🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,523 in Calgary versus $2,633 in Midland, TX.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,652 in Calgary versus $3,812 in Midland, TX.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,780 in Calgary versus $4,992 in Midland, TX.
🙂Living in Calgary costs roughly 4% less than in Midland, TX, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary88% above, Midland, TX96% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Calgary
Midland, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.59CA$25.74
$27.47$27.47
-32.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.0CA$97.0
$74.3$74.3
-5.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.96CA$15.17
$9.25$9.25
18.49%
Cappuccino
$3.73CA$5.17
$5.02$5.02
-25.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99CA$2.75
$2.50$2.50
-20.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72CA$2.39
$2.01$2.01
-14.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.01CA$6.94
$5.92$5.92
-15.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.50CA$9.01
$7.13$7.13
-8.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Calgary
Midland, TX
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.22CA$3.08
$1.00$1.00
122.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.67CA$3.69
$3.49$3.49
-23.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.26CA$4.52
$4.22$4.22
-22.75%
Eggs
$3.35CA$4.64
$4.09$4.09
-18.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.50CA$20.07
$12.09$12.09
19.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.95CA$17.93
$11.31$11.31
14.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.15CA$22.36
$15.47$15.47
4.40%
Apples(1kg)
$4.32CA$5.98
$4.77$4.77
-9.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.35CA$1.88
$1.64$1.64
-17.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.83CA$5.30
$4.38$4.38
-12.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.18CA$5.79
$4.78$4.78
-12.55%
Potato(1kg)
$2.65CA$3.67
$2.78$2.78
-4.68%
Onion(1kg)
$2.74CA$3.79
$2.81$2.81
-2.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.76CA$3.82
$2.05$2.05
34.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.95CA$2.70
$2.16$2.16
-9.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.98CA$20.74
$9.62$9.62
55.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.67CA$20.31
$13.40$13.40
9.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.84CA$3.94
$1.69$1.69
68.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02CA$5.56
$3.28$3.28
22.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Calgary
Midland, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.80CA$3.88
$2.04$2.04
37.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$86.2CA$119
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.60CA$4.99
$3.44$3.44
4.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.32CA$1.82
$1.59$1.59
-16.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.01CA$40.17
$29.23$29.23
-0.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.12CA$1.55
$0.70$0.70
60.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9KCA$34.4K
$29.5K$29.5K
-15.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0KCA$30.4K
$25.6K$25.6K
-14.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calgary
Midland, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$217CA$301
$185$185
17.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.55CA$57.5
$43.39$43.39
-4.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.1CA$80.4
$68.3$68.3
-15.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Calgary
Midland, TX
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.7CA$75.8
$43.61$43.61
25.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$52.8CA$73.1
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.77CA$17.68
$13.55$13.55
-5.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Calgary
Midland, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$874CA$1,210
$1,294$1,294
-32.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9KCA$22.1K
$23.6K$23.6K
-32.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Calgary
Midland, TX
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8CA$81.5
$50.4$50.4
16.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.47CA$64.4
$40.68$40.68
14.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.2CA$121
$87.3$87.3
-0.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109CA$151
$114$114
-4.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Calgary
Midland, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,414CA$1,957
$1,596$1,596
-11.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,172CA$1,623
$1,358$1,358
-13.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,319CA$3,211
$2,589$2,589
-10.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,886CA$2,612
$2,252$2,252
-16.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,892CA$5,389
$2,035$2,035
91.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,503CA$4,851
$1,981$1,981
76.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Calgary
Midland, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,149CA$4,360
$5,754$5,754
-45.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.71
6.53
-12.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026
Last update for Midland, TX: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,414 in Calgary and $1,596 in Midland, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Midland, TX pays 83% 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: $70.0 in Calgary vs $74.0 in Midland, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $397 vs $382, with Midland, 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 Midland, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Midland, TX cheaper than Calgary?
Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Calgary or Midland, TX?
On paper, Midland, TX earns 83% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Calgary and Midland, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,414 in Calgary versus $1,596 in Midland, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $874 in Calgary versus $1,294 in Midland, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Calgary or Midland, TX?
Dining out is cheaper in Calgary – a meal for two runs $70.0 versus $74.0 in Midland, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Calgary or Midland, TX?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Calgary is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is it better to live in Calgary or Midland, TX?
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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Calgary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Midland, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.