Monthly Cost of Living Summary
| Expense | Single Person | Couple | Family of 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1-bed / 2-bed / 3-bed) | $1,600–$1,900 | $1,900–$2,400 | $2,300–$3,000 |
| Groceries | $380–$500 | $650–$880 | $950–$1,300 |
| Transportation | $115–$400 | $200–$550 | $300–$700 |
| Utilities | $150–$230 | $180–$260 | $200–$300 |
| Internet + phone | $120–$160 | $160–$220 | $180–$260 |
| Insurance | $80–$180 | $120–$260 | $180–$350 |
| Dining/entertainment | $150–$400 | $250–$550 | $250–$500 |
| Fitness/personal | $40–$120 | $60–$180 | $80–$200 |
| Miscellaneous | $80–$160 | $120–$250 | $160–$300 |
| Total | $2,715–$4,050 | $3,640–$5,550 | $4,600–$6,910 |
Rent Prices by Neighbourhood
| Neighbourhood | Studio | 1-Bedroom | 2-Bedroom | 3-Bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown / Beltline | $1,300–$1,600 | $1,700–$2,100 | $2,200–$2,800 | $2,800–$3,500 |
| Kensington | $1,200–$1,500 | $1,600–$2,000 | $2,100–$2,600 | $2,600–$3,200 |
| Bridgeland | $1,200–$1,500 | $1,600–$2,000 | $2,000–$2,500 | $2,500–$3,100 |
| Mission / Cliff Bungalow | $1,200–$1,500 | $1,600–$2,000 | $2,100–$2,600 | $2,600–$3,300 |
| Marda Loop | $1,100–$1,400 | $1,500–$1,900 | $1,900–$2,400 | $2,400–$3,000 |
| Inglewood | $1,100–$1,400 | $1,500–$1,900 | $1,900–$2,400 | $2,400–$3,000 |
| NW (University/Varsity) | $1,000–$1,300 | $1,400–$1,800 | $1,800–$2,200 | $2,200–$2,800 |
| NE (Rundle/Falconridge) | $900–$1,100 | $1,200–$1,500 | $1,500–$1,900 | $1,800–$2,300 |
| SE (McKenzie/Cranston) | $1,000–$1,300 | $1,400–$1,800 | $1,800–$2,200 | $2,100–$2,700 |
| Airdrie (nearby) | $900–$1,200 | $1,200–$1,500 | $1,400–$1,800 | $1,700–$2,200 |
Home Prices
| Property Type | Average Price | Monthly Mortgage (20% down, 5.5%) |
|---|---|---|
| Condo (downtown) | $280,000–$400,000 | $1,440–$2,060 |
| Condo (suburbs) | $200,000–$320,000 | $1,030–$1,650 |
| Townhouse | $350,000–$500,000 | $1,800–$2,580 |
| Semi-detached | $400,000–$550,000 | $2,060–$2,840 |
| Detached house | $550,000–$800,000 | $2,840–$4,120 |
| Detached (premium neighbourhoods) | $800,000–$1,500,000 | $4,120–$7,730 |
Alberta Tax Advantage
| Tax/Fee | Alberta | Ontario | BC | Quebec |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provincial sales tax | 0% | 8% HST | 7% PST | 9.975% QST |
| Total sales tax (GST + PST) | 5% | 13% | 12% | 14.975% |
| Provincial income tax (first bracket) | 10% | 5.05% | 5.06% | 14% |
| Health care premium | $0 | $0 (since 2019) | $0 | $0 |
| Annual savings on $50K spending | — | ~$4,000 more | ~$3,500 more | ~$5,000 more |
Grocery Costs
| Item | Average Price |
|---|---|
| Milk (4L) | $6.00–$7.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $3.50–$4.50 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $4.50–$5.50 |
| Chicken breast (1 kg) | $13.00–$17.00 |
| Ground beef (1 kg) | $9.00–$13.00 |
| Rice (5 kg) | $11.00–$15.00 |
| Monthly groceries (1 person) | $380–$500 |
| Monthly groceries (family of 4) | $950–$1,300 |
Transportation
| Mode | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Calgary Transit monthly pass | $115 |
| Calgary Transit (per ride) | $3.60 |
| CTrain (included in transit) | — |
| Car ownership (total) | $700–$1,200 |
| Car insurance (average) | $150–$250 |
| Gas (average) | $130–$220 |
| Parking (monthly downtown) | $200–$400 |
Utilities
| Utility | Monthly Cost (1-bed) | Monthly Cost (3-bed) |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity | $80–$130 | $120–$200 |
| Natural gas (heating) | $50–$80 | $80–$130 |
| Water/sewer/waste | $50–$70 | $70–$100 |
| Internet | $50–$80 | $50–$80 |
| Cell phone | $40–$80 | $40–$80/person |
| Total | $270–$440 | $360–$590 |
Calgary has higher utility costs than most cities due to cold winters and deregulated electricity.
Income Needed to Live in Calgary
| Living Situation | Monthly Expenses | Gross Annual Salary Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Single (frugal, roommate) | $1,800–$2,200 | $32,000–$38,000 |
| Single (own 1-bedroom) | $2,700–$3,500 | $46,000–$60,000 |
| Single (comfortable, savings) | $3,500–$4,200 | $60,000–$74,000 |
| Couple (1-bedroom) | $3,600–$4,800 | $64,000–$85,000 (combined) |
| Couple (2-bedroom, savings) | $4,500–$6,000 | $80,000–$108,000 (combined) |
| Family of 4 (3-bed, renting) | $5,500–$7,500 | $100,000–$138,000 |
| Family of 4 (homeowner, comfortable) | $7,000–$9,000 | $130,000–$168,000 |
Calgary vs Other Canadian Cities
| Monthly Expense | Calgary | Toronto | Vancouver | Montreal | Edmonton |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bed rent | $1,750 | $2,400 | $2,600 | $1,650 | $1,400 |
| Groceries (single) | $440 | $475 | $490 | $420 | $430 |
| Transit pass | $115 | $160 | $110 | $97 | $105 |
| Utilities (1-bed) | $180 | $130 | $95 | $120 | $190 |
| Sales tax rate | 5% | 13% | 12% | 14.975% | 5% |
| Total (single) | $2,900 | $3,800 | $3,900 | $2,800 | $2,600 |