Cost of Living Comparison Between Arlington, TX and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Arlington, TX and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,383 in Arlington, TX versus $2,353 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,566 in Arlington, TX versus $3,488 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,748 in Arlington, TX versus $4,622 in Calgary.

Living in Arlington, TX is roughly 1% more expensive than in Calgary, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Arlington, TX 73% above, Calgary 71% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.13 $20.13

$17.94 CA$24.74

12.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.0 $54.0

$70.5 CA$97.3

-23.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.98 $9.98

$10.69 CA$14.74

-6.64%

Cappuccino

$5.47 $5.47

$3.79 CA$5.22

44.33%

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

$2.60 $2.60

$2.00 CA$2.76

30.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 $2.00

$1.98 CA$2.72

1.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.07 $5.07

$5.19 CA$7.16

-2.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.58 $6.58

$5.86 CA$8.08

12.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.95 CA$2.69

-58.46%

White Bread (500g)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.82 CA$3.89

35.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$5.61 CA$7.74

-9.27%

Eggs

$2.59 $2.59

$3.75 CA$5.17

-30.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.79 $10.79

$11.50 CA$15.86

-6.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.73 $12.73

$11.46 CA$15.81

11.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.72 $18.72

$18.95 CA$26.14

-1.21%

Apples (1kg)

$4.45 $4.45

$4.83 CA$6.66

-7.87%

Banana (1kg)

$2.68 $2.68

$1.37 CA$1.89

95.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.23 $5.23

$4.25 CA$5.86

23.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.97 $3.97

$4.15 CA$5.72

-4.34%

Potato (1kg)

$2.59 $2.59

$2.70 CA$3.73

-4.07%

Onion (1kg)

$3.12 $3.12

$2.83 CA$3.90

10.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.91 $1.91

$2.64 CA$3.64

-27.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.51 CA$2.08

29.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.43 $9.43

$14.60 CA$20.14

-35.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.01 $12.01

$15.76 CA$21.73

-23.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$2.60 CA$3.58

-18.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.36 $3.36

$3.08 CA$4.25

9.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.94 $5.94

$2.93 CA$4.04

102.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.26 $39.26

$89.3 CA$123

-56.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.32 CA$4.58

-12.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.43 CA$1.97

23.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.91 $14.91

$27.71 CA$38.21

-46.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.26 CA$1.74

-26.98%

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

$35.6K $35.6K

$28.9K CA$39.9K

23.07%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$21.3K CA$29.4K

18.96%

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

$222 $222

$183 CA$252

21.20%

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

$65.9 $65.9

$38.31 CA$52.8

72.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.0 $65.0

$51.7 CA$71.3

25.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.23 $41.23

$54.9 CA$75.7

-24.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 CA$25.73

Cinema Ticket

$10.18 $10.18

$14.26 CA$19.66

-28.61%

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

$1,922 $1,922

$828 CA$1,142

132.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.6K $27.6K

$15.9K CA$21.9K

73.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 $59.3

$59.6 CA$82.1

-0.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.3 $50.3

$39.47 CA$54.4

27.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.2 $81.2

$94.3 CA$130

-13.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.0 $99.0

$113 CA$156

-12.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,534 $1,534

$1,265 CA$1,744

21.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,082 $1,082

$1,051 CA$1,450

2.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,440 $2,440

$1,934 CA$2,667

26.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,055 $2,055

$1,700 CA$2,344

20.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,224 $2,224

$3,680 CA$5,075

-39.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,181 $2,181

$3,333 CA$4,597

-34.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,708 $3,708

$3,276 CA$4,518

13.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.08

4.4

38.18%

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

Last update for Arlington, TX: August 29, 2026

Last update for Calgary: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,534 in Arlington, TX and $1,265 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Arlington, TX 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: $54.0 in Arlington, TX vs $71.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $395 vs $397 per month, with Arlington, TX 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

Arlington, TX vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Arlington, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Calgary the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 13% higher in Arlington, TX, 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: $1,534 in Arlington, TX versus $1,265 in Calgary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,383 per month in Arlington, TX versus $2,353 in Calgary – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Calgary runs roughly 127% less than in Arlington, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,353 in Calgary versus $2,383 in Arlington, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in Arlington, TX. 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 1% less than in Arlington, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.