Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Wichita, KS and Calgary

For one person, living costs are similar in Wichita, KS and in Calgary: $2,195 and $2,255 a month, rent and utilities included.

Wichita, KS
🇺🇸 United States
$2,195
/mo nomad
Calgary
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,255
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Wichita, KS and in Calgary

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Wichita, KS and in Calgary actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,195 in Wichita, KS versus $2,255 in Calgary.

  • Wichita, KS $2,195
  • Calgary $2,255

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,219 in Wichita, KS versus $3,361 in Calgary.

  • Wichita, KS $3,219
  • Calgary $3,361

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,243 in Wichita, KS versus $4,468 in Calgary.

  • Wichita, KS $4,243
  • Calgary $4,468

Living in Wichita, KS costs roughly 3% less than in Calgary, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Wichita, KS 62% above, Calgary 66% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Wichita, KS
Calgary
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.98 $17.98
$17.58 CA$24.85
2.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.7 $59.7
$69.1 CA$97.6
-13.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.81 $10.81
$10.59 CA$14.97
2.08%
Cappuccino
$5.30 $5.30
$3.84 CA$5.42
38.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$1.93 CA$2.72
30.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 $1.82
$1.88 CA$2.66
-3.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.04 $5.04
$5.09 CA$7.20
-0.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.10 $6.10
$5.64 CA$7.97
8.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Wichita, KS
Calgary
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$2.00 CA$2.82
-57.00%
White Bread (500g)
$3.82 $3.82
$2.78 CA$3.93
37.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.66 $4.66
$5.59 CA$7.90
-16.64%
Eggs
$4.07 $4.07
$3.70 CA$5.23
10.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.56 $11.56
$11.48 CA$16.23
0.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.13 $10.13
$11.20 CA$15.84
-9.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.14 $18.14
$18.59 CA$26.28
-2.42%
Apples (1kg)
$5.98 $5.98
$4.70 CA$6.64
27.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 $1.73
$1.45 CA$2.05
19.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.06 $5.06
$4.34 CA$6.13
16.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.26 $5.26
$3.79 CA$5.36
38.79%
Potato (1kg)
$2.82 $2.82
$2.69 CA$3.81
4.83%
Onion (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$2.75 CA$3.88
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.30 $2.30
$2.56 CA$3.62
-10.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.30 $2.30
$1.50 CA$2.12
53.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.51 $9.51
$14.39 CA$20.34
-33.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.79 $14.79
$15.81 CA$22.35
-6.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.16 $2.16
$2.47 CA$3.49
-12.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78 $3.78
$3.10 CA$4.39
21.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Wichita, KS
Calgary
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.70 $1.70
$2.81 CA$3.97
-39.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 $54.1
$90.6 CA$128
-40.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.51 $2.51
$3.28 CA$4.64
-23.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.40 CA$1.97
8.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$40.29 $40.29
$26.49 CA$37.45
52.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.98 $0.98
$1.22 CA$1.72
-19.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K $28.2K
$28.4K CA$40.1K
-0.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$20.8K CA$29.5K
24.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wichita, KS
Calgary
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$277 $277
$165 CA$233
68.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$82.3 $82.3
$38.24 CA$54.1
115.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.9 $69.9
$50.1 CA$70.9
39.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Wichita, KS
Calgary
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.57 $30.57
$53.8 CA$76.1
-43.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.66 $19.66
$18.04 CA$25.51
8.98%
Cinema Ticket
$15.26 $15.26
$14.04 CA$19.84
8.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Wichita, KS
Calgary
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$922 $922
$797 CA$1,126
15.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K $16.3K
$15.8K CA$22.3K
3.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Wichita, KS
Calgary
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.32 $47.32
$59.1 CA$83.5
-19.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.83 $30.83
$40.20 CA$56.8
-23.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 $110
$90.8 CA$128
20.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$141 $141
$109 CA$155
28.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Wichita, KS
Calgary
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$994 $994
$1,207 CA$1,707
-17.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$784 $784
$1,011 CA$1,429
-22.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,575 $1,575
$1,949 CA$2,756
-19.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,289 $1,289
$1,677 CA$2,371
-23.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,510 $1,510
$3,532 CA$4,993
-57.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,508 $1,508
$3,392 CA$4,795
-55.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Wichita, KS
Calgary
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,571 $3,571
$3,152 CA$4,456
13.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.65
4.51
47.45%

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

Last update for Wichita, KS: October 19, 2026

Last update for Calgary: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Wichita, KS
$784
Calgary
$1K 28.9% $227
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wichita, KS
$429
Calgary
$253 41.1% $176
Groceries & Markets
Wichita, KS
$407
Calgary
$392 3.8% $15
Eating Out
Wichita, KS
$295
Calgary
$270 8.2% $24
Clothing & Footwear
Wichita, KS
$148
Calgary
$135 8.9% $13
Getting Around
Wichita, KS
$71
Calgary
$112 57.9% $41
Sport & Entertainment
Wichita, KS
$61
Calgary
$82 34% $21

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $994 in Wichita, KS and $1,207 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Wichita, KS pays 13% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $60.0 in Wichita, KS vs $69.0 in Calgary. Groceries flip the comparison at $407 vs $392, with Calgary cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Wichita, KS
🇨🇦 Calgary
🕒 Local time
19:52 7:52 PM
18:52 6:52 PM
1 h behind Wichita, KS
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
357,698
1,267,344
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Wichita, KS Calgary 1,980 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Wichita, KS
  • Calgary

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Wichita, KS vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Calgary cheaper than Wichita, KS?
Wichita, KS is cheaper overall, especially in transport and leisure. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Wichita, KS or Calgary?
Average pay runs 13% higher in Wichita, KS, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Wichita, KS and Calgary?
Rent for a central apartment: $994 in Wichita, KS versus $1,207 in Calgary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Wichita, KS or in Calgary?
Dining out is cheaper in Wichita, KS – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $69.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Wichita, KS and in Calgary?
All in, you'll spend $2,195 per month in Wichita, KS versus $2,255 in Calgary – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Wichita, KS or in Calgary?
At $2,195 in Wichita, KS versus $2,255 in Calgary, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Wichita, KS but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Wichita, KS the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Wichita, KS or in Calgary?
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 Wichita, KS 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.

Wichita, KS vs other spots: cost of living compared

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