Cost of Living in Major Canadian Cities

A high salary in Toronto may provide a lower quality of life than an average salary in Calgary. Geography dictates affordability in Canada.

The Big Three: Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal

Toronto and Vancouver are world-class cities with costs of living to match. They are driven entirely by housing costs. Montreal remains significantly more affordable than the other two, though rents have risen sharply since 2020.

The Prairie Advantage

Cities like Calgary, Edmonton, and Saskatoon offer the best income-to-housing ratios in the country. Alberta specifically benefits from zero provincial sales tax (paying only the 5% federal GST) and relatively high salaries driven by the energy sector.

Sample Monthly Budgets (Single Renter, 2024)

Expense	Toronto, ON	Calgary, AB
1-Bed Rent (Average)	$2,500	$1,700
Groceries	$400	$400
Transit Pass	$156	$112
Utilities & Internet	$200	$250
Total Basic Survival	$3,256 (Net)	$2,462 (Net)

This represents post-tax (net) income required just to cover basics. Use our Income Tax Calculator to see gross income requirements.

Next Steps

Are you moving soon? Use our interactive Cost of Living Comparer to benchmark specific cities against your expected salary, or check out labor market trends to see where your industry is concentrated.