Cost of Living Comparison Between Markham and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Markham and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,760 in Markham versus $2,481 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,876 in Markham versus $3,599 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,991 in Markham versus $4,716 in Calgary.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Markham 107% above, Calgary 86% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.59 CA$20.45

$18.64 CA$26.12

-21.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.0 CA$112

$70.3 CA$98.5

13.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.73 CA$12.23

$11.26 CA$15.78

-22.47%

Cappuccino

$3.26 CA$4.57

$3.70 CA$5.19

-11.89%

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

$2.05 CA$2.87

$2.05 CA$2.88

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 CA$1.95

$1.67 CA$2.34

-16.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.69 CA$5.17

$5.26 CA$7.37

-29.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.69 CA$9.38

$6.74 CA$9.44

-0.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 CA$2.42

$2.23 CA$3.12

-22.42%

White Bread (500g)

$2.23 CA$3.12

$2.75 CA$3.86

-18.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 CA$2.19

$3.28 CA$4.60

-52.44%

Eggs

$3.30 CA$4.63

$3.40 CA$4.77

-2.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.27 CA$21.40

$14.45 CA$20.25

5.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.98 CA$13.99

$12.58 CA$17.63

-20.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.38 CA$10.34

$15.85 CA$22.20

-53.44%

Apples (1kg)

$4.48 CA$6.27

$4.42 CA$6.19

1.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 CA$1.95

$1.34 CA$1.88

3.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.36 CA$3.31

$3.84 CA$5.38

-38.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.52 CA$4.93

$4.33 CA$6.07

-18.71%

Potato (1kg)

$2.38 CA$3.33

$2.54 CA$3.57

-6.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.11 CA$2.96

$2.73 CA$3.83

-22.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.16 CA$4.43

$2.69 CA$3.77

17.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 CA$2.24

$1.90 CA$2.66

-15.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.22 CA$19.93

$14.81 CA$20.75

-3.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.13 CA$21.20

$14.43 CA$20.22

4.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 CA$3.10

$2.94 CA$4.12

-24.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 CA$3.16

$3.98 CA$5.58

-43.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.09 CA$4.33

$2.70 CA$3.79

14.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$95.0 CA$133

$88.3 CA$124

7.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 CA$4.27

$3.42 CA$4.80

-10.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.82 CA$3.96

$1.31 CA$1.84

115.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.50 CA$31.53

$28.41 CA$39.82

-20.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 CA$1.55

$1.12 CA$1.57

-0.89%

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

$24.9K CA$34.8K

$24.9K CA$34.9K

-0.16%

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

$19.8K CA$27.7K

$21.7K CA$30.4K

-8.99%

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

$202 CA$283

$210 CA$295

-3.93%

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

$33.50 CA$46.95

$41.33 CA$57.9

-18.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.3 CA$83.0

$57.8 CA$81.1

2.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.86 CA$64.3

$55.3 CA$77.5

-17.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.99 CA$19.60

$52.2 CA$73.2

-73.22%

Cinema Ticket

$10.92 CA$15.30

$12.47 CA$17.47

-12.43%

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

$929 CA$1,301

$886 CA$1,242

4.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.3K CA$39.7K

$15.9K CA$22.4K

77.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.14 CA$61.9

$59.1 CA$82.8

-25.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.73 CA$51.5

$47.08 CA$66.0

-21.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.0 CA$85.4

$87.1 CA$122

-29.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.4 CA$116

$110 CA$153

-24.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,678 CA$2,351

$1,415 CA$1,982

18.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,614 CA$2,261

$1,180 CA$1,654

36.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,990 CA$4,190

$2,374 CA$3,327

25.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,541 CA$3,561

$1,855 CA$2,599

37.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,997 CA$8,404

$3,755 CA$5,262

59.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,446 CA$7,632

$3,479 CA$4,875

56.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,200 CA$4,484

$3,035 CA$4,253

5.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.59

5.71

15.41%

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

Last update for Markham: July 27, 2026

Last update for Calgary: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,678 in Markham and $1,415 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Markham pays 5% 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: $80.0 in Markham vs $70.0 in Calgary. Groceries flip the comparison at $324 vs $396, with Markham 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

Markham vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

Average pay runs 5% higher in Markham, 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: $1,678 in Markham versus $1,415 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 $80.0 in Markham. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,760 per month in Markham versus $2,481 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, Markham 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 Markham. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.