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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,544 in Detroit, MI versus $2,475 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,703 in Detroit, MI versus $3,595 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,862 in Detroit, MI versus $4,715 in Calgary.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Detroit, MI 90% above, Calgary 85% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.54 $17.54

$18.25 CA$25.00

-3.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.3 $68.3

$70.0 CA$95.9

-2.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.95 $9.95

$11.12 CA$15.24

-10.52%

Cappuccino

$5.02 $5.02

$3.82 CA$5.23

31.41%

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

$2.49 $2.49

$1.96 CA$2.69

27.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.65 CA$2.27

10.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.88 $5.88

$5.07 CA$6.95

15.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.13 $7.13

$6.56 CA$8.98

8.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$2.16 CA$2.96

-60.65%

White Bread (500g)

$3.16 $3.16

$2.71 CA$3.72

16.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.77 $5.77

$3.30 CA$4.53

74.85%

Eggs

$3.24 $3.24

$3.40 CA$4.66

-4.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.13 $12.13

$14.42 CA$19.76

-15.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.77 $11.77

$12.70 CA$17.40

-7.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.93 $20.93

$16.11 CA$22.07

29.92%

Apples (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$4.42 CA$6.06

3.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.30 CA$1.78

-10.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.74 $5.74

$3.87 CA$5.30

48.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.28 $6.28

$4.43 CA$6.07

41.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.56 CA$3.51

-20.70%

Onion (1kg)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.58 CA$3.54

-4.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.71 CA$3.71

-6.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.88 CA$2.58

9.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.17 $10.17

$14.46 CA$19.81

-29.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.30 $15.30

$14.47 CA$19.83

5.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.80 CA$3.83

-27.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$3.97 CA$5.44

-38.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.72 CA$3.73

-25.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.4 $66.4

$85.4 CA$117

-22.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.45 $2.45

$3.41 CA$4.67

-28.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.36 CA$1.86

3.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$48.43 $48.43

$29.18 CA$39.97

65.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.09 CA$1.49

-19.27%

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

$34.8K $34.8K

$24.6K CA$33.7K

41.32%

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

$24.7K $24.7K

$21.8K CA$29.8K

13.59%

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

$252 $252

$211 CA$289

19.53%

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

$55.4 $55.4

$41.13 CA$56.4

34.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.4 $52.4

$58.3 CA$79.9

-10.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.51 $42.51

$53.8 CA$73.7

-20.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.95 $24.95

$52.9 CA$72.4

-52.80%

Cinema Ticket

$10.97 $10.97

$12.68 CA$17.37

-13.49%

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

$1,305 $1,305

$875 CA$1,199

49.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.0K $17.0K

$16.0K CA$21.9K

6.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.2 $55.2

$58.1 CA$79.5

-4.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.88 $30.88

$47.11 CA$64.5

-34.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.9 $96.9

$87.7 CA$120

10.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 $108

$107 CA$146

1.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,402 $1,402

$1,416 CA$1,940

-0.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,166 $1,166

$1,171 CA$1,604

-0.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,497 $2,497

$2,288 CA$3,135

9.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,913 $1,913

$1,841 CA$2,523

3.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,904 $3,904

$3,718 CA$5,093

5.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,294 $1,294

$3,594 CA$4,924

-63.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,321 $3,321

$3,131 CA$4,289

6.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

5.71

12.43%

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

Last update for Detroit, MI: April 20, 2026

Last update for Calgary: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,402 in Detroit, MI and $1,416 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Detroit, MI pays 6% 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: $68 in Detroit, MI vs $70 in Calgary. Groceries flip the comparison at $410 vs $395, 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

Detroit, MI vs Calgary: 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.

Detroit, MI pays 6% more on average, 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: $1,402 in Detroit, MI versus $1,416 in Calgary. 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 $70.0 versus $68.0 in Detroit, MI. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,544 per month in Detroit, MI versus $2,475 in Calgary – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,475 in Calgary versus $2,544 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.