Rent vs Buy in Calgary (2026)
Start with Calgary's numbers: a $295,400 benchmark condo apartment and $1,914 average two-bedroom rent. Change anything. The calculator plays out buying against renting and investing the difference, year by year, with Calgary's property tax, CMHC insurance, Alberta land transfer tax and selling costs. It tells you who ends up with more, and when.
Where the lines cross is the year buying pulls ahead.
| Month one | Owning | Renting |
|---|---|---|
| Cash out each month | $1,761.03 | $1,939.00 |
| Of that, gone for good (interest, tax, upkeep, fees, or rent) | $1,297.12 | $1,939.00 |
| Cash needed up front (20% down, land transfer tax, legal) | $60,845 | invested instead |
| When you sell in year 10: commission and legal | − $19,823 | — |
| Net worth after 10 years | $207,880 | $49,789 |
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 | Buy +$12,629 | Buy +$40,737 | Buy +$55,659 | Buy +$71,183 | Buy +$87,328 |
| 10 yrs | Buy +$70,116 | Buy +$126,027 | Buy +$158,091 | Buy +$193,200 | Buy +$231,602 |
| 15 yrs | Buy +$168,131 | Buy +$250,412 | Buy +$301,598 | Buy +$360,741 | Buy +$428,939 |
| 20 yrs | Buy +$323,463 | Buy +$429,072 | Buy +$500,821 | Buy +$588,644 | Buy +$695,724 |
| 25 yrs | Buy +$559,012 | Buy +$682,632 | Buy +$775,413 | Buy +$896,400 | Buy +$1,053,029 |
Year by year
| Year | Owner cost | Rent | Home value | Mortgage left | Owner net | Renter net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $21,132 | $23,268 | $303,850 | $230,433 | $58,224 | $62,360 |
| 2 | $21,279 | $23,957 | $312,966 | $224,636 | $72,681 | $63,424 |
| 3 | $21,431 | $24,667 | $322,354 | $218,600 | $87,637 | $63,993 |
| 4 | $21,586 | $25,398 | $332,025 | $212,314 | $103,110 | $64,022 |
| 5 | $21,747 | $26,151 | $341,986 | $205,768 | $119,119 | $63,459 |
| 6 | $21,912 | $26,926 | $352,245 | $198,952 | $135,681 | $62,253 |
| 7 | $22,083 | $27,725 | $362,813 | $191,854 | $152,818 | $60,346 |
| 8 | $22,258 | $28,548 | $373,697 | $184,463 | $170,549 | $57,677 |
| 9 | $22,439 | $29,395 | $384,908 | $176,767 | $188,896 | $54,181 |
| 10 | $22,625 | $30,268 | $396,455 | $168,753 | $207,880 | $49,789 |
Show the math
Owner: mortgage on $236,000 at 4.09% over 25 years. Property tax 0.66% and maintenance 1% of the growing value, plus condo fees and insurance. Land transfer tax $345 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 condo apartment, 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 | $84,598 | $41,494 | Buying by $43,104 |
| 10 years | $178,067 | $37,570 | Buying by $140,497 |
| 25 years | $586,781 | −$135,841 | Buying by $722,623 |
The answer depends on the assumptions. At 1% price growth over 10 years, buying wins by $79,045. Try your own rent, price and return. The main rent vs buy page explains how the model works and where it falls short.
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.
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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 $295,400 benchmark condo apartment costs about $2,024.11 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%, buying comes out ahead by $140,497.
- How long do I need to stay in Calgary for buying to pay off?
- In the default scenario buying pulls ahead in year 3. Under that, land transfer tax, CMHC insurance and selling costs eat the gains.
- 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 $295,400 condo apartment cost to carry?
- About $2,024.11 a month in year one: the mortgage on $265,860 plus the CMHC premium at 4.5%, $164 of property tax, 1% of value a year for maintenance and $100 of insurance.
What changed in 2025 and 2026
- Foreign Buyer Rules in Canada to 2027The federal foreign buyer ban runs to January 1, 2027. Ontario's 25% tax, Toronto's 10%, BC's 20% and Nova Scotia's 10% apply either way. Who is exempt.
- The Underused Housing Tax Has EndedNo UHT return or payment is needed for 2025 and later years. Returns for 2022 to 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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