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: $2,793 in Markham versus $2,517 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,910 in Markham versus $3,646 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,027 in Markham versus $4,776 in Calgary.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Markham 108% above, Calgary 87% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.62 CA$20.42

$18.37 CA$25.65

-20.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.7 CA$114

$69.7 CA$97.4

17.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.83 CA$12.32

$10.88 CA$15.19

-18.84%

Cappuccino

$3.16 CA$4.42

$3.69 CA$5.16

-14.36%

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

$2.11 CA$2.95

$2.03 CA$2.84

3.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 CA$1.91

$1.74 CA$2.43

-21.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.79 CA$5.29

$5.30 CA$7.40

-28.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.76 CA$9.43

$6.74 CA$9.42

0.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 CA$2.44

$2.23 CA$3.12

-21.52%

White Bread (500g)

$2.27 CA$3.17

$2.68 CA$3.75

-15.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 CA$2.26

$3.35 CA$4.68

-51.64%

Eggs

$3.44 CA$4.80

$3.33 CA$4.65

3.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.57 CA$21.75

$14.41 CA$20.12

8.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.90 CA$13.82

$12.50 CA$17.46

-20.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.46 CA$10.42

$16.33 CA$22.81

-54.32%

Apples (1kg)

$4.39 CA$6.14

$4.28 CA$5.98

2.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 CA$2.02

$1.35 CA$1.89

7.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.47 CA$3.45

$3.74 CA$5.22

-33.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.40 CA$4.75

$4.17 CA$5.83

-18.47%

Potato (1kg)

$2.39 CA$3.34

$2.56 CA$3.58

-6.64%

Onion (1kg)

$2.08 CA$2.90

$2.68 CA$3.74

-22.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.09 CA$4.31

$2.66 CA$3.71

16.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 CA$2.29

$1.88 CA$2.62

-12.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.95 CA$19.47

$14.66 CA$20.47

-4.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.94 CA$20.86

$14.23 CA$19.87

4.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 CA$3.05

$2.95 CA$4.12

-26.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 CA$3.26

$3.89 CA$5.44

-40.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.17 CA$4.42

$2.71 CA$3.79

16.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$93.9 CA$131

$87.7 CA$122

7.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 CA$4.31

$3.46 CA$4.83

-10.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.85 CA$3.99

$1.30 CA$1.81

119.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.91 CA$30.60

$28.30 CA$39.52

-22.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 CA$1.52

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

$25.1K CA$35.1K

$25.0K CA$34.9K

0.36%

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

$19.7K CA$27.5K

$22.2K CA$31.0K

-11.47%

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

$202 CA$282

$211 CA$295

-4.18%

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

$33.58 CA$46.89

$40.40 CA$56.4

-16.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.7 CA$83.4

$58.5 CA$81.7

2.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.85 CA$62.6

$53.8 CA$75.1

-16.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.41 CA$20.13

$53.8 CA$75.2

-73.23%

Cinema Ticket

$10.74 CA$15.00

$12.64 CA$17.66

-15.03%

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

$916 CA$1,280

$865 CA$1,208

5.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.0K CA$40.5K

$16.1K CA$22.4K

80.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.91 CA$62.7

$58.1 CA$81.1

-22.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.61 CA$51.1

$47.18 CA$65.9

-22.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.5 CA$84.5

$85.4 CA$119

-29.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.0 CA$114

$106 CA$148

-22.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,697 CA$2,369

$1,416 CA$1,977

19.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,595 CA$2,228

$1,153 CA$1,611

38.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,984 CA$4,167

$2,370 CA$3,309

25.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,529 CA$3,531

$1,864 CA$2,603

35.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,886 CA$8,220

$3,834 CA$5,354

53.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,575 CA$7,785

$3,443 CA$4,808

61.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,150 CA$4,399

$3,105 CA$4,337

1.45%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Calgary: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,697 in Markham and $1,416 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Markham pays 1% 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: $82.0 in Markham vs $70.0 in Calgary. Groceries flip the comparison at $325 vs $393, 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.

Markham pays 1% 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: $1,697 in Markham versus $1,416 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 $82.0 in Markham. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,793 per month in Markham versus $2,517 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.