😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,020 in Richmond Hill versus $2,462 in Calgary.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,123 in Richmond Hill versus $3,628 in Calgary.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,226 in Richmond Hill versus $4,795 in Calgary.
🌍Living in Richmond Hill is roughly 23% more expensive than in Calgary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Richmond Hill126% above, Calgary84% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Richmond Hill
Calgary
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.67CA$26.27
$18.33CA$25.79
1.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.5CA$113
$69.9CA$98.3
15.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.10CA$12.80
$10.95CA$15.41
-16.89%
Cappuccino
$3.18CA$4.48
$3.74CA$5.26
-14.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04CA$2.87
$2.04CA$2.87
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53CA$2.15
$1.67CA$2.35
-8.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.76CA$8.10
$5.20CA$7.32
10.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.33CA$10.32
$6.71CA$9.45
9.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Richmond Hill
Calgary
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.28CA$3.21
$2.25CA$3.16
1.33%
White Bread(500g)
$2.56CA$3.60
$2.75CA$3.87
-6.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17CA$3.06
$3.23CA$4.54
-32.82%
Eggs
$3.72CA$5.24
$3.45CA$4.85
7.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.83CA$19.46
$14.40CA$20.26
-3.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.37CA$16.00
$12.89CA$18.13
-11.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.96CA$21.06
$15.86CA$22.32
-5.67%
Apples(1kg)
$4.60CA$6.47
$4.30CA$6.05
6.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.23CA$1.73
$1.34CA$1.89
-8.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.81CA$3.96
$3.85CA$5.42
-27.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.40CA$4.78
$4.25CA$5.99
-20.00%
Potato(1kg)
$2.42CA$3.40
$2.55CA$3.58
-5.10%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17CA$3.05
$2.62CA$3.69
-17.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.89CA$2.66
$2.80CA$3.94
-32.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.93CA$1.31
$1.95CA$2.74
-52.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.08CA$17.00
$14.97CA$21.06
-19.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.68CA$17.85
$13.90CA$19.57
-8.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98CA$2.78
$2.92CA$4.11
-32.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40CA$3.37
$3.91CA$5.50
-38.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Richmond Hill
Calgary
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.79CA$3.92
$2.74CA$3.85
1.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$111CA$157
$87.8CA$124
26.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.18CA$4.47
$3.60CA$5.06
-11.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07CA$1.51
$1.30CA$1.83
-17.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.83CA$30.72
$28.70CA$40.39
-23.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14CA$1.60
$1.12CA$1.57
1.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2KCA$35.4K
$25.5KCA$35.8K
-1.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.9KCA$28.1K
$21.7KCA$30.6K
-8.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Richmond Hill
Calgary
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177CA$249
$213CA$300
-16.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.09CA$59.2
$40.96CA$57.6
2.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.6CA$82.5
$57.9CA$81.5
1.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Richmond Hill
Calgary
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.99CA$61.9
$54.2CA$76.2
-18.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$53.8CA$75.6
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.92CA$18.18
$12.63CA$17.77
2.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Richmond Hill
Calgary
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$425CA$598
$874CA$1,230
-51.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7KCA$22.1K
$15.9KCA$22.3K
-1.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Richmond Hill
Calgary
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.95CA$64.7
$58.6CA$82.5
-21.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.41CA$62.5
$47.01CA$66.2
-5.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$62.5CA$88.0
$85.1CA$120
-26.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.7CA$125
$108CA$151
-17.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Richmond Hill
Calgary
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,777CA$2,500
$1,380CA$1,942
28.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,826CA$2,569
$1,159CA$1,631
57.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,014CA$4,241
$2,324CA$3,270
29.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,604CA$3,665
$1,905CA$2,680
36.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,367CA$8,959
$3,786CA$5,327
68.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,515CA$7,761
$3,511CA$4,940
57.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Richmond Hill
Calgary
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,985CA$4,200
$2,940CA$4,136
1.55%
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 Richmond Hill: July 12, 2026
Last update for Calgary: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,777 in Richmond Hill and $1,380 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Richmond Hill pays 2% 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: $81.0 in Richmond Hill vs $70.0 in Calgary. Groceries flip the comparison at $344 vs $396, with Richmond Hill 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
Richmond Hill vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Calgary cheaper than Richmond Hill?
Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Richmond Hill or Calgary?
Average pay runs 2% higher in Richmond Hill, 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 Richmond Hill and Calgary?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,777 in Richmond Hill 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 Richmond Hill or in Calgary?
Dining out is cheaper in Calgary – a meal for two runs $70.0 versus $81.0 in Richmond Hill. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Richmond Hill and in Calgary?
All in, you'll spend $3,020 per month in Richmond Hill versus $2,462 in Calgary – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Richmond Hill or in Calgary?
At $2,462 in Calgary versus $3,020 in Richmond Hill, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in Richmond Hill. The gap between the two cities makes Calgary the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Richmond Hill or in Calgary?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Calgary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Richmond Hill. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Richmond Hill vs other spots: cost of living compared