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: $2,802 in Markham versus $2,510 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,919 in Markham versus $3,653 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,035 in Markham versus $4,795 in Calgary.

Living in Markham is roughly 12% more expensive than Calgary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Markham 109% above, Calgary 87% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.56 CA$19.94

$18.65 CA$25.54

-21.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.2 CA$110

$71.1 CA$97.4

12.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.78 CA$12.03

$10.82 CA$14.82

-18.85%

Cappuccino

$3.26 CA$4.47

$3.80 CA$5.21

-14.21%

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

$2.10 CA$2.87

$2.05 CA$2.81

2.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 CA$1.86

$1.67 CA$2.29

-18.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.77 CA$5.17

$5.22 CA$7.15

-27.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.47 CA$8.87

$6.45 CA$8.84

0.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 CA$2.43

$2.22 CA$3.04

-20.27%

White Bread (500g)

$2.27 CA$3.11

$2.78 CA$3.81

-18.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 CA$2.15

$3.41 CA$4.67

-53.96%

Eggs

$3.32 CA$4.55

$3.47 CA$4.75

-4.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.61 CA$21.38

$14.42 CA$19.75

8.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.94 CA$13.61

$12.85 CA$17.61

-22.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.38 CA$10.11

$16.24 CA$22.25

-54.56%

Apples (1kg)

$4.48 CA$6.14

$4.46 CA$6.11

0.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 CA$1.92

$1.30 CA$1.78

7.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.48 CA$3.40

$3.73 CA$5.11

-33.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.39 CA$4.64

$4.27 CA$5.86

-20.61%

Potato (1kg)

$2.41 CA$3.31

$2.67 CA$3.66

-9.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.11 CA$2.89

$2.68 CA$3.67

-21.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.16 CA$4.33

$2.75 CA$3.76

14.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.29

$1.96 CA$2.69

-14.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.13 CA$19.36

$14.55 CA$19.94

-2.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.19 CA$20.81

$14.66 CA$20.09

3.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 CA$3.13

$2.81 CA$3.86

-18.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 CA$3.09

$3.99 CA$5.47

-43.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.17 CA$4.34

$2.74 CA$3.75

15.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$95.4 CA$131

$86.7 CA$119

10.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.20 CA$4.39

$3.58 CA$4.90

-10.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.74 CA$3.76

$1.29 CA$1.77

112.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.70 CA$29.73

$28.58 CA$39.15

-24.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 CA$1.49

$1.08 CA$1.48

0.93%

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

$25.1K CA$34.4K

$25.4K CA$34.8K

-1.34%

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

$19.9K CA$27.2K

$21.6K CA$29.5K

-7.80%

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

$206 CA$282

$215 CA$294

-4.08%

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

$33.43 CA$45.80

$40.83 CA$55.9

-18.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.6 CA$81.7

$57.9 CA$79.4

2.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.27 CA$63.4

$54.0 CA$74.0

-14.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.48 CA$19.84

$51.7 CA$70.9

-72.00%

Cinema Ticket

$10.97 CA$15.03

$12.56 CA$17.21

-12.66%

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

$911 CA$1,249

$871 CA$1,193

4.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.9K CA$39.6K

$16.1K CA$22.1K

79.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.74 CA$61.3

$58.6 CA$80.3

-23.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.81 CA$50.4

$46.97 CA$64.4

-21.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.0 CA$83.6

$86.3 CA$118

-29.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.6 CA$112

$109 CA$150

-25.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,715 CA$2,349

$1,388 CA$1,901

23.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,606 CA$2,200

$1,181 CA$1,618

36.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,967 CA$4,064

$2,337 CA$3,202

26.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,458 CA$3,368

$1,886 CA$2,583

30.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,173 CA$8,456

$3,823 CA$5,237

61.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,668 CA$7,765

$3,596 CA$4,926

57.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,259 CA$4,465

$3,125 CA$4,281

4.31%

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Calgary: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,715 in Markham and $1,388 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Markham pays 4% 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 $71.0 in Calgary. Groceries flip the comparison at $327 vs $399, 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 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Markham pays 4% 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: $1,715 in Markham versus $1,388 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 $71.0 versus $80.0 in Markham. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,802 per month in Markham versus $2,510 in Calgary – a 12% 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 12% less than in Markham. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.