Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Vaughan Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Vaughan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,433 in Calgary versus $2,562 in Vaughan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,642 in Calgary versus $3,721 in Vaughan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,850 in Calgary versus $4,881 in Vaughan.

Living in Calgary costs roughly 5% less than in Vaughan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 81% above, Vaughan 90% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.20 CA$24.93

$14.91 CA$20.43

22.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.0 CA$95.9

$76.3 CA$105

-8.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.01 CA$15.09

$10.46 CA$14.33

5.26%

Cappuccino

$3.73 CA$5.11

$3.60 CA$4.94

3.61%

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

$1.98 CA$2.71

$2.07 CA$2.84

-4.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 CA$2.26

$1.74 CA$2.38

-5.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.27 CA$7.22

$6.07 CA$8.32

-13.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.65 CA$9.11

$5.22 CA$7.15

27.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 CA$2.94

$1.73 CA$2.37

24.28%

White Bread (500g)

$2.68 CA$3.67

$2.22 CA$3.04

20.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.40 CA$4.66

$3.67 CA$5.02

-7.36%

Eggs

$3.28 CA$4.49

$3.27 CA$4.48

0.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.65 CA$20.07

$8.90 CA$12.20

64.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.61 CA$17.28

$11.08 CA$15.18

13.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.13 CA$22.10

$6.45 CA$8.83

150.08%

Apples (1kg)

$4.46 CA$6.11

$2.92 CA$4.00

52.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.84

$1.61 CA$2.20

-16.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.73 CA$5.11

$2.83 CA$3.87

31.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.29 CA$5.88

$3.54 CA$4.85

21.19%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 CA$3.65

$1.97 CA$2.70

35.53%

Onion (1kg)

$2.61 CA$3.57

$2.03 CA$2.78

28.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 CA$3.76

$1.81 CA$2.47

51.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 CA$2.60

$1.70 CA$2.33

11.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.98 CA$20.52

$13.28 CA$18.19

12.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.30 CA$19.59

$11.83 CA$16.21

20.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 CA$3.97

$2.16 CA$2.96

34.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 CA$5.44

$2.15 CA$2.94

84.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.68 CA$3.67

$2.82 CA$3.86

-4.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.9 CA$120

$109 CA$149

-19.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 CA$4.88

$3.08 CA$4.21

15.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 CA$1.84

$1.36 CA$1.87

-1.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.30 CA$40.15

$22.68 CA$31.07

29.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 CA$1.55

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

$25.1K CA$34.4K

$25.0K CA$34.2K

0.51%

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

$22.2K CA$30.4K

$19.9K CA$27.2K

11.77%

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

$218 CA$299

$132 CA$181

64.66%

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

$41.44 CA$56.8

$33.96 CA$46.52

22.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.2 CA$79.7

$50.5 CA$69.2

15.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.7 CA$73.6

$33.25 CA$45.55

61.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.4 CA$71.8

$22.19 CA$30.40

136.05%

Cinema Ticket

$12.66 CA$17.34

$10.80 CA$14.80

17.22%

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

$885 CA$1,212

$820 CA$1,123

7.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K CA$22.0K

$18.4K CA$25.2K

-12.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 CA$79.6

$44.30 CA$60.7

31.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.22 CA$66.1

$36.90 CA$50.6

30.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.4 CA$121

$60.7 CA$83.1

45.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 CA$146

$102 CA$140

4.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,396 CA$1,913

$1,755 CA$2,405

-20.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,186 CA$1,625

$1,539 CA$2,109

-22.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,293 CA$3,142

$3,048 CA$4,175

-24.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,859 CA$2,547

$2,564 CA$3,513

-27.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,779 CA$5,178

$8,901 CA$12.2K

-57.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,509 CA$4,808

$6,357 CA$8,709

-44.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,117 CA$4,271

$3,027 CA$4,147

2.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.73

-15.16%

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

Last update for Calgary: April 14, 2026

Last update for Vaughan: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,396 in Calgary and $1,755 in Vaughan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 3% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $70 in Calgary vs $76 in Vaughan. Groceries flip the comparison at $395 vs $298, with Vaughan 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 Vaughan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Calgary pays 3% 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: $1,396 in Calgary versus $1,755 in Vaughan. 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 $76.0 in Vaughan. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,433 per month in Calgary versus $2,562 in Vaughan – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,433 in Calgary versus $2,562 in Vaughan, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in Vaughan. The gap between the two cities makes Calgary 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 Calgary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Vaughan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.