New findings indicate that while most residents of Calgary still feel positively about living in the city, the overall satisfaction levels have seen a decline in recent years.
In the Calgary Foundation’s latest annual Quality of Life Report for 2026, it was revealed that 58% of the 1,000 Calgarians surveyed rated their quality of life as either “good” or “excellent.” This marks a decrease from 66% in the previous year and 75% in 2020.
Among the respondents, 14% expressed that their quality of life is “below average” or “poor,” showing an increase from 10% in 2025 and 5% in 2020. The report highlighted housing, food, and mental health as the primary challenges identified by participants, according to Taylor Barrie, the organization’s vice-president of communications.
Barrie emphasized that many of these challenges stem from affordability issues, which are not unique to Calgary but are prevalent in other regions as well. The report indicated that the perception of Calgary’s quality of life is closely tied to income levels, with the rating dropping to 37% for those earning less than $60,000 and rising to 89% for those earning over $200,000.
Overall, 86% of respondents viewed Calgary as a desirable place to live, while 85% considered it suitable for raising a family. Notably, only 17% of participants expressed intentions to leave the city within the next five years, marking the lowest level recorded in the survey’s history.
Barrie highlighted a positive trend where fewer residents are planning to relocate, indicating a growing sense of optimism about the future within the city. The report also mentioned a decrease in housing-related stress, with 19% of respondents experiencing such stress in 2026 compared to 28% in 2024.
Furthermore, the report highlighted that despite economic challenges, 80% of surveyed Calgarians can meet their basic financial needs, although this figure drops to 67% for individuals with disabilities. Michelle James, the Vibrant Communities Calgary director of policy, noted that vulnerable community members are particularly affected by affordability issues.
Regarding food costs, 59% of respondents reported altering their eating habits due to rising expenses. To manage expenses, the majority switched to lower-cost brands, chose cheaper protein sources, bought less fresh produce, and served smaller portions. The report also revealed concerns about food scarcity, especially among households with children or long-term disabilities.
Addressing the sense of community belonging, the report found that 78% of respondents felt a strong or moderate sense of belonging, yet 24% admitted to frequently experiencing loneliness. Barrie emphasized the positive impact of Calgary’s cultural scene and access to nature on residents’ quality of life.
The 2026 report was based on responses from 1,000 randomly selected Calgarians, ensuring a representative sample of the population with a margin of error of +/- three percent for comparative analysis.