Calgary is Alberta’s largest city, historically built on oil and gas and increasingly home to a growing tech scene, sitting close enough to the Rocky Mountains that a weekend trip to Banff is a realistic plan rather than a special occasion. Alberta charges no provincial sales tax, and day-to-day living costs are noticeably lower here than in Toronto or Vancouver, even as the city’s population growth has pushed rents up in recent years.

Universities and major institutes

University of Calgary
Mount Royal University
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)
Bow Valley College

Cost of living

Calgary remains more affordable than Canada’s biggest cities, though it is no longer the bargain it was a few years ago as demand has risen. Expect roughly CAD $700 to $1,100 a month for a room in a shared apartment, with University District and Brentwood near the University of Calgary at the higher end and outer suburbs cheaper but further from campus. Groceries and everyday costs are close to the national average, and the lack of provincial sales tax takes a little of the sting out of larger purchases like furniture or a laptop. As always, check current listings rather than relying on last year’s rent figures, since the market here has moved quickly.

Getting around

Calgary Transit operates the CTrain light rail network, primarily the Red and Blue lines, alongside a citywide bus network, and most students use a reloadable transit card or app-based pass rather than paper tickets. The University of Calgary is served directly by CTrain, which makes it one of the easier campuses in the country to reach without a car. Downtown, the Plus 15 network, an extensive system of elevated indoor walkways connecting office towers and shopping centres, lets you move between buildings without going outside, a genuine asset given the winters.

Weather and lifestyle

Calgary’s climate is cold and dry rather than cold and wet, with proper winter stretches broken up by chinooks, warm winds that can push temperatures up dramatically within a day or two before turning cold again. Snowfall is generally lighter than in Toronto or Montreal, but the cold can still bite, and the Plus 15 walkways exist for good reason. Summers are short but pleasant, and the proximity to the mountains means hiking, skiing, and climbing are part of ordinary student life here in a way that is harder to manage from further east.

Working while you study

The energy sector remains a major employer, particularly for engineering and business students looking for co-ops or internships, and the tech scene has grown enough to offer a genuine alternative path. Tourism tied to Banff and the mountains supports plenty of hospitality and retail work, especially in the warmer months. International students on a study permit are generally limited to 24 hours of off-campus work per week during term, with no cap during scheduled breaks, so plan around that ceiling when weighing job offers against coursework.

Neighbourhoods for students

University District / Brentwood: near the University of Calgary.
Kensington: trendy, walkable, close to downtown.
Beltline: central, lots of apartments and nightlife.
Mission: riverside and popular with students.

Studying in Calgary