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: $2,811 in Toronto versus $2,523 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,130 in Toronto versus $3,652 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,449 in Toronto versus $4,780 in Calgary.

Living in Toronto is roughly 11% more expensive than Calgary, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Toronto 110% above, Calgary 88% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.71 CA$26.08

$18.59 CA$25.91

0.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.9 CA$114

$70.0 CA$97.6

16.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.83 CA$15.09

$10.96 CA$15.27

-1.19%

Cappuccino

$3.89 CA$5.42

$3.73 CA$5.20

4.29%

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

$2.22 CA$3.09

$1.99 CA$2.77

11.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 CA$2.30

$1.72 CA$2.40

-4.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 CA$8.43

$5.01 CA$6.99

20.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.58 CA$9.17

$6.50 CA$9.06

1.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.73 CA$3.80

$2.22 CA$3.10

22.97%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 CA$3.79

$2.67 CA$3.72

1.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.54 CA$4.93

$3.26 CA$4.55

8.59%

Eggs

$3.50 CA$4.88

$3.35 CA$4.67

4.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.53 CA$18.85

$14.50 CA$20.21

-6.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.09 CA$18.24

$12.95 CA$18.04

1.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.96 CA$23.64

$16.15 CA$22.51

5.02%

Apples (1kg)

$4.16 CA$5.80

$4.32 CA$6.02

-3.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 CA$1.64

$1.35 CA$1.89

-12.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.25 CA$4.53

$3.83 CA$5.33

-15.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.12 CA$5.74

$4.18 CA$5.83

-1.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.50 CA$3.49

$2.65 CA$3.69

-5.66%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 CA$4.01

$2.74 CA$3.82

5.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.35 CA$3.27

$2.76 CA$3.85

-14.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 CA$2.79

$1.95 CA$2.72

2.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.58 CA$20.32

$14.98 CA$20.88

-2.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.18 CA$19.76

$14.67 CA$20.45

-3.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.80 CA$3.90

$2.84 CA$3.96

-1.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 CA$4.54

$4.02 CA$5.60

-19.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.40 CA$3.35

$2.80 CA$3.90

-14.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$114 CA$159

$86.2 CA$120

32.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.76 CA$5.24

$3.60 CA$5.02

4.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 CA$1.96

$1.32 CA$1.84

6.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.53 CA$35.58

$29.01 CA$40.43

-12.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 CA$1.53

$1.12 CA$1.56

-1.79%

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

$25.2K CA$35.2K

$24.9K CA$34.6K

1.55%

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

$21.1K CA$29.4K

$22.0K CA$30.6K

-4.13%

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

$120 CA$167

$217 CA$303

-44.93%

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

$37.54 CA$52.3

$41.55 CA$57.9

-9.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.5 CA$76.0

$58.1 CA$80.9

-6.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.5 CA$77.4

$54.7 CA$76.3

1.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.15 CA$29.48

$52.8 CA$73.6

-59.96%

Cinema Ticket

$11.56 CA$16.11

$12.77 CA$17.79

-9.48%

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

$1,129 CA$1,574

$874 CA$1,218

29.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.0K CA$25.0K

$15.9K CA$22.2K

12.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 CA$79.3

$58.8 CA$82.0

-3.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.96 CA$55.7

$46.47 CA$64.8

-14.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 CA$125

$87.2 CA$121

2.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 CA$159

$109 CA$152

5.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 CA$2,577

$1,414 CA$1,970

30.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,560 CA$2,174

$1,172 CA$1,634

33.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,925 CA$4,077

$2,319 CA$3,232

26.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,470 CA$3,443

$1,886 CA$2,629

30.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,085 CA$12.7K

$3,892 CA$5,424

133.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,036 CA$9,806

$3,503 CA$4,882

100.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,572 CA$4,978

$3,149 CA$4,389

13.42%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,849 in Toronto and $1,414 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Toronto 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: $82.0 in Toronto vs $70.0 in Calgary. Groceries flip the comparison at $396 vs $397, 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, Getting Around. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Toronto pays 13% 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: $1,849 in Toronto versus $1,414 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 $82.0 in Toronto. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,811 per month in Toronto versus $2,523 in Calgary – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Calgary is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 11% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.