Housing is the biggest line in most SAIT students’ budgets, and it’s the one you have to decide on before you even get to campus. The good news is Calgary is one of the more affordable big-city rental markets in Canada, and SAIT sits close to a range of neighbourhoods that fit different budgets. This guide breaks down what on-campus residence costs, what you’ll pay off campus, and where the cheap places to live as a SAIT student are.
On-Campus Residence: What It Costs
SAIT runs two on-campus residence towers, Begin Tower and East Hall, with four floor plans between them. Residence rent includes utilities, high-speed internet, and all the furniture, which makes the monthly number look higher than an off-campus rent that leaves those out. The 2026-27 academic year runs from August 29, 2026 to April 24, 2027, and rates are set per unit type:
| Unit type | Full-year rate | About per month |
|---|---|---|
| East Hall 4-bedroom suite (per bedroom) | $7,740 | $968 |
| Begin Tower 2-bedroom suite (per bedroom) | $8,040 | $1,005 |
| Begin Tower studio | $9,860 | $1,233 |
| East Hall 1-bedroom suite | $11,680 | $1,460 |
| Begin Tower 1-bedroom + den | $11,680 | $1,460 |
The cheapest on-campus option is a bedroom in a four-bedroom East Hall suite at $7,740 for the year, about $968 a month. Every unit is furnished and comes with a full kitchen, so you cook for yourself and skip a mandatory meal plan. That is a real difference from many other schools’ residences.
Meal Plan Options
SAIT doesn’t require a meal plan, but it does offer optional all-you-can-eat residence meal plans at the Begin Tower Dining Centre if you’d rather not cook. They come in 7-day and 5-day versions, for the full academic year or a single semester:
| Plan | Cost | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Academic year 7-day | $6,275 | All-you-can-eat, 7 days a week (217 days) |
| Academic year 5-day | $5,000 | All-you-can-eat, Monday to Friday (155 days) |
| Fall 7-day | $3,695 | All-you-can-eat, fall term |
| Fall 5-day | $2,820 | All-you-can-eat, fall term, weekdays |
| Winter 7-day | $3,465 | All-you-can-eat, winter term |
| Winter 5-day | $2,645 | All-you-can-eat, winter term, weekdays |
The academic year plans are the best value, working out to about $9.64 a meal on the 7-day plan. Meal plans are GST exempt, and the Dining Centre is open 7 am to 9 pm on weekdays and 8 am to 8 pm on weekends. Because the meal plan is optional, you can cook in your suite’s full kitchen and skip the dining-hall price tag.
Before you move in, budget for the one-time fees: a $100 non-refundable application fee, a $200 security deposit, a $60 Residence Life Activity Fee, and an $85 insurance fee for the academic year. Residence fees are separate from your tuition and are due in full before you move in, though SAIT offers payment plans including a three-installment student-loan option.
Off-Campus: The Cheapest Places to Live Near SAIT
Most SAIT students live off campus, and the neighbourhood you pick changes your rent by hundreds of dollars a month. The main campus sits at 1301 16 Avenue NW, on the edge of the inner city with direct CTrain access, so the closest areas are the most convenient and the priciest. A short bus or train ride gets you cheaper.
Kensington is the classic student neighbourhood, a short walk or one CTrain stop from campus with shops, restaurants, and nightlife. It is also the priciest. Expect roughly $1,500 to $2,200 a month for a rental in 2026.
Hillhurst sits right beside Kensington, closer to the Bow River. Similar prices, slightly quieter. Expect about $1,450 to $2,150 a month.
Capitol Hill is directly north of campus and a common pick for SAIT students. Expect about $1,400 to $2,100 a month.
Beltline is south of downtown, a longer commute but with more apartment stock and lower prices. Expect about $1,300 to $1,900 a month.
For context, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation put the average rent for a purpose-built one-bedroom in the Calgary area at about $1,438 a month in late 2025, with two-bedrooms around $1,581. Inner-city neighbourhoods like Kensington and Hillhurst run above those citywide averages, so the value picks are the ones a bit further out.
What a Room or Apartment Actually Costs
If you’re willing to share, off-campus housing gets dramatically cheaper than residence. Here’s the realistic 2026 range for a SAIT student:
| Option | Monthly cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Room in a shared house/apartment | $600 to $900 | Utilities often included. The cheapest way to live near campus. |
| Studio | $1,200 to $1,500 | Cheapest solo option, especially in the Beltline. |
| 1-bedroom | $1,400 to $1,700 | Kensington and Hillhurst sit at the top of this range. |
| 2-bedroom (split) | $800 to $1,000 per person | Splitting a two-bed is usually cheaper per person than a one-bed. |
The math is simple: a room in a shared place at $700 a month beats the cheapest residence bedroom at $968, and you are not locked into a full-year residence contract. For most students, sharing off campus is the single biggest money-saver available.
The Hidden Costs to Budget For
Rent is only part of the picture. Off-campus rentals in Calgary usually don’t include utilities, and winter heating in Alberta is not cheap. Budget for:
- Utilities (heat, power, water): $100 to $250 a month, more in winter
- Internet: $50 to $100 a month
- Tenant insurance: $20 to $30 a month (residence includes this; off-campus you buy it)
- Furniture: residence is furnished, most off-campus rentals are not
- Transit: the U-Pass is included in your SAIT fees at $175 a semester, so bus and CTrain are covered
A $1,400 one-bedroom can easily become $1,700 a month once you add utilities, internet, and insurance. Compare that against residence, where the listed rate already includes all three.
How to Keep Housing From Eating Your Budget
A common rule of thumb is to keep housing at or under 30% of your income. On a student budget that’s often not realistic, so aim for the cheapest option that still works for you and treat the rest as a trade-off.
- Share with roommates. Splitting a two or three-bedroom is almost always cheaper per person than living alone.
- Look beyond Kensington. A 20-minute CTrain ride can cut your rent by $300 a month.
- Check the SAIT off-campus housing board and Facebook groups. Students post rooms and sublets in groups like the SAIT student housing groups on Facebook.
- Start your search early. The best-priced rooms near campus go fast in the spring for a September move-in.
- Read the lease before you sign. Know whether utilities are included, whether it’s furnished, and what the notice period is.
- Watch for rental scams. Calgary’s vacancy rate is low, and SAIT warns that scammers target hopeful renters. Never send money before you see the unit in person.
Residence or Off-Campus: Which Is Right for You?
Residence makes sense if you want the built-in community, the walk to class, and the support of living with other first-years. It is the easiest transition, and the furnished units with full kitchens remove the setup work. It is also the most expensive option, and you commit to a full-year contract.
Off-campus makes sense if you want to save money, cook your own food, and have more independence. The trade-off is a commute, a lease, and the work of setting up utilities and furniture.
There’s no wrong answer, only the one that fits your budget. If you’re weighing the full cost of the year, add up residence rent plus the one-time fees, then compare it to off-campus rent plus utilities and groceries. For most students, the off-campus number comes out lower, and the difference is money you can put toward an emergency fund or a TFSA instead.
Sources: SAIT residence meal plans, SAIT residence rates, SAIT off-campus housing, Places4Students SAIT guide, Zumper rent research.
Related: your first week at SAIT and the cheapest food on campus cover the other big first-year costs.
This guide is general information for Canadian students, not personalized financial advice. Program rules and dollar amounts change, so confirm the details with the official government source before acting on them.
