Cost of Living Comparison Between Kanata and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Kanata and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,793 in Kanata versus $2,523 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,801 in Kanata versus $3,652 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,809 in Kanata versus $4,780 in Calgary.

Living in Kanata is roughly 11% more expensive than Calgary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kanata 108% above, Calgary 88% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.46 CA$25.67

$18.59 CA$25.86

-0.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.9 CA$97.2

$70.0 CA$97.4

-0.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.82 CA$15.05

$10.96 CA$15.24

-1.28%

Cappuccino

$3.70 CA$5.14

$3.73 CA$5.19

-0.80%

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

$2.04 CA$2.83

$1.99 CA$2.77

2.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 CA$2.36

$1.72 CA$2.40

-1.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.48 CA$7.62

$5.01 CA$6.97

9.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.93 CA$8.24

$6.50 CA$9.05

-8.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 CA$3.06

$2.22 CA$3.09

-0.90%

White Bread (500g)

$2.41 CA$3.35

$2.67 CA$3.71

-9.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.70 CA$5.14

$3.26 CA$4.54

13.50%

Eggs

$2.78 CA$3.86

$3.35 CA$4.66

-17.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.24 CA$15.63

$14.50 CA$20.16

-22.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.70 CA$14.88

$12.95 CA$18.01

-17.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.31 CA$28.24

$16.15 CA$22.46

25.76%

Apples (1kg)

$3.96 CA$5.50

$4.32 CA$6.01

-8.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 CA$1.92

$1.35 CA$1.88

2.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.23 CA$4.50

$3.83 CA$5.32

-15.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.20

$4.18 CA$5.81

-10.53%

Potato (1kg)

$2.49 CA$3.46

$2.65 CA$3.68

-6.04%

Onion (1kg)

$2.84 CA$3.96

$2.74 CA$3.81

3.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 CA$3.49

$2.76 CA$3.84

-9.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 CA$2.41

$1.95 CA$2.71

-11.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.15 CA$16.89

$14.98 CA$20.83

-18.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.74 CA$30.23

$14.67 CA$20.40

48.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 CA$4.02

$2.84 CA$3.95

1.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 CA$5.00

$4.02 CA$5.59

-10.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 CA$3.84

$2.80 CA$3.90

-1.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$78.5 CA$109

$86.2 CA$120

-8.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.24 CA$4.51

$3.60 CA$5.01

-10.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 CA$1.98

$1.32 CA$1.83

7.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.83 CA$35.92

$29.01 CA$40.35

-10.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 CA$1.49

$1.12 CA$1.56

-4.46%

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

$24.9K CA$34.6K

0.12%

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

$20.9K CA$29.0K

$22.0K CA$30.6K

-5.13%

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

$141 CA$196

$217 CA$302

-34.96%

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

$43.99 CA$61.2

$41.55 CA$57.8

5.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.43 CA$66.0

$58.1 CA$80.8

-18.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.6 CA$89.8

$54.7 CA$76.1

18.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.8 CA$73.5

Cinema Ticket

$11.88 CA$16.52

$12.77 CA$17.75

-6.97%

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

$723 CA$1,006

$874 CA$1,215

-17.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.7K CA$16.3K

$15.9K CA$22.2K

-26.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 CA$76.7

$58.8 CA$81.8

-6.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.72 CA$55.2

$46.47 CA$64.6

-14.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.7 CA$122

$87.2 CA$121

0.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$150

$109 CA$151

-0.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,549 CA$2,154

$1,414 CA$1,966

9.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,547 CA$2,152

$1,172 CA$1,630

32.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,049 CA$2,849

$2,319 CA$3,225

-11.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,075 CA$2,885

$1,886 CA$2,623

9.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,554 CA$6,333

$3,892 CA$5,413

17.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,900 CA$5,423

$3,503 CA$4,872

11.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,220 CA$4,479

$3,149 CA$4,380

2.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.03

5.71

5.60%

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

Last update for Kanata: June 2, 2026

Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,549 in Kanata and $1,414 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kanata pays 2% 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 Kanata vs $70.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $389 vs $397 per month, with Kanata cheaper across the board.

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

Kanata vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Kanata pays 2% 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: $1,549 in Kanata versus $1,414 in Calgary. 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 $70.0 in Kanata. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,793 per month in Kanata versus $2,523 in Calgary – a 11% 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.

Safety-wise, Kanata and Calgary 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 11% less than in Kanata. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.