Quick Comparison
Overall Cost Snapshot
| Category | Calgary | Edmonton | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | $$$ | $$ | Edmonton |
| Rent | $$$ | $$ | Edmonton |
| Groceries | $$ | $$ | Tie |
| Transportation | $$ | $$ | Tie |
| Entertainment | $$$ | $$ | Edmonton |
| Income tax | $ | $ | Tie (same) |
Overall Verdict
| Factor | |
|---|---|
| Cheaper | Edmonton (5-10%) |
| Higher income | Calgary |
| Net difference | Close |
Housing Costs
Home Prices (2025-2026)
| Property Type | Calgary | Edmonton |
|---|---|---|
| Detached house | $675,000 | $475,000 |
| Townhouse | $425,000 | $325,000 |
| Condo | $325,000 | $225,000 |
| Average | $575,000 | $425,000 |
Price Difference
| Metric | Calgary | Edmonton |
|---|---|---|
| Avg home price | ~$575,000 | ~$425,000 |
| Difference | ~26% cheaper |
Neighborhoods Compared
| Calgary Area | Avg Price | Edmonton Area | Avg Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown | $400,000 | Downtown | $275,000 |
| NW (Varsity) | $650,000 | West End | $425,000 |
| SW (Marda Loop) | $700,000 | Glenora | $550,000 |
| SE (Auburn Bay) | $550,000 | Windermere | $650,000 |
Property Taxes
| City | Rate | On $500K Home |
|---|---|---|
| Calgary | ~0.7% | ~$3,500 |
| Edmonton | ~0.9% | ~$4,500 |
| Difference | Edmonton higher |
Rent Comparison
Monthly Rent (2025-2026)
| Unit Type | Calgary | Edmonton |
|---|---|---|
| 1-BR downtown | $1,700 | $1,400 |
| 2-BR downtown | $2,200 | $1,800 |
| 1-BR suburban | $1,400 | $1,200 |
| 2-BR suburban | $1,700 | $1,450 |
Vacancy Rates
| City | Vacancy Rate |
|---|---|
| Calgary | ~3% |
| Edmonton | ~4.5% |
| Impact | More options in Edmonton |
Income & Jobs
Average Salaries by Sector
| Sector | Calgary | Edmonton |
|---|---|---|
| Oil & Gas | $110,000 | $100,000 |
| Tech | $90,000 | $85,000 |
| Healthcare | $75,000 | $75,000 |
| Government | $70,000 | $72,000 |
| Retail | $38,000 | $36,000 |
Major Employers
| Calgary | Edmonton |
|---|---|
| Energy HQs | Provincial government |
| Banks (regional) | University of Alberta |
| Tech companies | Health services |
| WestJet | Northern gateway |
Take-Home Pay (Same Tax)
| Gross Income | Net Income |
|---|---|
| $60,000 | $47,500 |
| $80,000 | $61,200 |
| $100,000 | $74,300 |
Alberta has no provincial sales tax and lower income taxes than most provinces.
Transportation
Public Transit
| Factor | Calgary Transit | ETS (Edmonton) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly pass | $112 | $100 |
| Technology | CTrain + buses | LRT + buses |
| Coverage | Good | Good |
| Quality | Good | Good |
Car Ownership
| Cost | Calgary | Edmonton |
|---|---|---|
| Gas (per litre) | $1.35-$1.50 | $1.30-$1.45 |
| Insurance (annual) | $1,500-$2,200 | $1,400-$2,000 |
| Parking (downtown) | $250-$400/mo | $200-$350/mo |
Commute Times
| Factor | Calgary | Edmonton |
|---|---|---|
| Avg commute | 27 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Traffic | Moderate | Moderate |
Groceries & Food
Monthly Grocery Costs
| Item | Calgary | Edmonton |
|---|---|---|
| Milk (4L) | $6.00 | $6.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $3.25 | $3.25 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $4.00 | $4.00 |
| Chicken (kg) | $13.00 | $13.00 |
| Beef (kg) | $18.00 | $17.00 |
| Monthly Budget | Calgary | Edmonton |
|---|---|---|
| Single person | $325-$400 | $310-$385 |
| Couple | $550-$700 | $525-$675 |
| Family of 4 | $950-$1,200 | $900-$1,150 |
Dining Out
| Factor | Calgary | Edmonton |
|---|---|---|
| Cheap meal | $14-$18 | $13-$17 |
| Mid-range (2 people) | $75-$100 | $65-$90 |
| Coffee (latte) | $5.00 | $4.75 |
| Beer (pint) | $7-$9 | $6-$8 |
Utilities
Monthly Costs
| Utility | Calgary | Edmonton |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity | $100-$150 | $100-$150 |
| Natural gas/heating | $100-$180 | $110-$190 |
| Internet | $70-$100 | $70-$100 |
| Mobile | $50-$80 | $50-$80 |
Total Utilities
| Monthly | Calgary | Edmonton |
|---|---|---|
| Average | $320-$510 | $330-$520 |
Entertainment & Lifestyle
Activities Cost
| Activity | Calgary | Edmonton |
|---|---|---|
| Movie ticket | $15 | $14 |
| Gym membership | $50-$70 | $40-$60 |
| Ski day pass | $100-$140 | $55-$80 |
| Flames ticket | $100-$300 | - |
| Oilers ticket | - | $80-$250 |
Lifestyle Comparison
| Factor | Calgary | Edmonton |
|---|---|---|
| Mountains | 1 hour | 3.5 hours |
| Winter events | Good | Excellent (festivals) |
| Summer festivals | Stampede | K-Days, Fringe |
| Nightlife | Good | Good |
| Restaurants | Very good | Good |
Climate
Weather Comparison
| Factor | Calgary | Edmonton |
|---|---|---|
| Winter avg temp | -7°C | -11°C |
| Summer avg temp | 17°C | 17°C |
| Chinooks | Yes (milder winters) | Rare |
| Sunny days | 333/year | 321/year |
Winter Costs Impact
| Factor | |
|---|---|
| Heating | Edmonton slightly higher |
| Winter tires | Both required |
| Snow removal | Both needed |
Childcare & Education
Daycare Costs
| Type | Calgary | Edmonton |
|---|---|---|
| Infant (monthly) | $1,200-$1,500 | $1,100-$1,400 |
| Toddler (monthly) | $1,000-$1,300 | $950-$1,200 |
| With $10/day subsidy | ~$200 | ~$200 |
Post-Secondary
| Institution | Tuition (annual) |
|---|---|
| University of Calgary | $6,500 |
| University of Alberta (Edmonton) | $6,300 |
| Mount Royal (Calgary) | $5,800 |
| MacEwan (Edmonton) | $5,500 |
Budget Comparison
Single Person Monthly Budget
| Expense | Calgary | Edmonton |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (1-BR) | $1,600 | $1,350 |
| Utilities | $120 | $130 |
| Transit | $112 | $100 |
| Groceries | $360 | $340 |
| Dining out | $200 | $175 |
| Phone/internet | $130 | $130 |
| Entertainment | $200 | $175 |
| Other | $250 | $225 |
| Total | $2,972 | $2,625 |
Savings Potential
| At $70K salary | Calgary | Edmonton |
|---|---|---|
| Net income | $53,900 | $53,900 |
| Expenses | $35,664 | $31,500 |
| Annual savings | $18,236 | $22,400 |
Family of 4 Monthly Budget
| Expense | Calgary | Edmonton |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (3-BR) | $2,400 | $2,000 |
| Utilities | $250 | $270 |
| Car | $600 | $550 |
| Groceries | $1,100 | $1,000 |
| Childcare | $1,200 | $1,100 |
| Other | $800 | $750 |
| Total | $6,350 | $5,670 |
Who Should Choose Which City?
Choose Calgary If:
| Factor | |
|---|---|
| Career | Energy/oil & gas |
| Lifestyle | Love mountains, skiing |
| Prefer | Corporate environment |
| Value | Higher income potential |
Choose Edmonton If:
| Factor | |
|---|---|
| Career | Government, healthcare, education |
| Priority | Lower cost of living |
| Family | More affordable housing |
| Prefer | Arts and festivals scene |
Moving Considerations
Job Market
| Factor | Calgary | Edmonton |
|---|---|---|
| Oil & gas jobs | More | Less |
| Government jobs | Less | More |
| Tech growth | Strong | Growing |
| Economic volatility | Higher | Lower |
Real Estate Investment
| Factor | Calgary | Edmonton |
|---|---|---|
| Price growth | Higher | Moderate |
| Affordability | Moderate | Better |
| Rental demand | Strong | Strong |