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: $2,455 in Detroit, MI versus $2,523 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,604 in Detroit, MI versus $3,652 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,753 in Detroit, MI versus $4,780 in Calgary.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Detroit, MI 83% above, Calgary 88% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.64 $17.64

$18.59 CA$25.93

-5.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.5 $66.5

$70.0 CA$97.7

-5.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.06 $10.06

$10.96 CA$15.28

-8.21%

Cappuccino

$5.01 $5.01

$3.73 CA$5.20

34.32%

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

$2.58 $2.58

$1.99 CA$2.77

29.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.72 CA$2.40

9.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.06 $6.06

$5.01 CA$6.99

20.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.05 $7.05

$6.50 CA$9.07

8.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$2.22 CA$3.10

-59.91%

White Bread (500g)

$3.32 $3.32

$2.67 CA$3.72

24.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$3.26 CA$4.55

71.17%

Eggs

$3.28 $3.28

$3.35 CA$4.67

-2.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.24 $12.24

$14.50 CA$20.22

-15.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.07 $12.07

$12.95 CA$18.05

-6.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$16.15 CA$22.52

27.49%

Apples (1kg)

$4.64 $4.64

$4.32 CA$6.02

7.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.35 CA$1.89

-11.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.75 $5.75

$3.83 CA$5.33

50.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.07 $6.07

$4.18 CA$5.83

45.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.65 CA$3.69

-22.64%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.74 CA$3.82

-10.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.59 $2.59

$2.76 CA$3.85

-6.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.95 CA$2.72

5.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.82 $9.82

$14.98 CA$20.89

-34.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.79 $15.79

$14.67 CA$20.46

7.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$2.84 CA$3.96

-25.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$4.02 CA$5.60

-37.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.80 CA$3.91

-29.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.1 $67.1

$86.2 CA$120

-22.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.48 $2.48

$3.60 CA$5.02

-31.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.32 CA$1.84

5.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$48.91 $48.91

$29.01 CA$40.46

68.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.12 CA$1.56

-22.32%

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

$35.3K $35.3K

$24.9K CA$34.7K

41.94%

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

$24.8K $24.8K

$22.0K CA$30.6K

12.66%

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

$248 $248

$217 CA$303

14.16%

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

$55.7 $55.7

$41.55 CA$57.9

33.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.8 $52.8

$58.1 CA$81.0

-9.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.33 $42.33

$54.7 CA$76.3

-22.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.58 $25.58

$52.8 CA$73.7

-51.57%

Cinema Ticket

$10.91 $10.91

$12.77 CA$17.80

-14.57%

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

$1,310 $1,310

$874 CA$1,218

49.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.7K $16.7K

$15.9K CA$22.2K

4.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 $54.2

$58.8 CA$82.0

-7.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.19 $31.19

$46.47 CA$64.8

-32.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.7 $97.7

$87.2 CA$122

12.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$109 CA$152

0.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,400 $1,400

$1,414 CA$1,971

-1.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,179 $1,179

$1,172 CA$1,635

0.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,589 $2,589

$2,319 CA$3,234

11.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,947 $1,947

$1,886 CA$2,630

3.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,880 $3,880

$3,892 CA$5,427

-0.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,300 $1,300

$3,503 CA$4,885

-62.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,353 $3,353

$3,149 CA$4,392

6.47%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,400 in Detroit, MI and $1,414 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Detroit, MI pays 6% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $66.0 in Detroit, MI vs $70.0 in Calgary. Groceries flip the comparison at $413 vs $397, 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

Detroit, MI is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. 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: $1,400 in Detroit, MI versus $1,414 in Calgary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Detroit, MI – a meal for two runs $66.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,455 per month in Detroit, MI versus $2,523 in Calgary – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,455 in Detroit, MI versus $2,523 in Calgary, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Detroit, MI but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Detroit, MI 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 Detroit, MI 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.