Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Kitchener Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Kitchener

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,523 in Calgary versus $2,559 in Kitchener.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,652 in Calgary versus $3,593 in Kitchener.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,780 in Calgary versus $4,626 in Kitchener.

Living in Calgary costs roughly 1% less than in Kitchener, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 88% above, Kitchener 91% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.59 CA$25.74

$22.11 CA$30.61

-15.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.0 CA$97.0

$73.9 CA$102

-5.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.96 CA$15.17

$11.40 CA$15.78

-3.86%

Cappuccino

$3.73 CA$5.17

$4.47 CA$6.19

-16.55%

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

$1.99 CA$2.75

$1.82 CA$2.53

9.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 CA$2.39

$1.74 CA$2.42

-1.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.01 CA$6.94

$5.49 CA$7.60

-8.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.50 CA$9.01

$5.75 CA$7.96

13.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 CA$3.08

$2.53 CA$3.50

-12.25%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 CA$3.69

$2.37 CA$3.28

12.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 CA$4.52

$3.70 CA$5.13

-11.89%

Eggs

$3.35 CA$4.64

$3.12 CA$4.31

7.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 CA$20.07

$11.87 CA$16.43

22.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.95 CA$17.93

$13.14 CA$18.19

-1.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.15 CA$22.36

$16.55 CA$22.91

-2.42%

Apples (1kg)

$4.32 CA$5.98

$4.13 CA$5.72

4.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.88

$2.08 CA$2.88

-35.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.83 CA$5.30

$3.58 CA$4.96

6.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 CA$5.79

$4.81 CA$6.66

-13.10%

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 CA$3.67

$3.21 CA$4.44

-17.45%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 CA$3.79

$3.38 CA$4.68

-18.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.76 CA$3.82

$2.18 CA$3.02

26.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.70

$1.56 CA$2.16

25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.98 CA$20.74

$10.98 CA$15.20

36.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.67 CA$20.31

$12.41 CA$17.19

18.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 CA$3.94

$2.59 CA$3.59

9.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 CA$5.56

$2.52 CA$3.49

59.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.80 CA$3.88

$2.81 CA$3.89

-0.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.2 CA$119

$67.6 CA$93.6

27.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$4.99

$2.62 CA$3.62

37.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 CA$1.82

$1.68 CA$2.33

-21.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.01 CA$40.17

$29.70 CA$41.12

-2.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.55

$1.09 CA$1.52

2.75%

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

$24.9K CA$34.4K

$25.1K CA$34.7K

-0.94%

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

$22.0K CA$30.4K

$19.9K CA$27.5K

10.56%

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

$217 CA$301

$160 CA$222

35.68%

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

$41.55 CA$57.5

$37.07 CA$51.3

12.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.1 CA$80.4

$57.1 CA$79.0

1.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 CA$75.8

$33.85 CA$46.87

61.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.8 CA$73.1

$20.34 CA$28.16

159.69%

Cinema Ticket

$12.77 CA$17.68

$14.83 CA$20.53

-13.89%

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

$874 CA$1,210

$565 CA$782

54.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.1K

$12.8K CA$17.7K

24.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 CA$81.5

$51.9 CA$71.9

13.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.47 CA$64.4

$34.36 CA$47.58

35.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 CA$121

$68.8 CA$95.3

26.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CA$151

$102 CA$141

6.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,414 CA$1,957

$1,431 CA$1,981

-1.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,172 CA$1,623

$1,297 CA$1,796

-9.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,319 CA$3,211

$1,918 CA$2,656

20.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,886 CA$2,612

$1,822 CA$2,523

3.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,892 CA$5,389

$4,010 CA$5,552

-2.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,503 CA$4,851

$3,565 CA$4,935

-1.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,149 CA$4,360

$3,038 CA$4,207

3.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.3

-9.37%

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

Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026

Last update for Kitchener: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,414 in Calgary and $1,431 in Kitchener. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $70.0 in Calgary vs $74.0 in Kitchener. Groceries flip the comparison at $397 vs $385, with Kitchener 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 Kitchener: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Calgary pays 4% 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 $1,431 in Kitchener. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Calgary – a meal for two runs $70.0 versus $74.0 in Kitchener. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,523 per month in Calgary versus $2,559 in Kitchener – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,523 in Calgary versus $2,559 in Kitchener, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in Kitchener. The gap between the two cities makes Calgary the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Calgary is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Kitchener, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Calgary and Kitchener are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Calgary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Kitchener. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.