Cost of Living Comparison Between Midland, TX and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Midland, TX and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,633 in Midland, TX versus $2,523 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,812 in Midland, TX versus $3,652 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,992 in Midland, TX versus $4,780 in Calgary.

Living in Midland, TX is roughly 4% more expensive than Calgary, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Midland, TX 96% above, Calgary 88% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.47 $27.47

$18.59 CA$25.74

47.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.3 $74.3

$70.0 CA$97.0

6.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.25 $9.25

$10.96 CA$15.17

-15.60%

Cappuccino

$5.02 $5.02

$3.73 CA$5.17

34.58%

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

$2.50 $2.50

$1.99 CA$2.75

25.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$1.72 CA$2.39

16.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.92 $5.92

$5.01 CA$6.94

18.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.13 $7.13

$6.50 CA$9.01

9.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$2.22 CA$3.08

-54.95%

White Bread (500g)

$3.49 $3.49

$2.67 CA$3.69

30.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.22 $4.22

$3.26 CA$4.52

29.45%

Eggs

$4.09 $4.09

$3.35 CA$4.64

22.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.09 $12.09

$14.50 CA$20.07

-16.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.31 $11.31

$12.95 CA$17.93

-12.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.47 $15.47

$16.15 CA$22.36

-4.21%

Apples (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$4.32 CA$5.98

10.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.35 CA$1.88

21.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$3.83 CA$5.30

14.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.78 $4.78

$4.18 CA$5.79

14.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.65 CA$3.67

4.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.74 CA$3.79

2.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.76 CA$3.82

-25.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.95 CA$2.70

10.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.62 $9.62

$14.98 CA$20.74

-35.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.40 $13.40

$14.67 CA$20.31

-8.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.84 CA$3.94

-40.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.28 $3.28

$4.02 CA$5.56

-18.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.80 CA$3.88

-27.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.2 CA$119

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.44 $3.44

$3.60 CA$4.99

-4.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.32 CA$1.82

20.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.23 $29.23

$29.01 CA$40.17

0.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 $0.70

$1.12 CA$1.55

-37.50%

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

$29.5K $29.5K

$24.9K CA$34.4K

18.48%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$22.0K CA$30.4K

16.29%

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

$185 $185

$217 CA$301

-14.83%

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

$43.39 $43.39

$41.55 CA$57.5

4.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.3 $68.3

$58.1 CA$80.4

17.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.61 $43.61

$54.7 CA$75.8

-20.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.8 CA$73.1

Cinema Ticket

$13.55 $13.55

$12.77 CA$17.68

6.11%

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

$1,294 $1,294

$874 CA$1,210

48.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$15.9K CA$22.1K

48.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.4 $50.4

$58.8 CA$81.5

-14.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.68 $40.68

$46.47 CA$64.4

-12.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.3 $87.3

$87.2 CA$121

0.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$109 CA$151

4.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,596 $1,596

$1,414 CA$1,957

12.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,358 $1,358

$1,172 CA$1,623

15.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,589 $2,589

$2,319 CA$3,211

11.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,252 $2,252

$1,886 CA$2,612

19.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,035 $2,035

$3,892 CA$5,389

-47.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,981 $1,981

$3,503 CA$4,851

-43.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,754 $5,754

$3,149 CA$4,360

82.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

5.71

14.36%

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

Last update for Midland, TX: June 1, 2026

Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,596 in Midland, TX and $1,414 in Calgary. 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: $74.0 in Midland, TX vs $70.0 in Calgary. Groceries flip the comparison at $382 vs $397, 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

Midland, TX vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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.

Midland, TX pays 83% 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: $1,596 in Midland, TX versus $1,414 in Calgary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,294 in Midland, TX versus $874 in Calgary. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

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.

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 4% less than in Midland, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.