Cost of Living Comparison Between Oakville and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Oakville and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,650 in Oakville versus $2,462 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,843 in Oakville versus $3,628 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,036 in Oakville versus $4,795 in Calgary.

Living in Oakville is roughly 8% more expensive than in Calgary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Oakville 98% above, Calgary 84% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oakville
Calgary
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.43 CA$25.93
$18.33 CA$25.79
0.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.9 CA$108
$69.9 CA$98.3
10.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.08 CA$15.59
$10.95 CA$15.41
1.19%
Cappuccino
$4.01 CA$5.64
$3.74 CA$5.26
7.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 CA$3.07
$2.04 CA$2.87
6.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 CA$2.43
$1.67 CA$2.35
2.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.75 CA$8.10
$5.20 CA$7.32
10.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.45 CA$9.07
$6.71 CA$9.45
-3.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oakville
Calgary
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 CA$3.18
$2.25 CA$3.16
0.44%
White Bread (500g)
$2.78 CA$3.91
$2.75 CA$3.87
1.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.51 CA$4.94
$3.23 CA$4.54
8.67%
Eggs
$3.36 CA$4.72
$3.45 CA$4.85
-2.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.53 CA$19.03
$14.40 CA$20.26
-6.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.46 CA$16.13
$12.89 CA$18.13
-11.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.42 CA$20.29
$15.86 CA$22.32
-9.08%
Apples (1kg)
$3.81 CA$5.36
$4.30 CA$6.05
-11.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.30 CA$1.83
$1.34 CA$1.89
-2.99%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.33 CA$4.68
$3.85 CA$5.42
-13.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.19 CA$5.90
$4.25 CA$5.99
-1.41%
Potato (1kg)
$2.52 CA$3.55
$2.55 CA$3.58
-1.18%
Onion (1kg)
$2.91 CA$4.10
$2.62 CA$3.69
11.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.13 CA$3.00
$2.80 CA$3.94
-23.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.99 CA$2.80
$1.95 CA$2.74
2.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.48 CA$18.96
$14.97 CA$21.06
-9.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.85 CA$19.49
$13.90 CA$19.57
-0.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.45 CA$3.44
$2.92 CA$4.11
-16.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 CA$4.23
$3.91 CA$5.50
-23.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Oakville
Calgary
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.93 CA$4.12
$2.74 CA$3.85
6.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$102 CA$144
$87.8 CA$124
16.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.68 CA$5.18
$3.60 CA$5.06
2.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.40 CA$1.97
$1.30 CA$1.83
7.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.93 CA$33.67
$28.70 CA$40.39
-16.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 CA$1.62
$1.12 CA$1.57
2.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K CA$34.9K
$25.5K CA$35.8K
-2.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.6K CA$30.3K
$21.7K CA$30.6K
-0.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oakville
Calgary
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 CA$173
$213 CA$300
-42.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.32 CA$55.3
$40.96 CA$57.6
-4.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.3 CA$76.4
$57.9 CA$81.5
-6.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oakville
Calgary
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.49 CA$62.6
$54.2 CA$76.2
-17.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$53.8 CA$75.6
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.73 CA$16.50
$12.63 CA$17.77
-7.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oakville
Calgary
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,097 CA$1,543
$874 CA$1,230
25.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.3K CA$25.7K
$15.9K CA$22.3K
15.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oakville
Calgary
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.7 CA$81.2
$58.6 CA$82.5
-1.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.98 CA$54.9
$47.01 CA$66.2
-17.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.9 CA$139
$85.1 CA$120
16.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 CA$162
$108 CA$151
6.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oakville
Calgary
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 CA$2,403
$1,380 CA$1,942
23.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,372 CA$1,931
$1,159 CA$1,631
18.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,577 CA$3,626
$2,324 CA$3,270
10.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,338 CA$3,289
$1,905 CA$2,680
22.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,146 CA$5,834
$3,786 CA$5,327
9.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,990 CA$9,835
$3,511 CA$4,940
99.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oakville
Calgary
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,159 CA$4,446
$2,940 CA$4,136
7.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.62
5.71
15.94%

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

Last update for Oakville: July 12, 2026

Last update for Calgary: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,708 in Oakville and $1,380 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Oakville pays 7% 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: $77.0 in Oakville vs $70.0 in Calgary. Groceries flip the comparison at $372 vs $396, with Oakville 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
Oakville vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Calgary cheaper than Oakville?
Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Oakville or Calgary?
Average pay runs 7% higher in Oakville, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Oakville and Calgary?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,708 in Oakville versus $1,380 in Calgary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Oakville or in Calgary?
Dining out is cheaper in Calgary – a meal for two runs $70.0 versus $77.0 in Oakville. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Oakville and in Calgary?
All in, you'll spend $2,650 per month in Oakville versus $2,462 in Calgary – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Oakville or in Calgary?
At $2,462 in Calgary versus $2,650 in Oakville, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in Oakville. The gap between the two cities makes Calgary the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Oakville or Calgary more family-friendly?
For families, Calgary is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Oakville, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Oakville or Calgary?
Safety-wise, Oakville 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Calgary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Oakville. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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