Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Mississauga Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Mississauga

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,344 in Calgary versus $2,665 in Mississauga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,499 in Calgary versus $3,723 in Mississauga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,655 in Calgary versus $4,781 in Mississauga.

Living in Calgary costs roughly 12% less than in Mississauga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 70% above, Mississauga 93% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Calgary
Mississauga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.45 CA$25.59
$17.55 CA$24.34
5.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.5 CA$99.2
$71.8 CA$99.6
-0.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.68 CA$14.81
$10.75 CA$14.91
-0.65%
Cappuccino
$3.93 CA$5.46
$3.66 CA$5.08
7.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02 CA$2.80
$1.78 CA$2.47
13.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 CA$2.73
$1.40 CA$1.94
40.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.92 CA$6.82
$5.68 CA$7.88
-13.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90 CA$8.19
$5.84 CA$8.10
1.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Calgary
Mississauga
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.03 CA$2.82
$2.73 CA$3.79
-25.64%
White Bread (500g)
$2.86 CA$3.97
$2.78 CA$3.85
2.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.72 CA$7.93
$2.50 CA$3.47
128.80%
Eggs
$3.81 CA$5.29
$4.42 CA$6.12
-13.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.56 CA$16.04
$11.15 CA$15.46
3.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.95 CA$16.57
$11.24 CA$15.60
6.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.97 CA$26.30
$13.84 CA$19.19
37.07%
Apples (1kg)
$4.91 CA$6.82
$3.36 CA$4.66
46.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 CA$1.97
$1.49 CA$2.07
-4.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.36 CA$6.04
$3.52 CA$4.88
23.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.03 CA$5.59
$4.17 CA$5.78
-3.36%
Potato (1kg)
$2.72 CA$3.77
$1.95 CA$2.70
39.49%
Onion (1kg)
$2.88 CA$3.99
$2.37 CA$3.29
21.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.57 CA$3.57
$2.30 CA$3.20
11.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.49 CA$2.07
$1.52 CA$2.11
-1.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.71 CA$20.41
$14.89 CA$20.65
-1.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.57 CA$21.60
$13.07 CA$18.12
19.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 CA$3.50
$2.43 CA$3.37
3.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 CA$4.53
$2.60 CA$3.60
25.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Calgary
Mississauga
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.94 CA$4.07
$2.78 CA$3.86
5.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$89.8 CA$125
$101 CA$139
-10.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.30 CA$4.58
$3.00 CA$4.16
10.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 CA$1.90
$1.25 CA$1.74
9.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.07 CA$37.54
$21.75 CA$30.17
24.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 CA$1.69
$1.19 CA$1.65
2.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6K CA$39.6K
$29.2K CA$40.4K
-2.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.9K CA$29.0K
$20.7K CA$28.7K
0.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calgary
Mississauga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$182 CA$253
$147 CA$204
23.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.50 CA$54.8
$35.66 CA$49.46
10.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.4 CA$71.3
$47.73 CA$66.2
7.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Calgary
Mississauga
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.8 CA$76.0
$38.84 CA$53.9
40.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.79 CA$26.07
$35.78 CA$49.62
-47.48%
Cinema Ticket
$14.52 CA$20.14
$11.57 CA$16.04
25.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Calgary
Mississauga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$819 CA$1,136
$365 CA$506
124.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K CA$22.7K
$10.7K CA$14.8K
53.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Calgary
Mississauga
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.8 CA$85.8
$42.51 CA$59.0
45.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.15 CA$55.7
$39.09 CA$54.2
2.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 CA$131
$87.1 CA$121
8.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 CA$158
$104 CA$144
9.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Calgary
Mississauga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,256 CA$1,741
$1,769 CA$2,453
-29.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,089 CA$1,510
$1,479 CA$2,052
-26.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,994 CA$2,766
$2,550 CA$3,536
-21.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,706 CA$2,367
$2,132 CA$2,956
-19.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,627 CA$5,031
$7,398 CA$10.3K
-50.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,403 CA$4,719
$5,707 CA$7,915
-40.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Calgary
Mississauga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,246 CA$4,502
$3,196 CA$4,432
1.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.48
4.51
-0.67%

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

Last update for Calgary: September 6, 2026

Last update for Mississauga: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,256 in Calgary and $1,769 in Mississauga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 2% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $71.0 in Calgary vs $72.0 in Mississauga. Groceries flip the comparison at $401 vs $356, with Mississauga 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 Mississauga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mississauga cheaper than Calgary?
Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Calgary or Mississauga?
Average pay runs 2% higher in Calgary, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Calgary and Mississauga?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,256 in Calgary versus $1,769 in Mississauga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Calgary or in Mississauga?
Dining out is cheaper in Calgary – a meal for two runs $71.0 versus $72.0 in Mississauga. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Calgary and in Mississauga?
All in, you'll spend $2,344 per month in Calgary versus $2,665 in Mississauga – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Calgary or in Mississauga?
At $2,344 in Calgary versus $2,665 in Mississauga, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in Mississauga. The gap between the two cities makes Calgary the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Calgary or in Mississauga?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Calgary or Mississauga?
Safety-wise, Calgary and Mississauga 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 14% less than in Mississauga. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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