Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Toronto Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Toronto

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,432 in Calgary versus $2,776 in Toronto.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,624 in Calgary versus $4,051 in Toronto.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,816 in Calgary versus $5,325 in Toronto.

Living in Calgary costs roughly 12% less than in Toronto, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 82% above, Toronto 108% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.52 CA$26.12

$18.95 CA$26.72

-2.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.6 CA$99.6

$83.9 CA$118

-15.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.03 CA$15.55

$10.97 CA$15.47

0.55%

Cappuccino

$3.88 CA$5.48

$3.97 CA$5.60

-2.27%

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

$1.97 CA$2.79

$2.15 CA$3.03

-8.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 CA$2.34

$1.64 CA$2.31

1.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.19 CA$7.32

$6.06 CA$8.54

-14.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.58 CA$9.28

$6.79 CA$9.58

-3.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.21 CA$3.11

$2.71 CA$3.82

-18.45%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 CA$3.77

$2.75 CA$3.88

-2.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.35 CA$4.72

$3.58 CA$5.05

-6.42%

Eggs

$3.39 CA$4.78

$3.47 CA$4.89

-2.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.59 CA$20.58

$13.60 CA$19.18

7.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.95 CA$18.27

$13.37 CA$18.86

-3.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.84 CA$22.34

$16.87 CA$23.80

-6.11%

Apples (1kg)

$4.30 CA$6.07

$4.19 CA$5.91

2.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 CA$1.84

$1.14 CA$1.61

14.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 CA$5.47

$3.23 CA$4.56

20.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.22 CA$5.96

$3.98 CA$5.62

6.03%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 CA$3.60

$2.48 CA$3.50

2.82%

Onion (1kg)

$2.72 CA$3.84

$2.82 CA$3.98

-3.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 CA$3.87

$2.35 CA$3.32

16.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 CA$2.73

$1.96 CA$2.77

-1.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.00 CA$21.15

$14.81 CA$20.89

1.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.67 CA$20.69

$14.21 CA$20.04

3.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 CA$4.07

$2.70 CA$3.80

7.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 CA$5.68

$3.14 CA$4.42

28.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.79 CA$3.94

$2.54 CA$3.58

9.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$85.7 CA$121

$116 CA$163

-26.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.59 CA$5.06

$3.57 CA$5.04

0.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 CA$1.91

$1.40 CA$1.98

-3.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.84 CA$40.68

$25.54 CA$36.02

12.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 CA$1.53

$1.09 CA$1.54

-0.92%

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

$25.4K CA$35.8K

0.03%

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

$21.7K CA$30.6K

$21.3K CA$30.0K

1.98%

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

$216 CA$304

$116 CA$164

85.09%

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

$41.66 CA$58.8

$37.15 CA$52.4

12.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.7 CA$82.8

$53.2 CA$75.0

10.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.6 CA$75.6

$55.7 CA$78.6

-3.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.1 CA$73.5

$20.88 CA$29.45

149.52%

Cinema Ticket

$12.72 CA$17.95

$11.63 CA$16.40

9.37%

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

$885 CA$1,248

$1,122 CA$1,582

-21.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K CA$22.3K

$18.1K CA$25.5K

-12.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 CA$81.7

$58.5 CA$82.5

-0.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.31 CA$66.7

$39.43 CA$55.6

19.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.3 CA$124

$90.4 CA$128

-2.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 CA$151

$113 CA$159

-5.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,368 CA$1,929

$1,823 CA$2,572

-25.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,181 CA$1,666

$1,557 CA$2,196

-24.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,364 CA$3,335

$2,986 CA$4,212

-20.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,872 CA$2,641

$2,450 CA$3,456

-23.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,737 CA$5,270

$8,678 CA$12.2K

-56.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,424 CA$4,829

$6,940 CA$9,789

-50.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,999 CA$4,229

$3,390 CA$4,782

-11.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

5.16

10.66%

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

Last update for Calgary: July 21, 2026

Last update for Toronto: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,368 in Calgary and $1,823 in Toronto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Toronto pays 13% 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 $84.0 in Toronto. Groceries flip the comparison at $397 vs $396, with Toronto 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 Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 13% lower in Toronto. 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: $1,368 in Calgary versus $1,823 in Toronto. 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 $84.0 in Toronto. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,432 per month in Calgary versus $2,776 in Toronto – a 14% 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 14% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.