Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Richmond Hill Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Richmond Hill

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,523 in Calgary versus $3,100 in Richmond Hill.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,652 in Calgary versus $4,206 in Richmond Hill.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,780 in Calgary versus $5,311 in Richmond Hill.

Living in Calgary costs roughly 19% less than in Richmond Hill, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 88% above, Richmond Hill 131% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.59 CA$25.86

$18.78 CA$26.11

-1.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.0 CA$97.4

$81.8 CA$114

-14.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.96 CA$15.24

$8.93 CA$12.42

22.73%

Cappuccino

$3.73 CA$5.19

$3.23 CA$4.49

15.48%

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

$1.99 CA$2.77

$2.02 CA$2.81

-1.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 CA$2.40

$1.47 CA$2.05

17.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.01 CA$6.97

$5.82 CA$8.10

-13.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.50 CA$9.05

$7.20 CA$10.01

-9.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 CA$3.09

$2.31 CA$3.21

-3.90%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 CA$3.71

$2.57 CA$3.57

3.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 CA$4.54

$2.27 CA$3.16

43.61%

Eggs

$3.35 CA$4.66

$3.74 CA$5.20

-10.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 CA$20.16

$13.71 CA$19.07

5.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.95 CA$18.01

$11.21 CA$15.59

15.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.15 CA$22.46

$14.89 CA$20.71

8.46%

Apples (1kg)

$4.32 CA$6.01

$4.40 CA$6.12

-1.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.88

$1.25 CA$1.73

8.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.83 CA$5.32

$2.83 CA$3.93

35.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 CA$5.81

$3.38 CA$4.70

23.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 CA$3.68

$2.46 CA$3.42

7.72%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 CA$3.81

$2.19 CA$3.05

25.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.76 CA$3.84

$1.89 CA$2.63

46.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.71

$0.95 CA$1.32

105.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.98 CA$20.83

$12.02 CA$16.71

24.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.67 CA$20.40

$12.93 CA$17.99

13.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 CA$3.95

$1.95 CA$2.71

45.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 CA$5.59

$2.40 CA$3.33

67.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.80 CA$3.90

$2.76 CA$3.84

1.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.2 CA$120

$113 CA$157

-23.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.01

$3.05 CA$4.25

18.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 CA$1.83

$1.06 CA$1.48

24.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.01 CA$40.35

$22.17 CA$30.83

30.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.56

$1.09 CA$1.52

2.75%

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

$24.9K CA$34.6K

$25.4K CA$35.3K

-1.97%

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

$22.0K CA$30.6K

$20.1K CA$28.0K

9.24%

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

$217 CA$302

$179 CA$248

21.57%

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

$41.55 CA$57.8

$42.79 CA$59.5

-2.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.1 CA$80.8

$57.8 CA$80.4

0.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 CA$76.1

$44.32 CA$61.6

23.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.8 CA$73.5

Cinema Ticket

$12.77 CA$17.75

$12.65 CA$17.59

0.95%

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

$874 CA$1,215

$419 CA$582

108.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.2K

$15.4K CA$21.5K

3.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 CA$81.8

$47.25 CA$65.7

24.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.47 CA$64.6

$43.25 CA$60.1

7.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 CA$121

$62.5 CA$86.9

39.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CA$151

$88.9 CA$124

22.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,414 CA$1,966

$1,804 CA$2,509

-21.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,172 CA$1,630

$1,861 CA$2,588

-37.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,319 CA$3,225

$3,057 CA$4,251

-24.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,886 CA$2,623

$2,544 CA$3,538

-25.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,892 CA$5,413

$6,687 CA$9,299

-41.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,503 CA$4,872

$5,570 CA$7,747

-37.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,149 CA$4,380

$3,000 CA$4,172

4.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.59

-13.35%

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

Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026

Last update for Richmond Hill: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,414 in Calgary and $1,804 in Richmond Hill. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 5% 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 $82.0 in Richmond Hill. Groceries flip the comparison at $397 vs $344, with Richmond Hill 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 Richmond Hill: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Calgary pays 5% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,414 in Calgary versus $1,804 in Richmond Hill. 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 $82.0 in Richmond Hill. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,523 per month in Calgary versus $3,100 in Richmond Hill – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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.

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.

Expats usually find Calgary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Richmond Hill. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.