Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,775 in Toronto versus $2,475 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,051 in Toronto versus $3,595 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,328 in Toronto versus $4,715 in Calgary.

Living in Toronto is roughly 12% more expensive than Calgary, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Toronto 107% above, Calgary 85% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.92 CA$25.92

$18.25 CA$25.00

3.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.4 CA$116

$70.0 CA$95.9

20.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.15 CA$15.28

$11.12 CA$15.24

0.27%

Cappuccino

$3.83 CA$5.25

$3.82 CA$5.23

0.26%

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

$2.13 CA$2.91

$1.96 CA$2.69

8.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 CA$2.34

$1.65 CA$2.27

3.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.82 CA$7.97

$5.07 CA$6.95

14.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.76 CA$9.27

$6.56 CA$8.98

3.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.82 CA$3.86

$2.16 CA$2.96

30.56%

White Bread (500g)

$2.77 CA$3.80

$2.71 CA$3.72

2.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.62 CA$4.96

$3.30 CA$4.53

9.70%

Eggs

$3.65 CA$5.01

$3.40 CA$4.66

7.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.64 CA$18.69

$14.42 CA$19.76

-5.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.92 CA$17.70

$12.70 CA$17.40

1.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.64 CA$22.79

$16.11 CA$22.07

3.29%

Apples (1kg)

$4.00 CA$5.48

$4.42 CA$6.06

-9.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 CA$1.54

$1.30 CA$1.78

-13.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.39 CA$4.64

$3.87 CA$5.30

-12.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.02 CA$5.51

$4.43 CA$6.07

-9.26%

Potato (1kg)

$2.47 CA$3.38

$2.56 CA$3.51

-3.52%

Onion (1kg)

$2.91 CA$3.99

$2.58 CA$3.54

12.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.39 CA$3.27

$2.71 CA$3.71

-11.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 CA$2.65

$1.88 CA$2.58

3.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.00 CA$20.54

$14.46 CA$19.81

3.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.68 CA$20.11

$14.47 CA$19.83

1.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.80 CA$3.83

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 CA$4.31

$3.97 CA$5.44

-20.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.45 CA$3.35

$2.72 CA$3.73

-9.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$117 CA$160

$85.4 CA$117

36.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.59 CA$4.92

$3.41 CA$4.67

5.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.40 CA$1.92

$1.36 CA$1.86

2.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.83 CA$35.38

$29.18 CA$39.97

-11.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 CA$1.50

$1.09 CA$1.49

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

$25.3K CA$34.7K

$24.6K CA$33.7K

2.80%

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

$21.6K CA$29.6K

$21.8K CA$29.8K

-0.62%

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

$118 CA$161

$211 CA$289

-44.09%

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

$37.72 CA$51.7

$41.13 CA$56.4

-8.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.6 CA$73.5

$58.3 CA$79.9

-8.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 CA$76.7

$53.8 CA$73.7

4.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.93 CA$28.68

$52.9 CA$72.4

-60.40%

Cinema Ticket

$12.01 CA$16.45

$12.68 CA$17.37

-5.28%

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

$1,139 CA$1,560

$875 CA$1,199

30.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.0K CA$24.7K

$16.0K CA$21.9K

12.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 CA$80.4

$58.1 CA$79.5

1.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.42 CA$54.0

$47.11 CA$64.5

-16.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.8 CA$122

$87.7 CA$120

1.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 CA$160

$107 CA$146

9.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,785 CA$2,445

$1,416 CA$1,940

26.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,559 CA$2,136

$1,171 CA$1,604

33.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,029 CA$4,149

$2,288 CA$3,135

32.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,445 CA$3,350

$1,841 CA$2,523

32.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,387 CA$11.5K

$3,718 CA$5,093

125.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,921 CA$9,482

$3,594 CA$4,924

92.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,604 CA$4,938

$3,131 CA$4,289

15.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.16

5.71

-9.63%

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

Last update for Toronto: April 20, 2026

Last update for Calgary: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,785 in Toronto and $1,416 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Toronto pays 15% 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: $84 in Toronto vs $70 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $397 vs $395 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

Toronto vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Toronto pays 15% 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: $1,785 in Toronto 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 $84.0 in Toronto. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,775 per month in Toronto versus $2,475 in Calgary – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,475 in Calgary versus $2,775 in Toronto, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in Toronto. 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.

Expats usually find Calgary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.