Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Traverse City, MI Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Traverse City, MI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,485 in Calgary versus $2,608 in Traverse City, MI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,590 in Calgary versus $3,842 in Traverse City, MI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,694 in Calgary versus $5,076 in Traverse City, MI.

Living in Calgary costs roughly 5% less than in Traverse City, MI, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 86% above, Traverse City, MI 96% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.34 CA$25.93

$18.32 $18.32

0.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.0 CA$100

$71.0 $71.0

0.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.25 CA$15.91

$9.84 $9.84

14.33%

Cappuccino

$3.83 CA$5.41

$4.63 $4.63

-17.28%

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

$1.96 CA$2.76

$2.55 $2.55

-23.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 CA$2.33

$1.59 $1.59

3.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.29 CA$7.47

$5.34 $5.34

-0.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 CA$9.60

$5.99 $5.99

13.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 CA$3.17

$0.87 $0.87

157.47%

White Bread (500g)

$2.73 CA$3.87

$3.50 $3.50

-22.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 CA$4.77

$4.32 $4.32

-21.76%

Eggs

$3.29 CA$4.66

$3.23 $3.23

1.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.76 CA$20.87

$15.13 $15.13

-2.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.70 CA$17.95

$12.34 $12.34

2.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.95 CA$22.55

$15.16 $15.16

5.21%

Apples (1kg)

$4.31 CA$6.09

$6.74 $6.74

-36.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.91

$0.91 $0.91

48.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.78 CA$5.35

$3.28 $3.28

15.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.22 CA$5.96

$5.64 $5.64

-25.18%

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 CA$3.65

$2.16 $2.16

19.44%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 CA$3.81

$3.35 $3.35

-19.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 CA$3.87

$2.50 $2.50

9.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 CA$2.74

$2.57 $2.57

-24.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.75 CA$20.85

$8.80 $8.80

67.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.09 CA$19.91

$15.08 $15.08

-6.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 CA$3.97

$1.86 $1.86

51.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 CA$5.59

$3.68 $3.68

7.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.81 CA$3.98

$5.87 $5.87

-52.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.6 CA$122

$29.43 $29.43

194.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.41 CA$4.82

$4.75 $4.75

-28.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 CA$1.92

$1.58 $1.58

-13.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.03 CA$41.04

$27.89 $27.89

4.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 CA$1.52

$0.86 $0.86

24.42%

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

$25.0K CA$35.4K

$24.5K $24.5K

2.15%

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

$22.1K CA$31.2K

$24.1K $24.1K

-8.44%

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

$215 CA$303

$118 $118

82.22%

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

$40.33 CA$57.0

$45.48 $45.48

-11.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 CA$81.9

$61.9 $61.9

-6.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 CA$77.5

$71.3 $71.3

-23.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.6 CA$75.7

Cinema Ticket

$12.66 CA$17.89

$10.81 $10.81

17.11%

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

$872 CA$1,233

$933 $933

-6.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K CA$22.8K

$21.0K $21.0K

-23.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 CA$81.7

$64.0 $64.0

-9.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.36 CA$66.9

$55.7 $55.7

-14.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.9 CA$123

$100 $100

-13.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CA$154

$96.7 $96.7

12.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,414 CA$1,998

$1,799 $1,799

-21.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,153 CA$1,630

$1,408 $1,408

-18.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,311 CA$3,266

$3,795 $3,795

-39.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,876 CA$2,652

$2,270 $2,270

-17.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,833 CA$5,419

$5,130 $5,130

-25.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,392 CA$4,794

$3,642 $3,642

-6.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,127 CA$4,421

$2,717 $2,717

15.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.35

-10.08%

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

Last update for Calgary: June 13, 2026

Last update for Traverse City, MI: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,414 in Calgary and $1,799 in Traverse City, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 15% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $71.0 in Calgary vs $71.0 in Traverse City, MI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $395 vs $408 per month, with Calgary 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

Calgary vs Traverse City, MI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 15% higher in Calgary, 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: $1,414 in Calgary versus $1,799 in Traverse City, 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 $71.0 in Traverse City, MI. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,485 per month in Calgary versus $2,608 in Traverse City, MI – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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.

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 5% less than in Traverse City, MI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.