Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Ottawa Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Ottawa

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Calgary is 1.4% more expensive than Ottawa without rent, and 1.1% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Calgary is 2.7% more expensive than Ottawa without rent, and 3.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Calgary
Ottawa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.19 CA$24.76
$18.21 CA$24.78
-0.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.5 CA$96
$73.2 CA$99.7
-3.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.19 CA$15.23
$11.37 CA$15.47
-1.58%
Cappuccino
$3.77 CA$5.13
$3.98 CA$5.41
-5.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 CA$2.68
$2.14 CA$2.91
-7.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 CA$2.35
$1.71 CA$2.33
1.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.28 CA$7.19
$5.84 CA$7.95
-9.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.71 CA$9.13
$6.8 CA$9.26
-1.32%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Calgary
Ottawa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.21 CA$3.01
$2.32 CA$3.15
-4.74%
White Bread (500g)
$2.77 CA$3.78
$2.73 CA$3.71
1.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.41 CA$4.65
$3.35 CA$4.56
1.79%
Eggs
$3.42 CA$4.65
$3.54 CA$4.82
-3.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 CA$19.51
$11.07 CA$15.07
29.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.6 CA$17.15
$12.84 CA$17.48
-1.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.99 CA$21.76
$16.08 CA$21.89
-0.56%
Apples (1kg)
$4.49 CA$6.11
$4.41 CA$6
1.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.34 CA$1.82
$1.41 CA$1.92
-4.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.83 CA$5.22
$3.54 CA$4.82
8.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.35 CA$5.92
$3.68 CA$5.01
18.21%
Potato (1kg)
$2.63 CA$3.58
$2.57 CA$3.49
2.33%
Onion (1kg)
$2.63 CA$3.58
$3.08 CA$4.19
-14.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.74 CA$3.73
$2.17 CA$2.95
26.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 CA$2.54
$1.56 CA$2.12
19.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.02 CA$20.44
$13.88 CA$18.89
8.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.43 CA$19.65
$13.37 CA$18.2
7.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.86 CA$3.89
$2.52 CA$3.43
13.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.82 CA$5.19
$3.21 CA$4.36
19.00%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Calgary
Ottawa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.83 CA$3.85
$2.88 CA$3.92
-1.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$86 CA$117
$98.4 CA$134
-12.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.56 CA$4.84
$2.75 CA$3.75
29.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.36 CA$1.85
$1.44 CA$1.96
-5.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.68 CA$39.03
$19.5 CA$26.55
47.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 CA$1.46
$1.15 CA$1.56
-6.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K CA$33.4K
$24.7K CA$33.7K
-0.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K CA$29.7K
$22.2K CA$30.2K
-1.96%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calgary
Ottawa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$210 CA$285
$158 CA$216
32.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.82 CA$56.9
$42.16 CA$57.4
-0.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.8 CA$78.7
$51.4 CA$70
12.45%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Calgary
Ottawa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.3 CA$72.6
$47.57 CA$64.8
12.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$53.6 CA$72.9
$15.85 CA$21.58
238.04%
Cinema Ticket
$12.62 CA$17.17
$11.01 CA$14.99
14.62%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Calgary
Ottawa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$867 CA$1,180
$916 CA$1,247
-5.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.1K CA$21.9K
$16K CA$21.7K
0.81%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Calgary
Ottawa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.5 CA$78.3
$53 CA$72.2
8.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.96 CA$63.9
$40.34 CA$54.9
16.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.7 CA$118
$91.5 CA$124
-5.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 CA$144
$95.6 CA$130
10.96%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Calgary
Ottawa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,394 CA$1,897
$1,508 CA$2,052
-7.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,168 CA$1,589
$1,258 CA$1,712
-7.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,339 CA$3,184
$2,320 CA$3,158
0.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,885 CA$2,566
$1,874 CA$2,551
0.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,575 CA$4,867
$4,905 CA$6,677
-27.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,139 CA$4,273
$3,178 CA$4,326
-1.21%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Calgary
Ottawa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,990 CA$4,070
$3,290 CA$4,479
-9.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.71
5.48
4.20%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Calgary: October 29, 2025

Last update for Ottawa: October 28, 2025

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