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: $2,462 in Calgary versus $2,547 in Kitchener.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,628 in Calgary versus $3,605 in Kitchener.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,795 in Calgary versus $4,662 in Kitchener.

Living in Calgary costs roughly 3% less than in Kitchener, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 84% above, Kitchener 91% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.33 CA$25.70

$21.97 CA$30.81

-16.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.9 CA$98.0

$72.4 CA$102

-3.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.95 CA$15.35

$11.63 CA$16.30

-5.85%

Cappuccino

$3.74 CA$5.24

$4.26 CA$5.97

-12.21%

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

$2.04 CA$2.86

$1.87 CA$2.62

9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.34

$1.74 CA$2.44

-4.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.20 CA$7.29

$5.61 CA$7.86

-7.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 CA$9.41

$5.88 CA$8.24

14.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 CA$3.15

$2.44 CA$3.42

-7.79%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 CA$3.85

$2.29 CA$3.21

20.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.23 CA$4.53

$3.52 CA$4.93

-8.24%

Eggs

$3.45 CA$4.83

$3.21 CA$4.50

7.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 CA$20.19

$11.79 CA$16.52

22.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.89 CA$18.07

$12.75 CA$17.88

1.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 CA$22.24

$16.36 CA$22.94

-3.06%

Apples (1kg)

$4.30 CA$6.02

$4.21 CA$5.90

2.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.88

$2.04 CA$2.85

-34.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.85 CA$5.40

$3.75 CA$5.26

2.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.97

$4.59 CA$6.44

-7.41%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 CA$3.57

$3.23 CA$4.52

-21.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.68

$3.33 CA$4.66

-21.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 CA$3.92

$2.23 CA$3.13

25.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.73

$1.62 CA$2.27

20.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.97 CA$20.99

$10.88 CA$15.26

37.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.90 CA$19.49

$12.27 CA$17.20

13.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 CA$4.10

$2.51 CA$3.52

16.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 CA$5.48

$2.51 CA$3.52

55.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.84

$2.84 CA$3.98

-3.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.8 CA$123

$66.4 CA$93.1

32.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.04

$2.56 CA$3.59

40.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 CA$1.82

$1.70 CA$2.39

-23.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.70 CA$40.24

$29.49 CA$41.34

-2.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.57

$1.09 CA$1.53

2.75%

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

$25.5K CA$35.7K

$25.1K CA$35.2K

1.58%

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

$21.7K CA$30.5K

$19.9K CA$27.9K

9.08%

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

$213 CA$299

$161 CA$225

32.64%

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

$40.96 CA$57.4

$36.36 CA$51.0

12.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 CA$81.2

$56.3 CA$79.0

2.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 CA$76.0

$33.67 CA$47.20

60.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.4

$20.49 CA$28.73

162.32%

Cinema Ticket

$12.63 CA$17.71

$15.03 CA$21.08

-15.97%

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

$874 CA$1,226

$564 CA$790

55.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.3K

$12.6K CA$17.6K

26.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 CA$82.2

$51.4 CA$72.1

13.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.01 CA$65.9

$34.66 CA$48.59

35.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 CA$119

$68.9 CA$96.6

23.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$151

$104 CA$146

3.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,380 CA$1,935

$1,430 CA$2,005

-3.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,159 CA$1,625

$1,293 CA$1,812

-10.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,324 CA$3,259

$1,929 CA$2,705

20.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,905 CA$2,670

$1,870 CA$2,622

1.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,786 CA$5,308

$3,859 CA$5,411

-1.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,511 CA$4,922

$3,440 CA$4,823

2.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,940 CA$4,121

$2,948 CA$4,133

-0.28%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Kitchener: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,380 in Calgary and $1,430 in Kitchener. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kitchener pays 0% 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 $72.0 in Kitchener. Groceries flip the comparison at $396 vs $380, 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 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 0% lower in Kitchener. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,380 in Calgary versus $1,430 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 $72.0 in Kitchener. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,462 per month in Calgary versus $2,547 in Kitchener – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,462 in Calgary versus $2,547 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 3% less than in Kitchener. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.