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: $2,620 in Toronto versus $2,344 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,866 in Toronto versus $3,499 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,111 in Toronto versus $4,655 in Calgary.

Living in Toronto is roughly 12% more expensive than in Calgary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Toronto 90% above, Calgary 70% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.85 CA$24.75

$18.45 CA$25.59

-3.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$86.8 CA$120

$71.5 CA$99.2

21.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.94 CA$15.17

$10.68 CA$14.81

2.43%

Cappuccino

$4.01 CA$5.57

$3.93 CA$5.46

2.04%

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

$2.19 CA$3.04

$2.02 CA$2.80

8.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 CA$2.34

$1.97 CA$2.73

-14.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.45 CA$8.94

$4.92 CA$6.82

31.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.05 CA$9.77

$5.90 CA$8.19

19.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.71 CA$3.77

$2.03 CA$2.82

33.50%

White Bread (500g)

$2.92 CA$4.05

$2.86 CA$3.97

2.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.48 CA$3.44

$5.72 CA$7.93

-56.64%

Eggs

$3.85 CA$5.34

$3.81 CA$5.29

1.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.10 CA$14.01

$11.56 CA$16.04

-12.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.02 CA$16.66

$11.95 CA$16.57

0.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.61 CA$21.65

$18.97 CA$26.30

-17.71%

Apples (1kg)

$3.90 CA$5.41

$4.91 CA$6.82

-20.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.24 CA$1.72

$1.42 CA$1.97

-12.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.78 CA$5.24

$4.36 CA$6.04

-13.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.38 CA$6.08

$4.03 CA$5.59

8.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.93 CA$2.67

$2.72 CA$3.77

-29.04%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 CA$2.08

$2.88 CA$3.99

-47.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 CA$3.17

$2.57 CA$3.57

-11.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 CA$2.02

$1.49 CA$2.07

-2.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.52 CA$20.14

$14.71 CA$20.41

-1.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.42 CA$20.00

$15.57 CA$21.60

-7.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 CA$3.14

$2.52 CA$3.50

-10.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 CA$3.60

$3.27 CA$4.53

-20.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.36 CA$3.28

$2.94 CA$4.07

-19.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$114 CA$159

$89.8 CA$125

27.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 CA$4.38

$3.30 CA$4.58

-4.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.26 CA$1.74

$1.37 CA$1.90

-8.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.57 CA$31.30

$27.07 CA$37.54

-16.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 CA$1.72

$1.22 CA$1.69

1.64%

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

$27.3K CA$37.9K

$28.6K CA$39.6K

-4.37%

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

$20.7K CA$28.8K

$20.9K CA$29.0K

-0.61%

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

$124 CA$172

$182 CA$253

-32.16%

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

$32.72 CA$45.38

$39.50 CA$54.8

-17.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.79 CA$67.7

$51.4 CA$71.3

-5.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.27 CA$55.9

$54.8 CA$76.0

-26.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.84 CA$33.06

$18.79 CA$26.07

26.88%

Cinema Ticket

$12.82 CA$17.77

$14.52 CA$20.14

-11.71%

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

$787 CA$1,092

$819 CA$1,136

-3.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.5K CA$34.0K

$16.3K CA$22.7K

50.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 CA$75.2

$61.8 CA$85.8

-12.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.10 CA$59.8

$40.15 CA$55.7

7.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.9 CA$136

$94.3 CA$131

3.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 CA$175

$114 CA$158

10.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,660 CA$2,303

$1,256 CA$1,741

32.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,483 CA$2,057

$1,089 CA$1,510

36.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,800 CA$3,883

$1,994 CA$2,766

40.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,157 CA$2,991

$1,706 CA$2,367

26.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,381 CA$11.6K

$3,627 CA$5,031

131.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,842 CA$9,489

$3,403 CA$4,719

101.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,799 CA$5,269

$3,246 CA$4,502

17.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.47

4.48

-0.22%

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

Last update for Toronto: September 6, 2026

Last update for Calgary: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,660 in Toronto and $1,256 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Toronto pays 17% 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: $87.0 in Toronto vs $71.0 in Calgary. Groceries flip the comparison at $364 vs $401, with Toronto 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

Toronto vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

Average pay runs 17% higher in Toronto, 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: $1,660 in Toronto versus $1,256 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 $71.0 versus $87.0 in Toronto. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,620 per month in Toronto versus $2,344 in Calgary – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,344 in Calgary versus $2,620 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.