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: $2,776 in Toronto versus $2,432 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,051 in Toronto versus $3,624 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,325 in Toronto versus $4,816 in Calgary.

Living in Toronto is roughly 14% more expensive than in Calgary, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Toronto 108% above, Calgary 82% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.95 CA$26.72

$18.52 CA$26.12

2.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 CA$118

$70.6 CA$99.6

18.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.97 CA$15.47

$11.03 CA$15.55

-0.54%

Cappuccino

$3.97 CA$5.60

$3.88 CA$5.48

2.32%

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

$2.15 CA$3.03

$1.97 CA$2.79

9.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 CA$2.31

$1.66 CA$2.34

-1.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.06 CA$8.54

$5.19 CA$7.32

16.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 CA$9.58

$6.58 CA$9.28

3.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.71 CA$3.82

$2.21 CA$3.11

22.62%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 CA$3.88

$2.67 CA$3.77

3.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.58 CA$5.05

$3.35 CA$4.72

6.87%

Eggs

$3.47 CA$4.89

$3.39 CA$4.78

2.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.60 CA$19.18

$14.59 CA$20.58

-6.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.37 CA$18.86

$12.95 CA$18.27

3.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.87 CA$23.80

$15.84 CA$22.34

6.50%

Apples (1kg)

$4.19 CA$5.91

$4.30 CA$6.07

-2.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 CA$1.61

$1.30 CA$1.84

-12.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.23 CA$4.56

$3.88 CA$5.47

-16.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.98 CA$5.62

$4.22 CA$5.96

-5.69%

Potato (1kg)

$2.48 CA$3.50

$2.55 CA$3.60

-2.75%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 CA$3.98

$2.72 CA$3.84

3.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.35 CA$3.32

$2.74 CA$3.87

-14.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 CA$2.77

$1.93 CA$2.73

1.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.81 CA$20.89

$15.00 CA$21.15

-1.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.21 CA$20.04

$14.67 CA$20.69

-3.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 CA$3.80

$2.89 CA$4.07

-6.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 CA$4.42

$4.03 CA$5.68

-22.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 CA$3.58

$2.79 CA$3.94

-8.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$116 CA$163

$85.7 CA$121

35.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 CA$5.04

$3.59 CA$5.06

-0.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.40 CA$1.98

$1.35 CA$1.91

3.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.54 CA$36.02

$28.84 CA$40.68

-11.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 CA$1.54

$1.08 CA$1.53

0.93%

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

$25.4K CA$35.8K

-0.03%

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

$21.3K CA$30.0K

$21.7K CA$30.6K

-1.95%

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

$116 CA$164

$216 CA$304

-45.97%

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

$37.15 CA$52.4

$41.66 CA$58.8

-10.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.2 CA$75.0

$58.7 CA$82.8

-9.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.7 CA$78.6

$53.6 CA$75.6

3.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.88 CA$29.45

$52.1 CA$73.5

-59.92%

Cinema Ticket

$11.63 CA$16.40

$12.72 CA$17.95

-8.57%

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

$1,122 CA$1,582

$885 CA$1,248

26.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.1K CA$25.5K

$15.8K CA$22.3K

14.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.5 CA$82.5

$57.9 CA$81.7

0.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.43 CA$55.6

$47.31 CA$66.7

-16.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 CA$128

$88.3 CA$124

2.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 CA$159

$107 CA$151

5.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,823 CA$2,572

$1,368 CA$1,929

33.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,557 CA$2,196

$1,181 CA$1,666

31.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,986 CA$4,212

$2,364 CA$3,335

26.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,450 CA$3,456

$1,872 CA$2,641

30.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,678 CA$12.2K

$3,737 CA$5,270

132.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,940 CA$9,789

$3,424 CA$4,829

102.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,390 CA$4,782

$2,999 CA$4,229

13.06%

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: July 21, 2026

Last update for Calgary: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,823 in Toronto and $1,368 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: $84.0 in Toronto vs $71.0 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, Clothing & Footwear. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 13% 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: $1,823 in Toronto versus $1,368 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 $84.0 in Toronto. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,776 per month in Toronto versus $2,432 in Calgary – a 14% 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 14% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.