Everything you need to know about living, working or studying in Calgary

The city of Calgary is divided into quadrants: SW (southwest), SE (southeast), NW (northwest), NE (northeast). “Streets” are on the north-south axis while “avenues” are on the east-west axis.

In the downtown districts (or close to downtown), you will find condos, i.e. recently built apartments, often on the luxurious end. In neighbourhoods that are further away, you will find more houses.

The three liveliest and busiest areas in Calgary are Stephen Avenue (8th Ave SW), 17th Ave SW and 4th Street SW. Here are some of the main neighbourhoods:

Downtown

Downtown Calgary includes the Downtown Core, Eau Claire, West End, East Village and Chinatown.

Downtown Core

The city centre itself is not too large. It is mainly concentrated around Stephen Avenue, a pedestrianised commercial street, which includes the CORE shopping centre. On the top floor of CORE is a family-friendly tropical garden, Devonian Gardens. Expect to pay a higher cost of living and face more competition to rent a place downtown.

Eau Claire

Located north of downtown, this district is one of the most popular, thanks to its location. Close to the Bow River and Prince’s Island Park, the neighbourhood is family-friendly and rent remains more expensive.

West End

This is a residential neighbourhood composed mainly of apartments and condos. It is still close to the Bow River and Downtown Core, and has good public transport links.

East Village

The East Village is a dynamic district, home to Studio Bell (a cultural institution dedicated to different forms of music), and the new central library. It is possible to walk there using the RiverWalk trail.

Chinatown

Chinatown is a district in the heart of downtown where you can find many Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese restaurants, stores and bakeries.

The Southwest (SW)

Prices can be high in SW if you want to live in wealthy neighbourhoods like Bankview, Mount Royal or Killarney.

Beltline is a neighbourhood with an ideal location, close to 17th Avenue, where you can find all the restaurants, cafes, bars and shops.

Mission is also a lively and trendy area of ​​the city. Lindsay Park is pleasant for walking. There are plenty of boutiques for shopping and a cosmopolitan culinary scene.

The northern part of SW is connected to downtown by the CTrain blue line.

The Northwest (NW)

Some of Calgary’s best neighbourhoods are located here, including Arbor Lake, Hamptons and Edgemont. Nose Hill Park, one of the largest parks in Calgary, is located in the NW and has a beautiful view of the city.

The Varsity and Brentwood neighbourhoods are close to the CTrain station, making it quick to get downtown. There are a few shopping centres nearby where you can get your essentials (Market Mall, Brentwood Village Shopping Centre and Northland Village).

Just after the Bow River, the Kensington neighbourhood is mainly residential but has several cafes, pubs and restaurants, as well as vintage or zero waste shops, and a nice cinema, the Plaza Theatre.

Crescent Heights is starting to become a popular neighbourhood for young adults and newcomers to Calgary.

The NW part of the city is served by the CTrain red line and provides direct access to downtown.

The Northeast (NE)

The Calgary airport is located in the NE of the city, as well as some major shopping malls (Sunridge Mall, CrossIron Mills). Rent can be more affordable because of the further distance from the city.

Bridgeland, which is located closer to downtown, is a nice neighbourhood in the NE. Generally, the area around eastern Deerfoot Trail has a bad reputation due to crime and gang problems.

The Southeast (SE)

The SE is the first industrial centre in Calgary and rent here is affordable. However, this part of the city is poorly served by public transport, and a car is necessary to live in areas such as McKenzie Lake or Midnapore.

The Inglewood neighbourhood is booming, with an increasingly good reputation. It is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Calgary and seen as a dynamic neighbourhood with trendy shops and a relatively young population. Micro-breweries are popular in this district, and it’s close to the ScotiaBank Saddledome, which hosts sports matches and the biggest concerts in the city.

The price of rent in Calgary

Expect to pay around CA$1,900 per month for a downtown 1-bedroom apartment. Rent is less expensive than in Toronto or Vancouver, but still more expensive than in other parts of Canada.

Shared accommodation is a common way of saving money. You can find decent roommates and live quite close to the city centre, paying around CA$700-$800 for a room in a shared house.

The amount you’ll pay for rent depends on your priorities (gym/parking/private or shared/location close to downtown, etc.). Rent prices can also vary depending on the economic situation of the city, i.e. it depends on the oil and gas market. When the industry is booming, rent goes up and housing is harder to secure, because everyone wants to live in Calgary!

For more details, take a look at our guide to the cost of living in Canada.