Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Stratford, ON Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Stratford, ON

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,517 in Calgary versus $2,038 in Stratford, ON.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,646 in Calgary versus $3,255 in Stratford, ON.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,776 in Calgary versus $4,472 in Stratford, ON.

Living in Calgary is roughly 24% more expensive than Stratford, ON, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 87% above, Stratford, ON 52% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.37 CA$25.65

$15.45 CA$21.57

18.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.7 CA$97.4

$71.5 CA$99.8

-2.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.88 CA$15.19

$11.58 CA$16.17

-6.04%

Cappuccino

$3.69 CA$5.16

$3.71 CA$5.18

-0.54%

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

$2.03 CA$2.84

$1.85 CA$2.58

9.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 CA$2.43

$1.51 CA$2.11

15.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.30 CA$7.40

$5.11 CA$7.14

3.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.74 CA$9.42

$3.02 CA$4.22

123.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 CA$3.12

$1.79 CA$2.50

24.58%

White Bread (500g)

$2.68 CA$3.75

$1.85 CA$2.58

44.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.35 CA$4.68

$3.22 CA$4.50

4.04%

Eggs

$3.33 CA$4.65

$2.09 CA$2.92

59.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.41 CA$20.12

$5.18 CA$7.23

178.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.50 CA$17.46

$7.46 CA$10.42

67.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.33 CA$22.81

$25.72 CA$35.92

-36.51%

Apples (1kg)

$4.28 CA$5.98

$4.05 CA$5.65

5.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.89

$0.85 CA$1.18

58.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.22

$3.16 CA$4.41

18.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.17 CA$5.83

$2.27 CA$3.17

83.70%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 CA$3.58

$2.96 CA$4.14

-13.51%

Onion (1kg)

$2.68 CA$3.74

$2.55 CA$3.57

5.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.66 CA$3.71

$2.33 CA$3.25

14.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 CA$2.62

$1.45 CA$2.02

29.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.66 CA$20.47

$10.79 CA$15.06

35.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.23 CA$19.87

$11.03 CA$15.41

29.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.95 CA$4.12

$2.71 CA$3.78

8.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.89 CA$5.44

$2.69 CA$3.76

44.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 CA$3.79

$2.19 CA$3.06

23.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.7 CA$122

$51.6 CA$72.1

69.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.46 CA$4.83

$2.31 CA$3.23

49.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 CA$1.81

$1.75 CA$2.44

-25.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.30 CA$39.52

$32.56 CA$45.48

-13.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 CA$1.52

$1.10 CA$1.53

-0.91%

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

$25.0K CA$34.9K

$25.3K CA$35.4K

-1.17%

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

$22.2K CA$31.0K

$21.5K CA$30.0K

3.54%

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

$211 CA$295

$132 CA$185

59.75%

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

$40.40 CA$56.4

$53.3 CA$74.5

-24.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.5 CA$81.7

$58.1 CA$81.1

0.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.8 CA$75.1

$44.00 CA$61.5

22.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.2

$20.09 CA$28.05

167.89%

Cinema Ticket

$12.64 CA$17.66

$10.51 CA$14.68

20.27%

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

$865 CA$1,208

$946 CA$1,321

-8.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K CA$22.4K

$10.9K CA$15.2K

48.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 CA$81.1

$48.22 CA$67.3

20.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.18 CA$65.9

$38.09 CA$53.2

23.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.4 CA$119

$83.6 CA$117

2.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 CA$148

$126 CA$176

-15.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,416 CA$1,977

$1,354 CA$1,891

4.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,153 CA$1,611

$949 CA$1,325

21.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,370 CA$3,309

$2,240 CA$3,128

5.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,864 CA$2,603

$1,947 CA$2,718

-4.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,834 CA$5,354

$3,758 CA$5,248

2.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,443 CA$4,808

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,105 CA$4,337

$2,768 CA$3,865

12.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.55

-12.82%

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

Last update for Calgary: June 7, 2026

Last update for Stratford, ON: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,416 in Calgary and $1,354 in Stratford, ON. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 12% 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: $70.0 in Calgary vs $71.0 in Stratford, ON. Groceries flip the comparison at $393 vs $319, with Stratford, ON 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 Stratford, ON: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Stratford, ON is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Calgary pays 12% 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: $1,416 in Calgary versus $1,354 in Stratford, ON. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Stratford, ON – a meal for two runs $71.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,517 per month in Calgary versus $2,038 in Stratford, ON – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,038 in Stratford, ON versus $2,517 in Calgary, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Stratford, ON but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Stratford, ON the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 Stratford, ON gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.