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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,523 per month in Calgary vs $2,778 in Burlington, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,652 per month in Calgary vs $4,107 in Burlington, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,780 per month in Calgary vs $5,436 in Burlington, rent included.

Calgary is about 9% cheaper than Burlington, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Calgary and Burlington sit above the global median – Calgary by 88%, Burlington by 107%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.59 CA$25.86

$20.15 CA$28.02

-7.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.0 CA$97.4

$74.4 CA$104

-5.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.96 CA$15.24

Cappuccino

$3.73 CA$5.19

$3.67 CA$5.11

1.63%

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

$1.99 CA$2.77

$2.01 CA$2.80

-1.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 CA$2.40

$1.73 CA$2.41

-0.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.01 CA$6.97

$5.85 CA$8.14

-14.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.50 CA$9.05

$6.54 CA$9.09

-0.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 CA$3.09

$1.99 CA$2.76

11.56%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 CA$3.71

$3.07 CA$4.26

-13.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 CA$4.54

$4.31 CA$5.99

-24.36%

Eggs

$3.35 CA$4.66

$3.19 CA$4.43

5.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 CA$20.16

$13.65 CA$18.98

6.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.95 CA$18.01

$9.14 CA$12.72

41.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.15 CA$22.46

$21.94 CA$30.51

-26.39%

Apples (1kg)

$4.32 CA$6.01

$3.46 CA$4.81

24.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.88

$1.42 CA$1.98

-4.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.83 CA$5.32

$3.73 CA$5.19

2.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 CA$5.81

$3.49 CA$4.86

19.77%

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 CA$3.68

$1.95 CA$2.71

35.90%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 CA$3.81

$1.79 CA$2.48

53.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.76 CA$3.84

$2.10 CA$2.93

31.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.71

$2.00 CA$2.78

-2.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.98 CA$20.83

$14.74 CA$20.50

1.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.67 CA$20.40

$12.63 CA$17.56

16.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 CA$3.95

$2.36 CA$3.29

20.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 CA$5.59

$2.33 CA$3.24

72.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.80 CA$3.90

$3.39 CA$4.72

-17.40%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.2 CA$120

$105 CA$146

-18.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.01

$2.32 CA$3.22

55.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 CA$1.83

$1.70 CA$2.37

-22.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.01 CA$40.35

$43.79 CA$60.9

-33.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.56

$1.17 CA$1.63

-4.27%

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

$24.9K CA$34.6K

$25.1K CA$34.9K

-1.09%

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

$22.0K CA$30.6K

$21.4K CA$29.8K

2.60%

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

$217 CA$302

$131 CA$182

66.28%

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

$41.55 CA$57.8

$53.2 CA$74.0

-21.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.1 CA$80.8

$62.1 CA$86.3

-6.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 CA$76.1

$45.44 CA$63.2

20.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.8 CA$73.5

$23.28 CA$32.38

126.89%

Cinema Ticket

$12.77 CA$17.75

$11.22 CA$15.60

13.81%

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

$874 CA$1,215

$952 CA$1,324

-8.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.2K

$24.0K CA$33.3K

-33.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 CA$81.8

$62.1 CA$86.4

-5.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.47 CA$64.6

$69.4 CA$96.5

-33.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 CA$121

$87.5 CA$122

-0.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CA$151

$136 CA$189

-20.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,414 CA$1,966

$1,733 CA$2,410

-18.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,172 CA$1,630

$1,470 CA$2,045

-20.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,319 CA$3,225

$2,640 CA$3,671

-12.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,886 CA$2,623

$2,440 CA$3,393

-22.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,892 CA$5,413

$5,745 CA$7,989

-32.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,503 CA$4,872

$4,546 CA$6,322

-22.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,149 CA$4,380

$3,278 CA$4,559

-3.94%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Burlington: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,414 in Calgary versus $1,733 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 4% 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 $74.0 in Burlington. Groceries tell a different story – $397 in Calgary vs $375 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 10%, 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 $3,785 per month in Calgary and $4,167 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 $952 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.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,523 in Calgary and $2,778 in Burlington. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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.