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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,344 per month in Calgary vs $2,675 in Burlington, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,470 per month in Calgary vs $3,900 in Burlington, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,597 per month in Calgary vs $5,125 in Burlington, rent included.

Calgary is about 12% cheaper than Burlington, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Calgary and Burlington sit above the global median – Calgary by 71%, Burlington by 96%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.68 CA$24.74

$21.41 CA$29.94

-17.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.2 CA$99.6

$73.1 CA$102

-2.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.85 CA$15.18

$10.92 CA$15.27

-0.64%

Cappuccino

$3.85 CA$5.39

$3.30 CA$4.62

16.67%

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

$1.95 CA$2.73

$1.92 CA$2.69

1.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 CA$2.51

$1.51 CA$2.11

18.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.97 CA$6.95

$5.85 CA$8.19

-15.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 CA$8.25

$6.47 CA$9.06

-8.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 CA$2.58

$2.61 CA$3.65

-29.50%

White Bread (500g)

$2.73 CA$3.82

$2.95 CA$4.12

-7.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.44 CA$7.60

$3.90 CA$5.45

39.49%

Eggs

$3.63 CA$5.07

$3.77 CA$5.27

-3.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.55 CA$16.15

$10.08 CA$14.10

14.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.57 CA$16.19

$10.51 CA$14.71

10.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.94 CA$26.50

$14.98 CA$20.96

26.44%

Apples (1kg)

$4.95 CA$6.92

$3.88 CA$5.43

27.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 CA$1.98

$1.48 CA$2.07

-4.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.22 CA$5.90

$2.68 CA$3.75

57.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.09 CA$5.72

$3.68 CA$5.15

11.14%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 CA$3.58

$1.92 CA$2.69

33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 CA$3.95

$1.86 CA$2.60

51.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.57 CA$3.59

$2.08 CA$2.91

23.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 CA$2.16

$1.51 CA$2.12

2.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.59 CA$20.41

$13.69 CA$19.15

6.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.60 CA$21.83

$10.97 CA$15.35

42.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 CA$3.61

$2.79 CA$3.91

-7.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 CA$4.52

$2.92 CA$4.09

10.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.96 CA$4.14

$2.74 CA$3.83

8.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$91.1 CA$127

$97.9 CA$137

-6.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 CA$4.43

$5.02 CA$7.02

-36.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 CA$1.95

$2.59 CA$3.62

-46.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.67 CA$38.70

$42.79 CA$59.9

-35.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 CA$1.75

$1.09 CA$1.53

14.68%

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

$28.3K CA$39.6K

$28.8K CA$40.3K

-1.72%

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

$21.3K CA$29.8K

$20.6K CA$28.8K

3.26%

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

$178 CA$249

$144 CA$201

23.55%

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

$39.31 CA$55.0

$45.85 CA$64.1

-14.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.9 CA$71.2

$68.3 CA$95.6

-25.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 CA$76.5

$52.1 CA$72.9

4.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.77 CA$26.25

$29.78 CA$41.66

-36.97%

Cinema Ticket

$14.55 CA$20.36

$16.29 CA$22.78

-10.68%

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

$812 CA$1,135

$1,199 CA$1,678

-32.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.4K CA$23.0K

$19.1K CA$26.7K

-14.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.4 CA$83.1

$71.5 CA$100

-16.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 CA$56.4

$66.6 CA$93.1

-39.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.2 CA$129

$99.6 CA$139

-7.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 CA$158

$100 CA$140

12.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,284 CA$1,796

$1,680 CA$2,351

-23.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,018 CA$1,424

$1,440 CA$2,015

-29.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,977 CA$2,766

$2,542 CA$3,556

-22.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,746 CA$2,443

$2,249 CA$3,146

-22.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,571 CA$4,995

$5,150 CA$7,204

-30.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,359 CA$4,698

$4,158 CA$5,817

-19.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,213 CA$4,495

$3,212 CA$4,493

0.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.48

4.52

-0.88%

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

Last update for Calgary: September 12, 2026

Last update for Burlington: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,284 in Calgary versus $1,680 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 0% 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 $71.0 in Calgary versus $73.0 in Burlington. Groceries tell a different story – $395 in Calgary vs $349 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 14%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,515 per month in Calgary and $4,012 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 $812 per month in Calgary and $1,199 in Burlington. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 13% 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 $2,344, than in Burlington at $2,675. 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.