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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,353 in Calgary versus $2,445 in Ottawa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,488 in Calgary versus $3,628 in Ottawa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,622 in Calgary versus $4,812 in Ottawa.

Living in Calgary costs roughly 4% less than in Ottawa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 71% above, Ottawa 78% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.94 CA$24.82

$19.57 CA$27.08

-8.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.5 CA$97.6

$76.1 CA$105

-7.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.69 CA$14.79

$10.94 CA$15.13

-2.29%

Cappuccino

$3.79 CA$5.24

$3.99 CA$5.52

-5.01%

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

$2.00 CA$2.77

$2.06 CA$2.85

-2.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 CA$2.73

$1.76 CA$2.44

12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.19 CA$7.18

$5.75 CA$7.96

-9.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 CA$8.11

$6.31 CA$8.73

-7.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 CA$2.70

$2.26 CA$3.13

-13.72%

White Bread (500g)

$2.82 CA$3.91

$3.03 CA$4.20

-6.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 CA$7.77

$3.29 CA$4.55

70.52%

Eggs

$3.75 CA$5.19

$3.41 CA$4.72

9.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.50 CA$15.91

$10.98 CA$15.19

4.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.46 CA$15.86

$11.34 CA$15.69

1.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.95 CA$26.23

$17.69 CA$24.47

7.12%

Apples (1kg)

$4.83 CA$6.69

$3.78 CA$5.23

27.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 CA$1.89

$1.37 CA$1.90

Oranges (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.88

$3.88 CA$5.36

9.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.15 CA$5.74

$3.79 CA$5.25

9.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.70 CA$3.74

$2.73 CA$3.78

-1.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 CA$3.91

$2.42 CA$3.34

16.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.64 CA$3.65

$2.70 CA$3.73

-2.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 CA$2.09

$1.58 CA$2.19

-4.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.60 CA$20.21

$14.58 CA$20.18

0.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.76 CA$21.80

$12.15 CA$16.81

29.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 CA$3.59

$2.77 CA$3.84

-6.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 CA$4.26

$3.62 CA$5.02

-14.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.93 CA$4.05

$2.95 CA$4.09

-0.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.3 CA$124

$97.3 CA$135

-8.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 CA$4.59

$2.76 CA$3.82

20.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 CA$1.98

$1.55 CA$2.14

-7.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.71 CA$38.34

$19.22 CA$26.59

44.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 CA$1.74

$1.20 CA$1.66

5.00%

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

$28.9K CA$40.0K

$29.0K CA$40.1K

-0.25%

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

$21.3K CA$29.5K

$22.2K CA$30.7K

-3.71%

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

$183 CA$253

$141 CA$195

29.97%

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

$38.31 CA$53.0

$37.17 CA$51.4

3.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.7 CA$71.5

$51.5 CA$71.3

0.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.9 CA$75.9

$46.10 CA$63.8

19.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 CA$25.82

$28.94 CA$40.05

-35.52%

Cinema Ticket

$14.26 CA$19.73

$12.91 CA$17.86

10.46%

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

$828 CA$1,146

$959 CA$1,327

-13.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.0K

$16.4K CA$22.7K

-2.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.6 CA$82.4

$62.9 CA$87.1

-5.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.47 CA$54.6

$38.84 CA$53.7

1.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 CA$131

$107 CA$149

-12.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 CA$156

$101 CA$139

12.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,265 CA$1,750

$1,501 CA$2,077

-15.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,051 CA$1,454

$1,258 CA$1,741

-16.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,934 CA$2,676

$2,326 CA$3,218

-16.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,700 CA$2,352

$1,916 CA$2,652

-11.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,680 CA$5,092

$4,418 CA$6,113

-16.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,333 CA$4,613

$4,702 CA$6,507

-29.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,276 CA$4,533

$3,760 CA$5,203

-12.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.4

4.17

5.52%

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

Last update for Calgary: September 1, 2026

Last update for Ottawa: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,265 in Calgary and $1,501 in Ottawa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ottawa pays 15% 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: $71.0 in Calgary vs $76.0 in Ottawa. Groceries flip the comparison at $397 vs $372, with Ottawa 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 Ottawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 15% lower in Ottawa. 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: $1,265 in Calgary versus $1,501 in Ottawa. 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 $71.0 versus $76.0 in Ottawa. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,353 per month in Calgary versus $2,445 in Ottawa – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,353 in Calgary versus $2,445 in Ottawa, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in Ottawa. 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 Ottawa, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Calgary and Ottawa 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 4% less than in Ottawa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.