Alberta · Updated June 2026
Cost of living in Calgary
No provincial sales tax and higher incomes give Calgary real breathing room, though rents have climbed fast with recent migration into Alberta.
What it costs each month in Calgary
Typical figures for a one-person household. Your own number depends on your housing, habits, and income — that’s what the Cost of Living Score assessment works out.
Rent is the CMHC average in-place one-bedroom rent (what current tenants pay), via Statistics Canada (2025-12). New-lease asking rents typically run higher.
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How Calgary compares
Common questions about living in Calgary
How much does it cost to live in Calgary?
A typical single-person household in Calgary spends about $2,307 per month on the essentials: $1,582 rent, $400 groceries, $115 transit, and $210 utilities.
What is the average rent in Calgary?
The CMHC in-place average for a one-bedroom in Calgary is about $1,582 per month — what current tenants pay, via Statistics Canada. New-lease asking rents typically run higher.
How much are utilities in Calgary?
Hydro, heating, and internet for a one-bedroom in Calgary run about $210 per month.
Is Calgary an affordable place to live?
Calgary scores 40/100 on our Cost of Living Score, where higher means more affordable — that's "Around average". Its typical monthly essentials run about 8% above the average Canadian city we track.
How this score is calculated
The Cost of Living Score adds up a city’s typical monthly essentials — rent, groceries, transit, and utilities — and compares that total to the average across the Canadian cities we track. A city at the average scores around 50; cheaper cities score higher, pricier ones lower. Higher always means more affordable.
Sources: Rent is the CMHC Rental Market Survey 1-bedroom average (2025, via Statistics Canada); groceries from Canada's Food Price Report 2025; transit is the Calgary Transit adult monthly pass; utilities blend Alberta's deregulated electricity/gas market and CRTC internet pricing — Alberta utility bills are notably variable month to month. Figures are typical city-level estimates for a one-person household, not a personal budget, and shift over time. Last updated June 2026.