Calgary's quality of life hits six-year low as affordability pressures mount

Only 58 per cent of Calgary residents rated their quality of life as "good" or "excellent" in 2026, down sharply from 75 per cent in 2020, according to the Calgary Foundation's latest survey released Wednesday. The decline reflects growing anxiety over affordability, particularly among lower-income households.

The Foundation surveyed 1,000 randomly selected Calgarians with a margin of error of plus or minus 3 per cent. Among those earning under $60,000 annually, just 37 per cent rated their quality of life positively, compared to 89 per cent of those earning more than $200,000. Meanwhile, 14 per cent now rate their quality of life as "below average" or "poor," up from only 5 per cent in 2020.

Housing affordability emerged as a particular flashpoint. Among renters, 31 per cent cannot afford their current rent, and 51 per cent of renters with long-term disabilities report the same struggle. While 71 per cent of renters aspire to homeownership, 60 per cent cite down-payment affordability as a barrier, and 50 per cent point to mortgage payments they cannot sustain.

The silver lining: 86 per cent of respondents still say Calgary is a good place to live, and 85 per cent believe it is a good place to raise a family. Only 17 per cent plan to leave within five years—the lowest rate the survey has recorded. Optimism about Calgary's economic outlook stands at 38 per cent, down from 42 per cent in 2025, though younger respondents aged 25 to 34 remain more bullish at 48 per cent compared to just 28 per cent among those 45 to 54.