October 2, 2025
RED FM News Desk
A new survey suggests Calgarians are feeling better about their quality of life, but the optimism is not shared evenly across the population.
The Calgary Foundation’s 2025 Quality of Life Report found that 66 per cent of residents rated their quality of life as good or excellent — up five points from 2024. Nearly nine in 10 respondents said Calgary is a good place to live, and a majority reported stronger feelings of belonging in their communities.
“The overall picture looks brighter,” said Taylor Barrie, the foundation’s vice-president of communications. “Calgarians have told us that their quality of life is on the rise, that they’re feeling a stronger sense of belonging to community, that they think Calgary is a great place to live. It’s when you peel back that surface layer, that’s when you start to see the gaps.”
One of those gaps is among younger residents, who expressed greater uncertainty about their future in the city. Thirty-five per cent of respondents aged 18 to 24 said they expect to leave Calgary within the next five years, compared with just six per cent of seniors.
For many, affordability and safety are key concerns.
“A lot of my friends say that they don’t want to live here. Some have already moved,” said 22-year-old Sophia Marsco.
“I feel like everything’s really expensive,” added Alexis Rono, 20. “Public transport in Calgary, I find, is not great.”
Despite rising optimism overall, the report suggests that Calgary faces challenges in keeping young people invested in the city’s future.
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