Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Kingston upon Thames Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Kingston upon Thames

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,523 in Calgary versus $3,330 in Kingston upon Thames.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,652 in Calgary versus $4,854 in Kingston upon Thames.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,780 in Calgary versus $6,379 in Kingston upon Thames.

Living in Calgary costs roughly 24% less than in Kingston upon Thames, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 88% above, Kingston upon Thames 149% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Calgary
Kingston upon Thames
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.59 CA$25.83
$22.67 £16.88
-18.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.0 CA$97.3
$86.6 £64.5
-19.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.96 CA$15.22
$10.26 £7.64
6.82%
Cappuccino
$3.73 CA$5.19
$5.29 £3.94
-29.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 CA$2.76
$2.87 £2.14
-30.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 CA$2.39
$1.87 £1.39
-8.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.01 CA$6.97
$8.67 £6.45
-42.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.50 CA$9.04
$8.28 £6.17
-21.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Calgary
Kingston upon Thames
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.22 CA$3.09
$1.66 £1.23
33.73%
White Bread (500g)
$2.67 CA$3.71
$1.54 £1.15
73.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 CA$4.53
$2.81 £2.09
16.01%
Eggs
$3.35 CA$4.66
$4.12 £3.07
-18.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.50 CA$20.14
$10.06 £7.49
44.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.95 CA$17.99
$8.82 £6.57
46.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.15 CA$22.44
$14.89 £11.09
8.46%
Apples (1kg)
$4.32 CA$6.00
$3.41 £2.54
26.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.35 CA$1.88
$2.04 £1.52
-33.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.83 CA$5.32
$2.95 £2.20
29.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.18 CA$5.81
$3.61 £2.69
15.79%
Potato (1kg)
$2.65 CA$3.68
$1.51 £1.12
75.50%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 CA$3.81
$1.87 £1.39
46.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.76 CA$3.84
$1.05 £0.78
162.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 CA$2.71
$1.94 £1.44
0.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.98 CA$20.81
$17.64 £13.14
-15.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.67 CA$20.38
$11.34 £8.44
29.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.84 CA$3.95
$3.18 £2.37
-10.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02 CA$5.58
$3.93 £2.93
2.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Calgary
Kingston upon Thames
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.80 CA$3.89
$2.36 £1.76
18.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$86.2 CA$120
$43.38 £32.31
98.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.60 CA$5.00
$5.12 £3.82
-29.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.32 CA$1.83
$2.18 £1.62
-39.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.01 CA$40.31
$34.62 £25.78
-16.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 CA$1.56
$1.95 £1.45
-42.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K CA$34.5K
$38.2K £28.5K
-34.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K CA$30.5K
$39.0K £29.0K
-43.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calgary
Kingston upon Thames
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$217 CA$302
$327 £243
-33.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.55 CA$57.7
$15.81 £11.77
162.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.1 CA$80.7
$41.55 £30.95
39.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Calgary
Kingston upon Thames
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.7 CA$76.0
$90.6 £67.5
-39.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$52.8 CA$73.4
$9.37 £6.98
463.71%
Cinema Ticket
$12.77 CA$17.74
$20.44 £15.22
-37.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Calgary
Kingston upon Thames
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$874 CA$1,214
$1,892 £1,409
-53.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K CA$22.1K
$17.6K £13.1K
-9.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Calgary
Kingston upon Thames
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 CA$81.7
$86.6 £64.5
-32.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.47 CA$64.6
$42.69 £31.80
8.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.2 CA$121
$86.7 £64.6
0.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 CA$151
$140 £104
-22.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Calgary
Kingston upon Thames
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,414 CA$1,964
$2,072 £1,543
-31.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,172 CA$1,629
$1,865 £1,389
-37.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,319 CA$3,222
$3,725 £2,774
-37.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,886 CA$2,621
$3,252 £2,422
-41.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,892 CA$5,407
$16.6K £12.4K
-76.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,503 CA$4,867
$4,376 £3,259
-19.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Calgary
Kingston upon Thames
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,149 CA$4,375
$4,768 £3,551
-33.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.71
5.9
-3.22%

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

Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026

Last update for Kingston upon Thames: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,414 in Calgary and $2,072 in Kingston upon Thames. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kingston upon Thames pays 51% 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 $87.0 in Kingston upon Thames. Groceries flip the comparison at $397 vs $320, with Kingston upon Thames cheaper for home cooking.

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 Kingston upon Thames: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kingston upon Thames cheaper than Calgary?
Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 32% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Calgary or Kingston upon Thames?
On paper, Kingston upon Thames earns 51% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Calgary and Kingston upon Thames?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,414 in Calgary versus $2,072 in Kingston upon Thames. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Calgary or Kingston upon Thames?
Dining out is cheaper in Calgary – a meal for two runs $70.0 versus $87.0 in Kingston upon Thames. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Calgary vs Kingston upon Thames?
All in, you'll spend $2,523 per month in Calgary versus $3,330 in Kingston upon Thames – a 32% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Calgary or Kingston upon Thames?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Calgary is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is Calgary or Kingston upon Thames more family-friendly?
For families, Calgary is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Kingston upon Thames, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Calgary or Kingston upon Thames?
Safety-wise, Calgary and Kingston upon Thames are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Calgary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Kingston upon Thames. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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