If you’re deciding between Calgary vs Halifax, you’re really choosing between two totally different “Canada experiences”: prairie-sky, mountains-next-door, big-city wages (Calgary) versus ocean air, historic neighbourhoods, and a slower East Coast rhythm (Halifax). Both are real cities with real careers, real housing pressure, and real trade-offs — but the numbers and the day-to-day feel are not the same.
Below is a data-first snapshot (no guessing, no invented цифры). After that — practical interpretation: what those numbers usually mean for renters, newcomers, families, and people who just want a better life.
Data snapshot (what the numbers refer to)
- Rents & vacancy: purpose-built apartment market, October 2025, CMA level (Calgary CMA, Halifax CMA).
- Safety: police-reported Crime Severity Index (CSI) 2024, CMA level.
- “Happiness”: Statistics Canada life satisfaction rating 8–10 (Q2 2025) — province level (Alberta vs Nova Scotia).
- Sales tax: general consumer sales tax (GST/HST) rates.
Quick comparison table (2025/2024 official stats)
| Category | Calgary (Calgary CMA / Alberta) | Halifax (Halifax CMA / Nova Scotia) |
|---|---|---|
| Sales tax | 5% GST | 14% HST |
| Vacancy rate (Total, apt.) – Oct 2025 | 5.0% | 2.7% |
| Vacancy rate (1BR, apt.) – Oct 2025 | 4.4% | 3.3% |
| Vacancy rate (2BR, apt.) – Oct 2025 | 5.7% | 2.4% |
| Average rent (1BR, apt.) – Oct 2025 | $1,582 | $1,540 |
| Average rent (2BR, apt.) – Oct 2025 | $1,914 | $1,826 |
| Average rent (Total, apt.) – Oct 2025 | $1,761 | $1,745 |
| Crime Severity Index (CSI) – 2024 | 62.3 | 74.0 |
| Crime rate per 100,000 – 2024 | 4,796 | 6,020 |
| Life satisfaction 8–10 (Q2 2025, province) | Alberta: 38.1% | Nova Scotia: 49.1% |
Important: the rent/vacancy numbers can look “close” on average rent, but the vacancy gap often changes how stressful the search feels (competition, bidding, speed, choice).
1) Cost of living: the quiet “tax difference” that follows you daily
The most immediate, guaranteed difference is sales tax:
- In Calgary (Alberta), you generally pay 5% GST.
- In Halifax (Nova Scotia), you generally pay 14% HST.
That difference hits almost everything that isn’t rent: meals out, services, many household purchases, some entertainment, small repairs, clothing, electronics. If you’re the type who tracks budgets, Halifax’s tax system feels heavier day-to-day, even when the sticker price looks similar.
Practical takeaway
- If you spend a lot monthly on “life stuff” (restaurants, shopping, services), Calgary’s tax structure is a real advantage.
- Halifax can still be worth it if your lifestyle is more “nature + community + home time” and less “consume the city”.
2) Housing reality: similar average rents, but very different “availability pressure”
Average rent (October 2025)
At a glance, Calgary vs Halifax looks surprisingly close on apartment rents:
- 1BR: Calgary $1,582 vs Halifax $1,540
- 2BR: Calgary $1,914 vs Halifax $1,826
- Total average: Calgary $1,761 vs Halifax $1,745
So why do so many people feel Halifax is tighter? Vacancy.
Vacancy rate (October 2025)
- Calgary Total vacancy: 5.0%
- Halifax Total vacancy: 2.7%
This is a big deal. In real life, it often means:
- Halifax: fewer “good” units sitting on the market → more competition → faster decisions → less negotiating power → fewer backups.
- Calgary: more selection and more turnover → still competitive, but typically less panic than a sub-3% market.
Practical takeaway
- If you want more choice, better odds of getting what you want, and less rush: Calgary’s vacancy situation is the advantage.
- If you already have a solid lead (friends, employer help, early search window) and you value coastal life: Halifax can work — but be organized.
3) Safety: what the official CSI suggests (and what it doesn’t)
Official police-reported stats (CSI) for 2024:
- Calgary CSI: 62.3
- Halifax CSI: 74.0
Crime rate per 100,000 (2024):
- Calgary: 4,796
- Halifax: 6,020
How to read this
- CSI isn’t “how scary the city feels.” It’s a weighted index based on police-reported incidents and seriousness.
- But as a broad signal: Calgary’s 2024 CSI is lower than Halifax’s in the same official table.
Practical takeaway
- Neither city is “unsafe by default,” but if safety stats are a deciding factor and you want the cleaner index signal: Calgary wins on 2024 CSI.
4) “Happiness index”: yes — the closest official equivalent is life satisfaction
You asked about an index of happiness. In Canada, one of the most cited official measures is self-reported life satisfaction.
For Q2 2025, the share reporting high life satisfaction (8–10):
- Nova Scotia: 49.1%
- Alberta: 38.1%
This doesn’t mean “Halifax is objectively happier than Calgary.” It means that in that period, at a province level, Nova Scotia reported a higher share of high life satisfaction.
What might explain it (without pretending it’s one factor)
- East Coast culture can be more community-centric and slower paced.
- Nature access is different (ocean/coast vs mountains/prairies).
- Expectations and lifestyle patterns vary.
Practical takeaway
- If your definition of “better life” is community feel and slower tempo, Halifax has a strong emotional argument, and the provincial life-satisfaction stat points in that direction.
- If your definition is income potential + lower sales tax + faster big-city services, Calgary tends to feel “more efficient.”
5) Lifestyle: mountains vs ocean (this is where the decision becomes personal)
Calgary lifestyle strengths
- Big-city energy with a “newer” North American feel.
- Easy access to Alberta road trips (mountains, national parks regionally).
- Strong car culture, wide roads, lots of modern housing stock, plenty of chain retail.
Halifax lifestyle strengths
- Coastline culture: harbour, ocean air, historic streets, and a compact core.
- A “smaller city” vibe where neighbourhood identity matters.
- East Coast food and seasonal events can feel more local and intimate.
Practical takeaway
- If you get joy from ocean, foggy mornings, coastal walks, and a strong local identity: Halifax can feel like a lifestyle upgrade even with higher HST and tighter housing.
- If you want scale, speed, and bigger-market career optionality: Calgary is usually the easier “growth city.”
6) Who should pick which city?
Choose Calgary if you want…
- Lower consumer sales tax (5% GST) and generally more “budget breathing room” on daily spending
- A rental market (Oct 2025) with higher vacancy and often less stress finding a place
- A lower 2024 CSI in official CMA stats
- Big-city infrastructure, sprawl-friendly living, and strong career flexibility
Choose Halifax if you want…
- Coastal life, heritage character, and a more intimate city feel
- You’re okay with higher HST (14%) as part of the lifestyle trade-off
- You can plan housing early and compete in a tighter vacancy market
- You value “how life feels” over pure efficiency — and the provincial life satisfaction metric resonates with you
FAQ: Calgary vs Halifax (quick answers)
Is Halifax cheaper than Calgary?
Not by the rent averages in Oct 2025 apartment data — they’re close. The bigger difference is HST (14% vs 5%) and vacancy pressure.
Which city is easier for renters right now?
Based on Oct 2025 vacancy: Calgary (5.0%) is typically easier than Halifax (2.7%).
Which city is safer?
In the official 2024 CSI table for CMAs, Calgary (62.3) is lower than Halifax (74.0).
Is there an official happiness index?
A common official proxy is life satisfaction. In Q2 2025, Nova Scotia had a higher share of high life satisfaction (8–10) than Alberta.
Conclusion: the honest “winner”
There’s no universal winner in Calgary vs Halifax — but the data does give you a clean map:
- Calgary wins on sales tax (5%), rental availability (higher vacancy), and lower CSI (2024). It’s often the better choice for people optimizing money, flexibility, and speed.
- Halifax wins on the coastal lifestyle and shows a stronger province-level life satisfaction signal (Q2 2025) — but you pay for it through higher HST and tighter housing availability.
If you tell me your profile (single/family, renter/buyer, budget range, car/no car, work type), I’ll turn this into a sharper “you should pick X” verdict without adding any fake numbers.
