Calgarians Remain Resilient Despite Declining Quality of Life, Survey Suggests

Most Calgary residents still consider their city a good place to live despite mounting financial pressures and declining perceptions of their quality of life, a new survey suggests.

The Calgary Foundation’s 2026 Quality of Life Report, released Oct. 7, found that 86 percent of respondents considered Calgary a good place to live, and 85 percent considered it a good place to raise a family.

Only 17 percent said they were considering leaving Calgary within the next five years, down from 19 percent in 2025, and 30 percent in 2021. This year’s figure was the lowest recorded in the survey’s history.

The foundation surveyed 1,000 residents about housing affordability, finances, community connections, and overall well-being.

Quality of Life

The survey found that 58 percent of Calgarians rated their quality of life as “good” or “excellent,” compared with 66 percent in 2025 and 75 percent in 2020.

Meanwhile, 14 percent rated their quality of life as below average or poor, up from 10 percent last year and 5 percent in 2020.

Despite these declines, positive perceptions of Calgary remained widespread across age groups.

Nearly nine in 10 respondents aged 18 to 34 agreed Calgary was a good place to live, as did 94 percent of those aged 65 and older. Among respondents aged 35 to 64, the figure was 81 percent.

However, only 38 percent expressed positive expectations for the coming year.

Housing and Financial Pressures

The report found some improvement in housing affordability and availability.

Nineteen percent reported housing-related stress, down from 28 percent in 2024. At the same time, 63 percent of renters said they were able to find suitable rental accommodations, up from 51 percent two years earlier.

Still, affordability remained a challenge, with 31 percent saying they couldn’t afford their rent. That figure increased to 51 percent among renters with a long-term disability.

The survey also found that 80 percent of Calgarians could meet their basic financial needs, including housing, utilities, food and health care, compared with 81 percent last year.

Only 60 percent, though, said they could save money for the future, while 38 percent reported often or always experiencing financial stress.

Residents also reported adjusting their spending to cope with rising costs. Thirty-two percent were making general spending cutbacks, while 34 percent were working additional hours or multiple jobs.

Rising food prices prompted 59 percent to change their eating habits, while 45 percent expressed concern about running out of food.

Community Connections

Calgarians also maintained a relatively strong connection to their communities despite growing social and financial pressures, according to the report.

It found that 78 percent of respondents experienced a strong or moderate sense of belonging, although nearly one-quarter frequently felt lonely.

Community participation, however, has declined. Half of respondents reported not volunteering during the previous year, while 34 percent had not donated to a local charity.