheaper than Burlington, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Calgary and Burlington sit above the global median – Calgary by 84%, Burlington by 104%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.33 CA$25.79

$20.03 CA$28.18

-8.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.9 CA$98.3

$73.0 CA$103

-4.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.95 CA$15.41

$10.90 CA$15.34

0.46%

Cappuccino

$3.74 CA$5.26

$3.66 CA$5.15

2.19%

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

$2.04 CA$2.87

$1.94 CA$2.73

5.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.35

$1.65 CA$2.32

1.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.20 CA$7.32

$5.97 CA$8.40

-12.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 CA$9.45

$6.65 CA$9.36

0.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 CA$3.16

$2.07 CA$2.91

8.70%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 CA$3.87

$3.03 CA$4.26

-9.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.23 CA$4.54

$4.38 CA$6.17

-26.26%

Eggs

$3.45 CA$4.85

$3.03 CA$4.26

13.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 CA$20.26

$13.73 CA$19.32

4.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.89 CA$18.13

$8.89 CA$12.51

44.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 CA$22.32

$21.96 CA$30.90

-27.78%

Apples (1kg)

$4.30 CA$6.05

$3.46 CA$4.87

24.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.89

$1.39 CA$1.95

-3.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.85 CA$5.42

$3.64 CA$5.12

5.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.99

$3.56 CA$5.00

19.38%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 CA$3.58

$1.95 CA$2.74

30.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.69

$1.79 CA$2.51

46.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 CA$3.94

$2.20 CA$3.10

27.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.74

$2.06 CA$2.89

-5.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.97 CA$21.06

$14.99 CA$21.09

-0.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.90 CA$19.57

$12.29 CA$17.30

13.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 CA$4.11

$2.47 CA$3.48

18.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 CA$5.50

$2.24 CA$3.15

74.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.85

$3.24 CA$4.55

-15.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.8 CA$124

$103 CA$146

-15.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.06

$2.34 CA$3.29

53.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 CA$1.83

$1.72 CA$2.42

-24.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.70 CA$40.39

$44.29 CA$62.3

-35.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.57

$1.16 CA$1.63

-3.45%

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

$25.5K CA$35.8K

$25.0K CA$35.2K

1.84%

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

$21.7K CA$30.6K

$21.6K CA$30.4K

0.65%

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

$213 CA$300

$133 CA$187

60.16%

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

$40.96 CA$57.6

$53.1 CA$74.8

-22.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 CA$81.5

$61.5 CA$86.6

-5.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 CA$76.2

$46.83 CA$65.9

15.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.6

$22.90 CA$32.22

134.72%

Cinema Ticket

$12.63 CA$17.77

$10.95 CA$15.41

15.34%

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

$874 CA$1,230

$947 CA$1,332

-7.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.3K

$24.6K CA$34.6K

-35.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 CA$82.5

$61.6 CA$86.7

-4.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.01 CA$66.2

$68.5 CA$96.4

-31.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 CA$120

$87.0 CA$122

-2.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$151

$137 CA$193

-21.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,380 CA$1,942

$1,716 CA$2,414

-19.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,159 CA$1,631

$1,481 CA$2,083

-21.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,324 CA$3,270

$2,722 CA$3,830

-14.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,905 CA$2,680

$2,436 CA$3,427

-21.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,786 CA$5,327

$5,331 CA$7,502

-28.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,511 CA$4,940

$4,338 CA$6,104

-19.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,940 CA$4,136

$3,413 CA$4,802

-13.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.4

-10.78%

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

Last update for Calgary: July 13, 2026

Last update for Burlington: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,380 in Calgary versus $1,716 in Burlington. 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 16% higher in Burlington, 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 $73.0 in Burlington. Groceries tell a different story – $396 in Calgary vs $374 in Burlington – so Burlington 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 Burlington: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Burlington is pricier by about 11%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,693 per month in Calgary and $4,086 in Burlington. 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.

Kindergarten costs $874 per month in Calgary and $947 in Burlington. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Burlington – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Calgary, where all-in costs run around $2,462, than in Burlington at $2,724. In Calgary it covers expenses comfortably, while in Burlington 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, Burlington makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.