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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,462 in Calgary versus $2,391 in Arlington, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,628 in Calgary versus $3,803 in Arlington, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,795 in Calgary versus $5,215 in Arlington, TX.

Living in Calgary is roughly 3% more expensive than in Arlington, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 84% above, Arlington, TX 79% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.33 CA$25.70

$19.45 $19.45

-5.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.9 CA$98.0

$75.7 $75.7

-7.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.95 CA$15.35

$9.96 $9.96

9.94%

Cappuccino

$3.74 CA$5.24

$5.49 $5.49

-31.88%

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

$2.04 CA$2.86

$2.54 $2.54

-19.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.34

$2.01 $2.01

-16.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.20 CA$7.29

$5.11 $5.11

1.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 CA$9.41

$7.17 $7.17

-6.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 CA$3.15

$0.87 $0.87

158.62%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 CA$3.85

$3.41 $3.41

-19.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.23 CA$4.53

$4.11 $4.11

-21.41%

Eggs

$3.45 CA$4.83

$3.53 $3.53

-2.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 CA$20.19

$12.20 $12.20

18.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.89 CA$18.07

$11.76 $11.76

9.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 CA$22.24

$14.55 $14.55

9.00%

Apples (1kg)

$4.30 CA$6.02

$4.83 $4.83

-10.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.88

$1.63 $1.63

-17.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.85 CA$5.40

$4.51 $4.51

-14.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.97

$3.95 $3.95

7.59%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 CA$3.57

$2.41 $2.41

5.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.68

$2.74 $2.74

-4.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 CA$3.92

$2.03 $2.03

37.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.73

$2.17 $2.17

-10.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.97 CA$20.99

$9.22 $9.22

62.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.90 CA$19.49

$15.25 $15.25

-8.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 CA$4.10

$2.09 $2.09

39.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 CA$5.48

$4.45 $4.45

-12.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.84

$5.38 $5.38

-49.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.8 CA$123

$39.32 $39.32

123.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.04

$4.32 $4.32

-16.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 CA$1.82

$1.22 $1.22

6.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.70 CA$40.24

$24.08 $24.08

19.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.57

$0.79 $0.79

41.77%

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

$25.5K CA$35.7K

$25.1K $25.1K

1.58%

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

$21.7K CA$30.5K

$25.9K $25.9K

-15.98%

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

$213 CA$299

$204 $204

4.58%

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

$40.96 CA$57.4

$60.0 $60.0

-31.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 CA$81.2

$68.6 $68.6

-15.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 CA$76.0

$41.82 $41.82

29.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.4

Cinema Ticket

$12.63 CA$17.71

$13.34 $13.34

-5.32%

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

$874 CA$1,226

$1,421 $1,421

-38.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.3K

$22.5K $22.5K

-29.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 CA$82.2

$57.0 $57.0

2.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.01 CA$65.9

$45.68 $45.68

2.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 CA$119

$87.1 $87.1

-2.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$151

$119 $119

-9.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,380 CA$1,935

$1,631 $1,631

-15.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,159 CA$1,625

$1,081 $1,081

7.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,324 CA$3,259

$2,826 $2,826

-17.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,905 CA$2,670

$2,417 $2,417

-21.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,786 CA$5,308

$2,201 $2,201

72.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,511 CA$4,922

$2,233 $2,233

57.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,940 CA$4,121

$3,700 $3,700

-20.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.52

-12.42%

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

Last update for Calgary: July 13, 2026

Last update for Arlington, TX: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,380 in Calgary and $1,631 in Arlington, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Arlington, TX pays 26% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $70.0 in Calgary vs $76.0 in Arlington, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $396 vs $381, with Arlington, TX 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

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

Arlington, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Calgary. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Arlington, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 26% lower in Arlington, TX. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,380 in Calgary versus $1,631 in Arlington, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,462 per month in Calgary versus $2,391 in Arlington, TX – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Arlington, TX runs roughly 123% less than in Calgary. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,391 in Arlington, TX versus $2,462 in Calgary, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Arlington, TX but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Arlington, TX 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 Arlington, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.