Rent vs Buy in Calgary (2026)
Start from Calgary's benchmark home price of $569,800 and average two-bedroom rent of $1,914, then change anything. The calculator simulates buying versus renting and investing year by year with Calgary's property tax rate, CMHC insurance, Alberta land transfer tax and selling costs, and shows who ends up wealthier and when.
Where the lines cross is the year buying pulls ahead.
| Month one | Owning | Renting |
|---|---|---|
| Cash out each month | $3,309.45 | $1,939.00 |
| Of which is gone for good (interest, tax, upkeep, fees / rent) | $2,413.08 | $1,939.00 |
| Cash needed up front (20% down, land transfer tax, legal) | $116,120 | invested instead |
| When you sell in year 10: commission and legal | − $38,302 | — |
| Net worth after 10 years | $401,666 | $401,528 |
If you stay longer or shorter, or prices grow differently
| Stay | Prices 0%/yr | Prices 2%/yr | Prices 3%/yr | Prices 4%/yr | Prices 5%/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 yrs | Rent +$96,652 | Rent +$42,342 | Rent +$13,509 | Buy +$16,487 | Buy +$47,681 |
| 10 yrs | Rent +$169,847 | Rent +$61,817 | Buy +$138 | Buy +$67,975 | Buy +$142,176 |
| 15 yrs | Rent +$250,644 | Rent +$91,660 | Buy +$7,241 | Buy +$121,519 | Buy +$253,291 |
| 20 yrs | Rent +$339,411 | Rent +$135,352 | Buy +$3,280 | Buy +$172,972 | Buy +$379,874 |
| 25 yrs | Rent +$436,410 | Rent +$197,551 | Rent +$18,280 | Buy +$215,491 | Buy +$518,130 |
Year by year
| Year | Owner cost | Rent | Home value | Mortgage left | Owner net | Renter net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $39,713 | $23,268 | $587,100 | $445,244 | $112,501 | $139,533 |
| 2 | $39,997 | $23,957 | $604,713 | $434,043 | $140,435 | $163,945 |
| 3 | $40,290 | $24,667 | $622,854 | $422,379 | $169,333 | $189,404 |
| 4 | $40,591 | $25,398 | $641,540 | $410,233 | $199,230 | $215,962 |
| 5 | $40,901 | $26,151 | $660,786 | $397,586 | $230,161 | $243,670 |
| 6 | $41,220 | $26,926 | $680,610 | $384,416 | $262,163 | $272,584 |
| 7 | $41,550 | $27,725 | $701,028 | $370,702 | $295,275 | $302,764 |
| 8 | $41,888 | $28,548 | $722,059 | $356,421 | $329,535 | $334,270 |
| 9 | $42,238 | $29,395 | $743,721 | $341,550 | $364,985 | $367,169 |
| 10 | $42,597 | $30,268 | $766,032 | $326,065 | $401,666 | $401,528 |
Show the math
Owner: mortgage on $456,000 at 4.09% over 25 years; property tax 0.66% and maintenance 1% of the (growing) value, condo fees and insurance; land transfer tax $620 and legal fees up front; 5% selling costs at the end. Renter: pays rent rising 3.0% a year, invests the owner's up-front cash and, each year, whatever owning would have cost more than renting, at 6% tax-free. Net worth compares home equity after selling costs with the renter's portfolio. Not modelled: capital gains tax on the renter's portfolio at the end (the home is tax-free as a principal residence), utilities differences, and the value of stability or flexibility.
Rent vs buy in Calgary: three horizons
Benchmark home, 10% down, 4.5% mortgage, 3% price growth, 3% rent growth, 5% investment return, 5% selling costs.
| Stay for | Buyer's net worth | Renter's net worth | Better off |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 years | $159,317 | $199,017 | Renting by $39,699 |
| 10 years | $340,638 | $365,031 | Renting by $24,393 |
| 25 years | $1,133,781 | $1,077,627 | Buying by $56,154 |
The answer flips with the assumptions: at 1% price growth over 10 years, renting wins by $143,132. Use the calculator to test your own rent, price and return expectations. See the main rent vs buy page for how the model works and its limits.
City of Calgary total residential benchmark (~-1% y/y). Detached benchmark $744,300. 2026 residential: municipal 0.0038906 + provincial education 0.0027593 = 0.0066499. Assessment is market value as of July 1, 2025 (annual), so assessed ~ market.
Other cities
TorontoVancouverEdmontonOttawaMontrealWinnipegHalifaxQuebec CityHamiltonKitchener-WaterlooVictoriaSaskatoonReginaLondon
If you decide to buy: what to line up first
Three programs change the down payment math and all need paperwork before closing.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
- Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Calgary?
- Month to month, owning the $569,800 benchmark home costs about $3,843.87 in year one (mortgage, tax, maintenance, insurance) against $1,914 of rent. Over 10 years, with 3% price growth and the renter investing the difference at 5%, renting comes out ahead by $24,393.
- How long do I need to stay in Calgary for buying to pay off?
- In the default scenario renting stays ahead for the whole 10 years; buying needs faster price growth or a longer stay (after 25 years the gap is $56,154 in favour of buying).
- What is the average rent in Calgary?
- $1,914 a month for a two-bedroom apartment in CMHC's October 2025 Rental Market Survey, which covers purpose-built rentals. Newer buildings and condos rented by owners are usually higher.
- What does a $569,800 home cost to carry?
- About $3,843.87 a month in year one: the mortgage on $512,820 plus the CMHC premium at 4.5%, $316 of property tax, 1% of value a year for maintenance and $100 of insurance.
What changed in 2025 and 2026
- Buying a home in Canada as a non-resident: the ban until 2027 and the provincial taxes that stayThe federal foreign buyer ban runs to January 1, 2027 and is under review. Ontario's 25% tax (35% in Toronto), BC's 20% and Nova Scotia's 10% apply regardless. Exemptions and how each is charged.
- The Underused Housing Tax is gone for 2025 onward. Here is what still appliesNo UHT return or payment is needed for 2025 and later years. Returns for 2022, 2023 and 2024 are still owed, with penalties. Who was affected and what to do now.
Sources
Sources
Every figure on this page comes from one of these primary sources. Data last verified .
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