Cost of Living Comparison Between Milton and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Milton and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,143 in Milton versus $2,462 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,242 in Milton versus $3,628 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,341 in Milton versus $4,795 in Calgary.

Living in Milton is roughly 28% more expensive than in Calgary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Milton 135% above, Calgary 84% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.75 CA$20.68

$18.33 CA$25.70

-19.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.0 CA$105

$69.9 CA$98.0

7.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.00 CA$18.23

$10.95 CA$15.35

18.72%

Cappuccino

$3.78 CA$5.31

$3.74 CA$5.24

1.07%

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

$3.15 CA$4.41

$2.04 CA$2.86

54.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 CA$3.42

$1.67 CA$2.34

46.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.05 CA$11.29

$5.20 CA$7.29

54.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.60 CA$7.86

$6.71 CA$9.41

-16.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.38 CA$3.34

$2.25 CA$3.15

5.78%

White Bread (500g)

$2.62 CA$3.68

$2.75 CA$3.85

-4.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.44 CA$6.23

$3.23 CA$4.53

37.46%

Eggs

$3.40 CA$4.76

$3.45 CA$4.83

-1.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.60 CA$9.25

$14.40 CA$20.19

-54.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$29.60 CA$41.51

$12.89 CA$18.07

129.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.12 CA$26.81

$15.86 CA$22.24

20.55%

Apples (1kg)

$5.46 CA$7.66

$4.30 CA$6.02

26.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 CA$2.17

$1.34 CA$1.88

15.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.95 CA$4.13

$3.85 CA$5.40

-23.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.22 CA$4.52

$4.25 CA$5.97

-24.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 CA$1.54

$2.55 CA$3.57

-56.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.25 CA$1.75

$2.62 CA$3.68

-52.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.74 CA$2.44

$2.80 CA$3.92

-37.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 CA$3.14

$1.95 CA$2.73

14.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.34 CA$17.30

$14.97 CA$20.99

-17.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.19 CA$18.49

$13.90 CA$19.49

-5.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 CA$3.05

$2.92 CA$4.10

-25.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 CA$3.96

$3.91 CA$5.48

-27.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.87 CA$4.03

$2.74 CA$3.84

4.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.49 CA$63.8

$87.8 CA$123

-48.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 CA$4.31

$3.60 CA$5.04

-14.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 CA$2.09

$1.30 CA$1.82

14.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$36.38 CA$51.0

$28.70 CA$40.24

26.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 CA$1.53

$1.12 CA$1.57

-2.68%

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

$25.1K CA$35.2K

$25.5K CA$35.7K

-1.39%

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

$23.9K CA$33.5K

$21.7K CA$30.5K

9.79%

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

$249 CA$348

$213 CA$299

16.70%

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

$59.9 CA$83.9

$40.96 CA$57.4

46.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.6 CA$96.2

$57.9 CA$81.2

18.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.58 CA$45.67

$54.2 CA$76.0

-39.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.4

Cinema Ticket

$16.52 CA$23.16

$12.63 CA$17.71

30.80%

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

$550 CA$771

$874 CA$1,226

-37.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K CA$16.7K

$15.9K CA$22.3K

-25.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 CA$77.8

$58.6 CA$82.2

-5.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 CA$75.8

$47.01 CA$65.9

14.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.1 CA$131

$85.1 CA$119

9.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 CA$179

$108 CA$151

18.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,780 CA$2,495

$1,380 CA$1,935

28.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,677 CA$2,350

$1,159 CA$1,625

44.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,631 CA$3,689

$2,324 CA$3,259

13.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,362 CA$3,311

$1,905 CA$2,670

24.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,655 CA$6,527

$3,786 CA$5,308

22.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,065 CA$5,699

$3,511 CA$4,922

15.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,165 CA$4,438

$2,940 CA$4,121

7.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.8

5.71

19.09%

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

Last update for Milton: July 12, 2026

Last update for Calgary: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,780 in Milton and $1,380 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Milton pays 8% 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: $75.0 in Milton vs $70.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $454 vs $396 per month, with Calgary 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

Milton vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 8% higher in Milton, 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: $1,780 in Milton versus $1,380 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 $75.0 in Milton. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,143 per month in Milton versus $2,462 in Calgary – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,462 in Calgary versus $3,143 in Milton, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in Milton. 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.

Safety-wise, Milton 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 28% less than in Milton. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.