🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,523 in Calgary versus $2,780 in Mississauga.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,652 in Calgary versus $3,929 in Mississauga.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,780 in Calgary versus $5,079 in Mississauga.
🙂Living in Calgary costs roughly 9% less than in Mississauga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary88% above, Mississauga107% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Calgary
Mississauga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.59CA$25.83
$18.63CA$25.89
-0.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.0CA$97.3
$81.3CA$113
-13.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.96CA$15.22
$10.86CA$15.09
0.92%
Cappuccino
$3.73CA$5.19
$4.01CA$5.58
-6.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99CA$2.76
$1.71CA$2.37
16.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72CA$2.39
$1.51CA$2.09
13.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.01CA$6.97
$6.00CA$8.33
-16.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.50CA$9.04
$6.00CA$8.34
8.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Calgary
Mississauga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.22CA$3.09
$2.33CA$3.24
-4.72%
White Bread(500g)
$2.67CA$3.71
$2.48CA$3.45
7.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.26CA$4.53
$2.71CA$3.77
20.30%
Eggs
$3.35CA$4.66
$3.88CA$5.38
-13.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.50CA$20.14
$13.72CA$19.06
5.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.95CA$17.99
$11.52CA$16.01
12.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.15CA$22.44
$14.85CA$20.63
8.75%
Apples(1kg)
$4.32CA$6.00
$3.50CA$4.86
23.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.35CA$1.88
$1.24CA$1.73
8.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.83CA$5.32
$2.92CA$4.06
31.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.18CA$5.81
$3.54CA$4.91
18.08%
Potato(1kg)
$2.65CA$3.68
$1.66CA$2.31
59.64%
Onion(1kg)
$2.74CA$3.81
$2.50CA$3.48
9.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.76CA$3.84
$1.82CA$2.53
51.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.95CA$2.71
$1.63CA$2.26
19.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.98CA$20.81
$12.16CA$16.90
23.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.67CA$20.38
$12.96CA$18.00
13.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.84CA$3.95
$2.56CA$3.56
10.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02CA$5.58
$2.57CA$3.57
56.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Calgary
Mississauga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.80CA$3.89
$3.01CA$4.18
-6.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$86.2CA$120
$96.3CA$134
-10.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.60CA$5.00
$3.15CA$4.38
14.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.32CA$1.83
$1.20CA$1.67
10.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.01CA$40.31
$22.14CA$30.76
31.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.12CA$1.56
$1.10CA$1.53
1.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9KCA$34.5K
$25.5KCA$35.4K
-2.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0KCA$30.5K
$20.7KCA$28.8K
6.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calgary
Mississauga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$217CA$302
$179CA$248
21.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.55CA$57.7
$41.99CA$58.3
-1.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.1CA$80.7
$53.9CA$74.8
7.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Calgary
Mississauga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.7CA$76.0
$44.28CA$61.5
23.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$52.8CA$73.4
$23.71CA$32.94
122.78%
Cinema Ticket
$12.77CA$17.74
$13.83CA$19.21
-7.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Calgary
Mississauga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$874CA$1,214
$430CA$597
103.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9KCA$22.1K
$10.9KCA$15.1K
46.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Calgary
Mississauga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8CA$81.7
$47.23CA$65.6
24.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.47CA$64.6
$44.12CA$61.3
5.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.2CA$121
$85.9CA$119
1.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109CA$151
$104CA$145
4.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Calgary
Mississauga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,414CA$1,964
$1,890CA$2,626
-25.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,172CA$1,629
$1,588CA$2,206
-26.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,319CA$3,222
$2,718CA$3,776
-14.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,886CA$2,621
$2,389CA$3,320
-21.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,892CA$5,407
$7,904CA$11.0K
-50.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,503CA$4,867
$6,306CA$8,761
-44.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Calgary
Mississauga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,149CA$4,375
$3,091CA$4,295
1.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.71
6.08
-6.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026
Last update for Mississauga: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,414 in Calgary and $1,890 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: $70.0 in Calgary vs $81.0 in Mississauga. Groceries flip the comparison at $397 vs $353, 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 Eating Out, Getting Around. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Calgary or Mississauga?
Calgary pays 2% more on average, 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: $1,414 in Calgary versus $1,890 in Mississauga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Calgary or Mississauga?
Dining out is cheaper in Calgary – a meal for two runs $70.0 versus $81.0 in Mississauga. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Calgary vs Mississauga?
All in, you'll spend $2,523 per month in Calgary versus $2,780 in Mississauga – a 10% 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 Mississauga?
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 it better to live in Calgary or 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 10% less than in Mississauga. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.