If you’re choosing between Calgary and Seattle, you’re basically comparing two “outdoor-first” cities with very different daily realities. Calgary is a high-altitude prairie city with fast access to the Rockies and a reputation for more space and (often) more housing value. Seattle is a coastal tech hub with a global brand, a dramatic water-and-mountain landscape, and a higher baseline cost for housing—paired with higher incomes for many workers.
This Calgary vs Seattle comparison focuses on hard numbers where official data exists, and then adds practical context: what those numbers mean for everyday life, budgeting, weather tolerance, and lifestyle.
Calgary vs Seattle at a glance
Here’s the quickest snapshot, using comparable “anchor” metrics:
| Category | Calgary | Seattle |
|---|---|---|
| Sales tax (typical city rate) | 5% GST | 10.35% sales tax |
| Annual precipitation | ~418 mm (16.5 in) | ~999 mm (39.3 in) |
| Annual snowfall | ~94 cm (36.9 in) | ~16 cm (6.3 in) |
| Rent benchmark (official, but not identical measures) | Calgary purpose-built market averages available | Citywide median gross rent (all housing) available |
| Home value benchmark (official) | Not included in the specific sources used here | Median value of owner-occupied housing unit available |
If you want the short interpretation: Seattle is wetter and taxes at the register are higher; Calgary is much drier with far more snow and a lower sales tax. The complicated part is housing and income—because the “best” metric depends on whether you rent, buy, or move for a specific job.
Taxes and everyday prices
Sales tax: the “checkout moment” difference
A simple way many people feel cost differences is at the register.
- Calgary (Alberta): 5% GST on most goods and services.
- Seattle (Washington): 10.35% sales tax (rates can vary slightly by exact location, but Seattle’s commonly listed city rate is 10.35%).
Why this matters: if you spend $2,000 per month on taxable purchases (shopping, services, etc.), the difference between 5% and 10.35% is noticeable. It won’t decide your entire budget—but it will show up every week.
What taxes don’t tell you
Sales tax is only one slice. Total tax burden also includes things like property taxes, income taxes, fees, and healthcare/insurance costs. Those systems differ a lot between Canada and the U.S., so a “one-number” comparison is often misleading unless you’re comparing the same household profile (income, home value, insurance situation, etc.).
Housing: rent and ownership signals (with the cleanest available official metrics)
Housing is where most city comparisons get emotional—and where you need to be careful with metrics.
Seattle: higher official income and high housing values
Seattle’s city profile (U.S. Census QuickFacts) includes:
- A high median household income
- A high median value of owner-occupied housing
- A high median gross rent
This reflects Seattle’s role as a major U.S. tech and corporate center. If you’re moving for a Seattle-based salary, the city can make sense. If you’re moving without that wage level, the housing market can feel punishing.
Calgary: purpose-built rental market with clear vacancy and average rent reporting
For Calgary, CMHC reports vacancy rates and average rents for the purpose-built rental market. For example, CMHC’s reporting shows Calgary’s vacancy rate and average rents for common unit types (such as 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom), which is extremely useful if you’re comparing rental conditions and negotiating power.
Important: Seattle’s “median gross rent” and Calgary’s “purpose-built average rent” are not identical definitions, but both are credible official signals:
- Seattle metric = median gross rent across housing types (includes utilities; includes varied unit stock).
- Calgary metric = purpose-built rental averages (more “apartment market” focused).
Practical takeaway for renters
- If your plan is rent first, Calgary’s official vacancy-and-rent reporting can be a strong indicator of how competitive the market is right now and whether you have leverage.
- Seattle’s rent market is heavily influenced by job cycles and neighborhood demand; the official median rent number is real—but it can hide big differences between neighborhoods and unit types.
Weather and comfort: dry prairie vs coastal marine climate
This is one of the clearest Calgary vs Seattle contrasts—and the official numbers make it obvious.
Rain and moisture
- Seattle: about 39.3 inches (~999 mm) of precipitation per year.
- Calgary: about 418 mm (~16.5 inches) per year in a historical baseline used by the City of Calgary.
Seattle isn’t just “rainy”—it’s consistently damp in the cool season, with long stretches of gray skies. Calgary is much drier overall, which many people feel in their skin, sinuses, and the way winter “cuts” (cold + dry air).
Snow
- Calgary: about 94 cm (~36.9 inches) of snowfall per year (historical baseline in City of Calgary climate data).
- Seattle: about 6.3 inches (~16 cm) per year (Sea-Tac normals).
Translation: Calgary winters look like winter. Seattle winters feel like winter—more wet-cold, less snow, more drizzle.
Which climate is “better”?
It depends on what you hate more:
- Hate slippery snow, scraping your car, real winter? Seattle will feel easier.
- Hate darkness, wet shoes, constant drizzle? Calgary will feel easier.
Nature access and weekend lifestyle
Both cities win on scenery, but in totally different ways.
Calgary’s “big mountains” advantage
Calgary is one of the rare major cities where a world-class mountain region is a straightforward weekend habit. Skiing, hiking, lakes, and iconic national parks are part of the regional identity.
Seattle’s “water + mountains + islands” combo
Seattle is a landscape flex: saltwater, ferries, islands, evergreen forests, and mountain views. Outdoor life is huge—but it often comes with wet-season planning (gear, layers, timing, and accepting gray months).
Practical difference: Calgary’s outdoors often means dry air and dramatic temperature swings. Seattle’s outdoors often means managing moisture.
Jobs and economy: what each city “pays you for”
A realistic city comparison must acknowledge that income and opportunity are industry-dependent.
Seattle’s strength: global corporate and tech gravity
Seattle is associated with large corporate ecosystems, tech, engineering, cloud/software, and high-salary career ladders. That advantage is real in the official income profile.
Calgary’s strength: regional HQ city and high-skill trades/energy ecosystem
Calgary has a strong identity as a business center for Western Canada, with deep expertise in energy, engineering, logistics, and related professional services. It’s also a city where many people expect more space for the money compared with Canada’s most expensive metros.
Bottom line: If your move is job-anchored, compare cities through your specific role and salary band, not just general “cost of living” vibes.
Safety and “peace of mind”: what can be measured (and what can’t)
People want a simple “which is safer?” answer, but cross-country comparisons are messy because:
- Crime definitions and reporting systems differ between Canada and the U.S.
- City boundaries vs metro areas can change the story
What we can say cleanly from official Canadian reporting: Calgary has a published Crime Severity Index (CSI) for its metro area, which is a standardized statistic used in Canada.
For Seattle, you can find official police and federal reporting, but the comparability is not perfect. If safety is your top factor, you should compare:
- Neighborhood-level patterns (not just citywide)
- Your lifestyle (commute hours, nightlife, walking vs driving)
- How each city reports and responds (policing, community resources, etc.)
So… who should choose which city?
Calgary is a strong fit if you want:
- Lower sales tax at checkout
- A drier climate (even with real winter)
- A mountain-weekend lifestyle that feels “close”
- A North American city vibe with more breathing room
Seattle is a strong fit if you want:
- A high-income job market profile (especially corporate/tech ecosystems)
- Mild winters with little snow
- Water culture: ferries, islands, coastal scenery
- A globally connected “brand city” feel
FAQ: Calgary vs Seattle
1) Is Seattle more expensive than Calgary?
Seattle’s official housing value and rent signals are high, and sales tax is higher. Calgary’s tax is lower and rental market conditions are tracked in detail through CMHC. The full answer depends on your salary and whether you rent or buy.
2) Which city has better weather?
If you prefer dry air and sunshine breaks (even in cold), Calgary often feels better. If you prefer fewer snowstorms and can tolerate gray drizzle, Seattle often feels better.
3) Do I need a car in both cities?
In both cities, many residents use transit, but a car can significantly expand your lifestyle (especially for hiking/skiing and suburb access). Your commute pattern matters more than the city’s reputation.
4) Which city is better for outdoors?
Both. Calgary leans toward big mountain weekends; Seattle leans toward water + forest + mountains with more wet-season planning.
5) Which city is better for families?
It depends on your priorities: housing space, school choices, commute time, and neighborhood safety. Calgary is often perceived as offering more space for the budget; Seattle is often chosen for career upside tied to specific industries.
6) Is there an official “happiness index” at the city level?
There isn’t one clean cross-border official city “happiness score” that’s perfectly comparable. A practical approach is to use measurable proxies: income, housing affordability, commute stress, safety, access to nature, and healthcare coverage.
Conclusion
Calgary vs Seattle is not a simple “cheap vs expensive” story—it’s a climate + tax + housing + career trade-off.
- If you’re optimizing for lower sales tax, dry air, and fast mountain access, Calgary is hard to beat.
- If you’re optimizing for coastal lifestyle, mild winters, and high-income career ecosystems, Seattle can be worth it—especially if your job offer matches the city’s housing reality.
When you send the next city, I’ll keep the same structure: official numbers where possible, and honest notes where comparisons aren’t apples-to-apples.
