What They Actually Mean, Why They Keep Rising, and How to Judge If Yours Are Fair

A plain-language look at Calgary condo fees

People love to complain about condo fees. It’s practically a Calgary pastime. They’re too high. They’re a rip-off. They never go down. And yet, very few people can actually explain what they’re paying for, how fees are calculated, or how to tell the difference between a well-run building and a financial slow leak. That’s where most opinions fall apart — not enough context.

Townhomes vs. Low-Rise vs. High-Rise

Townhomes remain the cheapest to operate. High-rises are the most expensive. Low-rise sits squarely in the middle. That relationship has been consistent for a decade — and for good reason.

Condo fees are not rent. They are not profit. They are the operating budget of a small corporation that happens to maintain your home.

What Your Condo Fee Actually Pays For

In the simplest terms, your condo fee pays for four main buckets: daily operating costs, long-term maintenance, insurance, and utilities where applicable. In a townhome complex, that usually means snow removal, landscaping, some exterior maintenance, insurance for common property, and a modest reserve fund. That’s why townhomes sit around $0.22 to $0.31 per square foot over this ten-year span.

Low-rise condos add elevators in some cases, interior hallways, larger roof structures, parkade ventilation, fire systems, and more complex mechanical systems. Naturally, that pushes operating costs higher. That’s why low-rise condos move from roughly $0.45 to $0.65 per square foot over the same period.

High-rises are a whole different animal. Multiple elevators. Heating and cooling systems that run the size of small industrial units. Fire suppression systems on every floor. Extensive common areas. Larger parkades. Janitorial services. Security systems. More staff. More insurance exposure. More everything. That’s why high-rise condo fees climb from around $0.56 to $0.76 per square foot.

Higher complexity equals higher cost. Always.

Inflation, Insurance, and the Post-2019 Reality

Now let’s talk about the part nobody likes to acknowledge: inflation and insurance. Since 2019 in particular, Calgary has seen sharp increases in building insurance premiums, utility costs, and trades pricing. Reserve fund studies completed in the last five years have also forced many condo boards to raise fees simply to stay financially solvent. These are not “bad board” decisions. They’re math problems being solved in real time.

Why “Low” Fees Can Be a Red Flag

A low condo fee is not automatically a good condo. In fact, it can be a warning sign. If fees are artificially low, there are only three possibilities. Either the building is brand new and hasn’t yet faced major capital costs. Or the board is under-funding the reserve. Or owners are about to get hit with a special assessment. None of those are comforting if you’re a buyer.

Why Per-Square-Foot Analysis Matters

This is where per-square-foot analysis becomes powerful. Comparing raw monthly fees alone is meaningless. A 1,200-square-foot unit with a $600 fee is not expensive compared to a 550-square-foot unit with a $400 fee. The per-square-foot cost tells the real story of efficiency and long-term risk.

Value, Amenities, and Where the Money Really Goes

There’s also a value perspective that often gets overlooked. High-rise buildings, while more expensive to operate, often include heat, water, sometimes electricity, extensive amenities, and staffed security. A townhome owner may pay lower condo fees — but they often pay more directly for utilities and exterior upkeep. The money doesn’t disappear. It just moves between columns.

Aging Buildings, Rising Costs

Here’s the most important truth most people miss: condo fees don’t rise because boards are reckless — they rise because buildings age. Roofs wear out. Boilers fail. Elevators need overhauls. Concrete needs restoration. Fire systems must be upgraded. The only choice is whether those costs are handled gradually through planned fee increases, or painfully through surprise assessments.

Educated owners plan. Uneducated owners complain.

How to Judge If Fees Are Healthy

If you’re buying a condo, the smartest move you can make is not hunting for the lowest condo fee. It’s reviewing the reserve fund study, the financial statements, and the fee history. A stable upward slope over many years is far healthier than a flat line followed by a sudden spike.

This chart shows exactly that. A slow, steady rise across all property types. That is what a functioning condo ecosystem looks like.

Condo fees are not the enemy. Unfunded maintenance is.

And once you understand that, your opinion on condo fees stops being emotional and starts being informed — which is exactly where smart real estate decisions live.