Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Detroit, MI Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Detroit, MI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,432 in Calgary versus $2,494 in Detroit, MI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,624 in Calgary versus $3,670 in Detroit, MI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,816 in Calgary versus $4,846 in Detroit, MI.

Living in Calgary costs roughly 3% less than in Detroit, MI, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 82% above, Detroit, MI 87% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.52 CA$26.09

$17.67 $17.67

4.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.6 CA$99.5

$67.4 $67.4

4.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.03 CA$15.53

$10.05 $10.05

9.75%

Cappuccino

$3.88 CA$5.47

$4.73 $4.73

-17.97%

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

$1.97 CA$2.78

$2.51 $2.51

-21.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 CA$2.34

$1.83 $1.83

-9.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.19 CA$7.31

$6.05 $6.05

-14.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.58 CA$9.27

$7.11 $7.11

-7.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.21 CA$3.11

$0.83 $0.83

166.27%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 CA$3.77

$3.31 $3.31

-19.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.35 CA$4.71

$5.85 $5.85

-42.74%

Eggs

$3.39 CA$4.78

$3.37 $3.37

0.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.59 CA$20.56

$12.33 $12.33

18.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.95 CA$18.25

$11.79 $11.79

9.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.84 CA$22.31

$20.40 $20.40

-22.35%

Apples (1kg)

$4.30 CA$6.06

$4.45 $4.45

-3.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 CA$1.84

$1.18 $1.18

10.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 CA$5.46

$5.89 $5.89

-34.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.22 CA$5.95

$6.18 $6.18

-31.72%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 CA$3.59

$2.08 $2.08

22.60%

Onion (1kg)

$2.72 CA$3.83

$2.53 $2.53

7.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 CA$3.86

$2.63 $2.63

4.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 CA$2.72

$2.03 $2.03

-4.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.00 CA$21.13

$9.97 $9.97

50.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.67 CA$20.66

$15.88 $15.88

-7.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 CA$4.07

$2.03 $2.03

42.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 CA$5.67

$2.54 $2.54

58.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.79 CA$3.93

$1.96 $1.96

42.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$85.7 CA$121

$65.2 $65.2

31.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.59 CA$5.05

$2.44 $2.44

47.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 CA$1.90

$1.41 $1.41

-4.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.84 CA$40.62

$47.80 $47.80

-39.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 CA$1.52

$0.92 $0.92

17.39%

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

$25.4K CA$35.8K

$35.1K $35.1K

-27.73%

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

$21.7K CA$30.5K

$24.8K $24.8K

-12.68%

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

$216 CA$304

$252 $252

-14.34%

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

$41.66 CA$58.7

$55.3 $55.3

-24.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.7 CA$82.7

$53.5 $53.5

9.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.6 CA$75.5

$43.09 $43.09

24.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.1 CA$73.4

$24.83 $24.83

109.83%

Cinema Ticket

$12.72 CA$17.92

$11.08 $11.08

14.80%

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

$885 CA$1,246

$1,305 $1,305

-32.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K CA$22.3K

$17.0K $17.0K

-7.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 CA$81.6

$54.8 $54.8

5.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.31 CA$66.6

$31.07 $31.07

52.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.3 CA$124

$98.6 $98.6

-10.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 CA$151

$107 $107

0.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,368 CA$1,926

$1,420 $1,420

-3.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,181 CA$1,664

$1,150 $1,150

2.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,364 CA$3,330

$2,531 $2,531

-6.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,872 CA$2,637

$1,957 $1,957

-4.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,737 CA$5,263

$4,070 $4,070

-8.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,424 CA$4,823

$1,300 $1,300

163.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,999 CA$4,224

$3,434 $3,434

-12.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.42

-11.06%

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

Last update for Calgary: July 21, 2026

Last update for Detroit, MI: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,368 in Calgary and $1,420 in Detroit, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Detroit, MI pays 15% 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: $71.0 in Calgary vs $67.0 in Detroit, MI. Groceries flip the comparison at $397 vs $412, with Calgary 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 Detroit, MI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 15% lower in Detroit, MI. 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: $1,368 in Calgary versus $1,420 in Detroit, MI. 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 $67.0 in Detroit, MI. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,432 per month in Calgary versus $2,494 in Detroit, MI – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,432 in Calgary versus $2,494 in Detroit, MI, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in Detroit, MI. 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 3% less than in Detroit, MI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.