The average cost of living in Calgary is around CAD 1,592 without rent, while rent is around CAD 1,600 to CAD 2,500 per month. A single person in Calgary can expect to spend CA $3,000-4,000 per month. Two adults with no children need CA $5,000-6,000 per month. A family of four requires CA $6,000-7,000 per month. Average monthly net salary in Calgary is 4,353 dollars. A single person needs approximately 3,000 to 4,000 per month after taxes for comfortable living.
Housing Costs
One-bedroom apartments rent for CA $1,500-1,600 per month, and in the downtown core closer to CA $2,000. Two- or three-bedroom units go for CA $2,500-3,000 in desirable areas. Justin Havre estimates one-bed at CA $1,716, two-bed downtown at CA $2,505, and outside downtown at CA $2,086. Apartment rentals for a 1-bedroom in city centre cost CAD 2,039 per month, 1-bedroom outside centre CAD 1,640, 3-bedroom city centre CAD 3,142, and 3-bedroom outside centre CAD 2,630.
Property taxes run 250 to 350 dollars per month on a typical home, noted as lower than Toronto or Vancouver. Condo fees range from 300 to 500 per month. The Alberta average home price in January 2025 was CA $503,078. Detached homes cost approximately CA $594K and apartments around CA $283K. Mortgage payments remain generally lower than Toronto and Vancouver, with average Calgary monthly mortgage around CA $3,610 versus CA $4,405.
Groceries and Food
Grocery costs for a single person in Alberta are approximately CA $350 per month, and for a family of four CA $900-1,200 per month. Weekly grocery budget is around CAD 150. Sample grocery prices include milk (1L) at CAD 2.46, bread loaf (500g) at CAD 3.46, rice (1kg) at CAD 4.99, eggs (12) at CAD 5.35, apples (1kg) at CAD 6.04, and bananas (1kg) at CAD 1.95. Dining out at an inexpensive restaurant costs around 25 dollars, while a mid-range two-person meal runs 90 dollars. Chicken fillets cost 16.03 per kg, beef 22.29 per kg, and cheese 16.82 per kg.
Utilities and Services
Utilities average approximately 350 per month with electricity at 50 to 75, natural gas at 150 to 300 as winter heating is the primary cost driver, water around 100, and internet at 100 to 120 dollars. Basic utilities including electricity, heating, and water cost CAD 297 per month for an 85 square metre apartment. Mobile phone plan with 10GB+ costs CAD 64 per month. Internet at 60+ Mbps costs CAD 90 per month. Utilities including heat, water, and electricity plus internet for a single household run CA $150-250 per month.
Transportation
Single adult transit fare is CA $3.70, adult monthly pass CA $115, youth CA $2.50 per ride with monthly pass at CA $82. Low-income passes cost CA $5.60 per month, and ages 12 and under ride free. Gasoline costs CAD 1.48 per litre. Car insurance runs CA $150-200 per month.
Post-secondary institutions like the University of Calgary, SAIT, and Mount Royal offer U-Pass programs integrated in tuition at approximately CA $160 per year.
Childcare and Education
Childcare costs range from 1,000 for preschoolers to 1,200 for infants per month. Graduate programs cost approximately CAD 20,000 per year, while postgraduate programs run around CAD 33,000 per year.
How Calgary Compares
Calgary is approximately 3.75% more expensive than the national average. Compared to Toronto or Vancouver, living costs here are about 8-9% lower. Calgary's cost of living excluding rent exceeds Toronto at CAD 1,505, Vancouver at CAD 1,541, Ottawa at CAD 1,524, Edmonton at CAD 1,424, and Montreal at CAD 1,380.
Alberta charges only 5 percent GST with no provincial sales tax, which is a significant advantage. Alberta has a high median income of approximately CA $88,500 per year. The federal consumer carbon tax was set to 0% effective April 1, 2025. Calgary is significantly more affordable than both Vancouver and Toronto with lower home prices and rent.
Monthly Budget Examples
A young professional renting a one-bedroom outside the core can expect to pay around $1,600 for rent, $400 for groceries and food, $200 for utilities and internet, $115 for a transit pass, and $200 for insurance, mobile, and incidentals - totalling approximately $2,515 per month. A family of four should budget roughly $2,800 for a three-bedroom rental, $1,000 for groceries, $300 for utilities and internet, $600 for car expenses, and $800 for childcare and activities - totalling approximately $5,500 per month.
Fitness club membership costs CAD 74 per month, while a cinema ticket runs CAD 18. Jeans cost between CAD 77 and 148, Nike running shoes CAD 117.
Browse Calgary homes for sale, explore the market trends, or discover the best neighbourhoods. Read the Calgary city guide for a complete overview.