'All you can do is tighten your belt': 2025 comes with changes to city fees

City fees add up quick for those pinching pennies The high cost of living is top of mind for many Calgarians and the new calendar year means a new set of city fees atop all that.

The high cost of living is top of mind for many Calgarians, and the new calendar year means a new set of city fees, but some people may see one bill decrease.

Riding public transit and working out at a city gym will cost a bit more this year, due to city fee increases for 2025.

It's an extra $2 or $3 for monthly transit passes for adults and youth

Adult monthly passes go from $115 to $118, while youth monthly passes go from $84 to $86.

It's less than $2 more each month for City Rec Plus Passes, which provide access to 16 different facilities.

Adult monthly passes go from $66.90 to $68.65, while youth monthly passes go from $33.45 to $34.30.

Many Calgarians say every cent counts these days with the new fees on top of the high cost of groceries and housing.

"You definitely feel it more as a senior. It's hard to see everything go up," Mike Fraser said.

"All you can do is tighten your belt," Evelyn Goay said.

The city says a typical detached home valued at $700,000 will pay an extra $8.37 per month in property taxes and $5.09 per month in waste, recycling and water utilities.

The way the city calculates the electricity franchise fee (also known as the local access fee) could mean some Calgarians' ENMAX bills may decrease from more than $11 a month to less than $8 a month.