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Calgary
#57 of 124
North America

Calgary

Canada

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Calgary compare to San Francisco?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Calgary is 41% worse off vs in San Francisco

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Calgary compared to San Francisco, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$79,641
-$193K (-71%) vs San Francisco
Based on 170 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$55,749
-$117K (-68%) vs San Francisco
Tax Rate: 30%

Community Insights

New

Calgary offers a compelling value proposition for software engineers who prioritize home ownership and outdoor access over big-city hustle. While the raw salary numbers are often lower than in Toronto or the US, the combination of lower taxes, no PST, and attainable real estate often results in a higher quality of life and savings rate. The tech scene is growing but remains heavily influenced by the energy sector, meaning stability can sometimes fluctuate with oil prices.

However, the city is not without its challenges. It is rapidly becoming more expensive, particularly for renters, and the lifestyle is heavily dependent on owning a car. For those who love the mountains and can secure a stable role (or work remotely for a higher paying company), Calgary is a top-tier choice. For those seeking a bustling urban metropolis with a massive network of startups and FAANG offices, it may feel limiting.

Resident Sentiment

Current residents, especially transplants from Ontario and BC, generally express satisfaction with their decision to move, largely citing the ability to finally buy a home and the access to nature. However, sentiment has shifted slightly in the past year; there is growing frustration regarding rising utility bills and rent prices, with some noting that the 'affordability gap' is closing. Long-time locals often lament the increased traffic and cost of living, while newcomers still view it as a bargain compared to where they came from.

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to San Francisco.

Rankings

Pollution Score

Top 8%

#10

of 124 cities

23.9/100

Current value (lower is better)

Home Affordability

Top 27%

#34

of 124 cities

≈5.1 yrs to buy 80m²

Current value

Tax Rate

Middle of the pack

#47

of 124 cities

30%

Current value (lower is better)

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Calgary compared to San Francisco?

Avg. Property Price
$3,538 / m²
65% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Calgary to maintain the same standard of living.

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Do you have kids?

Cost of Living
45% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Calgary

Synopsys logo
Synopsys
Cisco logo
Cisco
Benevity logo
Benevity

The Good

  • Housing Affordability: Significantly more attainable home ownership compared to Vancouver or Toronto, with a much better price-to-income ratio for software engineers.
  • Proximity to Nature: World-class access to the Rocky Mountains, Banff, and Kananaskis for skiing, hiking, and outdoor lifestyles.
  • Sunshine: Calgary is one of Canada's sunniest cities, offering bright winters that help counteract the cold temperatures.
  • Tax Advantages: Absence of Provincial Sales Tax (PST) and generally lower income tax brackets compared to other provinces increase net take-home pay.
  • Chinook Winds: Unique weather phenomenon that brings warm winds during winter, frequently raising temperatures well above freezing for days at a time.
  • Traffic & Commute: Traffic congestion is substantially lighter than in major tech hubs like Toronto, making driving a viable and less stressful option.

The Bad

  • Smaller Tech Market: The ecosystem is smaller and less mature than Toronto or Vancouver, with fewer 'Big Tech' offices and a heavy reliance on the energy/oil & gas sector.
  • Car-Centric City: Public transit (C-Train) is useful for downtown commuting but is often described as limited or inefficient for cross-town travel, making a vehicle almost essential.
  • Utility Costs: Residents frequently complain about high and volatile electricity and insurance rates due to market deregulation and fees.
  • Harsh Winters: Despite the sun, temperatures can drop aggressively low, and the dry cold can be difficult for those accustomed to coastal climates.
  • Rental Market Tightening: Recent surges in demand have led to significant rent increases and lower vacancy rates, eroding some of the traditional cost-of-living advantages for renters.

The Verdict

You'll love it if...

Outdoor enthusiasts who want to spend their weekends in the mountains will thrive here. It is also an ideal location for remote workers earning salaries from Toronto or US-based companies, as they can leverage the lower cost of living to buy property. Families looking for more space and a quieter pace of life compared to the major metros will also find Calgary very attractive.

Skip it if...

Junior developers or new grads without a secured job offer may struggle, as the entry-level market is competitive and smaller than in major hubs. People who rely entirely on public transit and dislike driving will find the city frustrating. Additionally, those who struggle with extreme cold or want the cultural variety and nightlife of a massive global city like Toronto or Montreal might feel isolated.

Updated 11/29/2025

Weather3.9/10-55% vs San Francisco
Safety62+58%
Pollution24-51%
Events3-94%
3.9/10TechCities weather score vs 8.7/10 in San Francisco

0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

Weather snapshot

Average High
11°C(vs 19°C in San Francisco)
Average Low
0°C(vs 12°C in San Francisco)
Sunshine Hours
2,396h/yr-665h/yr(-22%)
Hottest Month High
23°C(vs 22°C in San Francisco)
Coldest Month Low
-11°C(vs 8°C in San Francisco)
Rainy Days
45/yr-4/yr(-8%)

Community & Quality

Calgary community pulse

Calgary has 3 Luma events listed.

94% fewer events than San Francisco.

Safety Index

Middle of the pack

#48

of 124 cities

62.1/100

Current value

Net Income

Middle of the pack

#56

of 124 cities

$55,749/yr

Current value

Purchasing Power

Middle of the pack

#57

of 124 cities

Cost of Living

Middle of the pack

#58

of 124 cities

49/100

Current value (lower is better)

Community Events

Middle of the pack

#63

of 124 cities

3 events on luma

Current value

Comfortable Weather

Middle of the pack

#71

of 124 cities

39/100 weather score

Current value

SWE Affordability
5.1 years
0.4 years longer than San Francisco
Muggy Days
0/yr(same as San Francisco)
Cloud Cover
54%(vs 34% in San Francisco)