Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Baltimore, MD and Calgary

For one person, living is cheaper in Calgary: $2,232 a month against $2,491 in Baltimore, MD, rent and utilities included – about $3,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Baltimore, MD
🇺🇸 United States
$2,491
/mo nomad
Calgary
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,232
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Baltimore, MD and in Calgary

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Baltimore, MD and in Calgary actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,491 in Baltimore, MD versus $2,232 in Calgary.

  • Baltimore, MD $2,491
  • Calgary $2,232

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,888 in Baltimore, MD versus $3,363 in Calgary.

  • Baltimore, MD $3,888
  • Calgary $3,363

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,284 in Baltimore, MD versus $4,493 in Calgary.

  • Baltimore, MD $5,284
  • Calgary $4,493

Living in Baltimore, MD is roughly 12% more expensive than in Calgary, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Baltimore, MD 86% above, Calgary 67% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Baltimore, MD
Calgary
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.22 $18.22
$17.22 CA$24.54
5.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.7 $94.7
$71.2 CA$101
32.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.48 $10.48
$10.56 CA$15.06
-0.76%
Cappuccino
$5.36 $5.36
$3.77 CA$5.38
42.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$1.91 CA$2.73
81.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 $2.61
$1.84 CA$2.63
41.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.89 $6.89
$4.86 CA$6.93
41.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.83 $7.83
$5.55 CA$7.91
41.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Baltimore, MD
Calgary
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$1.88 CA$2.68
-39.36%
White Bread (500g)
$4.14 $4.14
$2.73 CA$3.89
51.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.08 $4.08
$5.34 CA$7.61
-23.60%
Eggs
$4.84 $4.84
$3.77 CA$5.37
28.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.78 $12.78
$11.29 CA$16.09
13.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.02 $13.02
$11.46 CA$16.34
13.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.78 $18.78
$18.26 CA$26.03
2.85%
Apples (1kg)
$6.14 $6.14
$4.64 CA$6.62
32.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.44 CA$2.05
8.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.54 $5.54
$4.22 CA$6.02
31.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.98 $4.98
$3.86 CA$5.50
29.02%
Potato (1kg)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.62 CA$3.74
6.11%
Onion (1kg)
$2.90 $2.90
$2.66 CA$3.79
9.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.36 $2.36
$2.59 CA$3.69
-8.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 $2.34
$1.53 CA$2.19
52.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.05 $14.05
$14.26 CA$20.32
-1.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.43 $15.43
$15.27 CA$21.76
1.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$2.41 CA$3.44
9.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 $3.83
$3.09 CA$4.41
23.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Baltimore, MD
Calgary
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.88 CA$4.11
-29.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.8 $76.8
$88.7 CA$126
-13.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.85 $1.85
$3.23 CA$4.61
-42.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.36 $1.36
$1.38 CA$1.97
-1.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.59 $23.59
$26.49 CA$37.75
-10.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.07 $1.07
$1.18 CA$1.68
-9.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K $36.0K
$28.3K CA$40.3K
27.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K $25.2K
$20.7K CA$29.5K
21.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baltimore, MD
Calgary
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$211 $211
$159 CA$227
32.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$67.1 $67.1
$37.61 CA$53.6
78.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$88.2 $88.2
$49.68 CA$70.8
77.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Baltimore, MD
Calgary
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.7 $51.7
$53.3 CA$75.9
-2.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$47.99 $47.99
$18.31 CA$26.10
162.10%
Cinema Ticket
$14.72 $14.72
$14.08 CA$20.06
4.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Baltimore, MD
Calgary
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,935 $1,935
$809 CA$1,154
139.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$34.9K $34.9K
$15.9K CA$22.6K
120.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Baltimore, MD
Calgary
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.6 $52.6
$58.8 CA$83.8
-10.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.1 $63.1
$38.84 CA$55.4
62.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.8 $92.8
$91.4 CA$130
1.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 $110
$109 CA$155
0.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Baltimore, MD
Calgary
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,766 $1,766
$1,237 CA$1,764
42.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,067 $1,067
$996 CA$1,420
7.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,352 $2,352
$1,908 CA$2,720
23.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,124 $2,124
$1,671 CA$2,382
27.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,545 $2,545
$3,530 CA$5,032
-27.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,352 $2,352
$3,336 CA$4,755
-29.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Baltimore, MD
Calgary
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,289 $4,289
$3,130 CA$4,461
37.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.72
4.51
49.00%

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

Last update for Baltimore, MD: October 5, 2026

Last update for Calgary: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Baltimore, MD
$1.1K
Calgary
$996 6.6% $71
Groceries & Markets
Baltimore, MD
$439
Calgary
$387 11.8% $52
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baltimore, MD
$367
Calgary
$247 32.8% $120
Eating Out
Baltimore, MD
$316
Calgary
$265 16.1% $51
Clothing & Footwear
Baltimore, MD
$143
Calgary
$134 6.3% $9
Getting Around
Baltimore, MD
$94
Calgary
$110 18% $17
Sport & Entertainment
Baltimore, MD
$81
Calgary
$81 0.3% $0.3

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,766 in Baltimore, MD and $1,237 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baltimore, MD pays 37% 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: $95.0 in Baltimore, MD vs $71.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $439 vs $387 per month, with Calgary cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Baltimore, MD
🇨🇦 Calgary
🕒 Local time
01:45 1:45 AM
23:45 11:45 PM
2 h behind Baltimore, MD
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
585,708
1,267,344
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 CAD (1 CAD = 0.702 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.626 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Baltimore, MD Calgary 3,170 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Baltimore, MD
  • Calgary

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Baltimore, MD vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Baltimore, MD or Calgary?
Calgary wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Baltimore, MD. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Calgary the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Baltimore, MD or in Calgary?
Average pay runs 37% higher in Baltimore, MD, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Baltimore, MD compared to Calgary?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,766 in Baltimore, MD versus $1,237 in Calgary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Baltimore, MD or in Calgary?
Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Baltimore, MD. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Baltimore, MD and in Calgary?
Dining out is cheaper in Calgary – a meal for two runs $71.0 versus $95.0 in Baltimore, MD. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Baltimore, MD or in Calgary?
At $2,232 in Calgary versus $2,491 in Baltimore, MD, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in Baltimore, MD. The gap between the two cities makes Calgary the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Baltimore, MD or Calgary?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Calgary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Baltimore, MD. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Baltimore, MD vs other spots: cost of living compared

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