Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Stratford, ON and Calgary

For one person, living is cheaper in Stratford, ON: $1,992 a month against $2,303 in Calgary, rent and utilities included – about $3,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Stratford, ON, Canada
Calgary, Canada
Stratford, ON
🇨🇦 Canada
$1,992
/mo nomad
Calgary
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,303
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Stratford, ON and in Calgary

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Stratford, ON and in Calgary actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,992 in Stratford, ON versus $2,303 in Calgary.

  • Stratford, ON $1,992
  • Calgary $2,303

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,189 in Stratford, ON versus $3,366 in Calgary.

  • Stratford, ON $3,189
  • Calgary $3,366

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,387 in Stratford, ON versus $4,428 in Calgary.

  • Stratford, ON $4,387
  • Calgary $4,428

Living in Stratford, ON costs roughly 13% less than in Calgary, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Stratford, ON 46% above, Calgary 69% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stratford, ON
Calgary
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.70 CA$24.76
$17.55 CA$24.55
0.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.39 CA$69.1
$70.4 CA$98.5
-29.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.27 CA$15.76
$10.69 CA$14.95
5.43%
Cappuccino
$3.46 CA$4.83
$3.89 CA$5.44
-11.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 CA$2.08
$2.04 CA$2.85
-26.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 CA$1.85
$1.88 CA$2.63
-29.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.16 CA$5.82
$4.90 CA$6.85
-15.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58 CA$6.40
$5.78 CA$8.09
-20.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stratford, ON
Calgary
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.14 CA$2.99
$1.96 CA$2.75
9.18%
White Bread (500g)
$2.90 CA$4.06
$2.74 CA$3.83
5.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.75 CA$5.25
$5.46 CA$7.64
-31.32%
Eggs
$3.04 CA$4.25
$3.69 CA$5.16
-17.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.42 CA$14.57
$11.24 CA$15.73
-7.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.60 CA$16.23
$11.54 CA$16.14
0.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.09 CA$30.89
$18.38 CA$25.70
20.18%
Apples (1kg)
$3.63 CA$5.07
$4.90 CA$6.86
-25.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 CA$1.49
$1.42 CA$1.99
-25.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.40 CA$6.16
$4.21 CA$5.89
4.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.55 CA$6.36
$4.02 CA$5.63
13.18%
Potato (1kg)
$3.46 CA$4.83
$2.69 CA$3.77
28.62%
Onion (1kg)
$2.30 CA$3.21
$2.66 CA$3.72
-13.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.49 CA$3.49
$2.61 CA$3.66
-4.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.47 CA$2.06
$1.60 CA$2.23
-8.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.13 CA$15.57
$14.00 CA$19.58
-20.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.88 CA$15.21
$15.40 CA$21.54
-29.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.36 CA$4.70
$2.50 CA$3.49
34.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 CA$4.42
$3.09 CA$4.32
2.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Stratford, ON
Calgary
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.09 CA$2.92
$2.93 CA$4.10
-28.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.32 CA$69.0
$89.3 CA$125
-44.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.33 CA$3.25
$3.27 CA$4.57
-28.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.84 CA$2.58
$1.35 CA$1.89
36.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.43 CA$34.17
$27.39 CA$38.31
-10.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 CA$1.51
$1.17 CA$1.64
-7.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K CA$38.8K
$27.9K CA$39.1K
-0.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8K CA$31.8K
$21.0K CA$29.4K
8.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stratford, ON
Calgary
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$121 CA$169
$167 CA$233
-27.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.64 CA$55.4
$38.27 CA$53.5
3.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.75 CA$44.40
$50.9 CA$71.2
-37.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stratford, ON
Calgary
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.49 CA$59.4
$51.0 CA$71.3
-16.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.24 CA$26.92
$18.17 CA$25.42
5.89%
Cinema Ticket
$10.31 CA$14.42
$14.44 CA$20.20
-28.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stratford, ON
Calgary
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$823 CA$1,152
$545 CA$763
50.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.0K CA$23.7K
$16.2K CA$22.7K
4.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stratford, ON
Calgary
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 CA$90.0
$58.9 CA$82.4
9.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.14 CA$52.0
$39.75 CA$55.6
-6.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 CA$120
$93.4 CA$131
-7.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126 CA$177
$110 CA$154
14.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stratford, ON
Calgary
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 CA$1,691
$1,254 CA$1,754
-3.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$883 CA$1,234
$1,056 CA$1,478
-16.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,117 CA$2,961
$2,022 CA$2,828
4.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,892 CA$2,646
$1,629 CA$2,278
16.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,782 CA$5,290
$3,600 CA$5,036
5.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,243 CA$4,535
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stratford, ON
Calgary
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,765 CA$3,868
$3,115 CA$4,357
-11.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.99
4.51
10.64%

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

Last update for Stratford, ON: October 27, 2026

Last update for Calgary: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Stratford, ON
$883
Calgary
$1.1K 19.7% $174
Groceries & Markets
Stratford, ON
$385
Calgary
$393 1.9% $7.2
Eating Out
Stratford, ON
$258
Calgary
$271 4.9% $13
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stratford, ON
$192
Calgary
$256 33% $63
Clothing & Footwear
Stratford, ON
$141
Calgary
$136 3.8% $5.4
Getting Around
Stratford, ON
$69
Calgary
$111 60.4% $42
Sport & Entertainment
Stratford, ON
$63
Calgary
$80 26.5% $17

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,209 in Stratford, ON and $1,254 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 13% 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: $49 in Stratford, ON vs $70 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $385 vs $393 per month, with Stratford, ON cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Stratford, ON
🇨🇦 Calgary
🕒 Local time
20:37 8:37 PM
18:37 6:37 PM
2 h behind Stratford, ON
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
31,465
1,267,344
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.715 USD). 1 EUR = 1.56 CAD (1 CAD = 0.642 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Stratford, ON Calgary 2,610 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Stratford, ON
  • Calgary

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Stratford, ON vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stratford, ON cheaper than Calgary?
Stratford, ON is about 13% cheaper overall, especially in transport, utilities, and leisure. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Stratford, ON or Calgary?
On paper, salaries run 11% lower in Stratford, ON. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Stratford, ON and Calgary?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,209 in Stratford, ON versus $1,254 in Calgary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $823 in Stratford, ON versus $545 in Calgary. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Stratford, ON or in Calgary?
Dining out is cheaper in Stratford, ON – a meal for two runs $49 versus $70 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $3,000 enough for either Stratford, ON or Calgary?
Either city works on $3,000 a month, though Stratford, ON gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Stratford, ON wins on affordability, Calgary on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

Stratford, ON vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?