Here's what Calgarians will be paying more for in 2020

The decade is coming to a close, and along with a new year comes something even more unpleasant than committing to that resolution you promised yourself you'd stick to — annual price increases. 

The Bank of Canada is projecting inflation will average 1.8 per cent in 2020.

But that's nothing compared to some other increases that will force Calgarians to open their wallets a little bit wider.

Here's a list of what goes up in price for Calgarians as of Jan. 1, 2020.

Property taxes

Calgary city council approved a 1.5 per cent tax hike in its November budget, meaning owners of a median-priced home ($456,000) will pay approximately $150 extra in 2020.

And, that's a separate increase from what homeowners will pay due to an increase in the education property tax, which is decided by the province. 

Public transit

Calgary Transit is hiking its fares. 

Here's a list of the increases: 

• Adult single ticket: $3.50 (from $3.40).
• Youth or student single ticket: $2.40 (from $2.35).
• Adult day pass: $11 (from $10.75 ).
• Youth day pass: $8 (from $7.75).
• Adult monthly pass: $109 (from $106).
• Airport fare: $11 (from $10.75). 
• Senior regular yearly pass: $145 (from $140). 

Low-income passes will not be going up in price.

Tuition

The Alberta government announced that its post-secondary tuition freeze, which had been in place for the past five years, will be removed in the upcoming school year. Multiple post-secondary institutions have signalled that after budget cuts, tuition hikes will be on the horizon.

Increases are capped at seven per cent at the institutional level and 10 per cent at the program level, and tuition and education tax credits are being cut.

Post-secondary students will also pay increased interest of prime plus one per cent on their student loans. 

Groceries

Grocery costs are going up across the country, according to the researchers behind Canada's Food Price Report 2020.

The report states that the average Canadian family will pay up to an extra $487 for food next year, with climate change expected to impact prices through factors like unpredictable crop yields due to drought or heavy precipitation and heat-wave threats to livestock.

Gas

The federal carbon levy backstop kicks in for Albertans on Jan. 1, which will start at $20 per tonne, increasing to $30 per tonne in April and $50 per tonne by 2022. 

Prices are set to rise by about 4.4 cents per litre for gasoline and $1.05 per gigajoule of natural gas — but experts say that doesn't mean a bigger hit to the average Albertan's wallet.

A family of four will be due for an $888 rebate, and a single adult $444. So if your costs are lower than that number — as they're predicted to be for the majority of people who earn less than $90,000 a year — it means you will likely get back more money than you spend. 

Calgary recreation fees

The City of Calgary has changed its pass structure and fees for indoor pools, arenas and leisure centres. 

Details about the new passes and the new pricing structure are available on the city's website.

Insurance

Some drivers are facing increases in car insurance premiums, after the province lifted a five per cent cap on rates.

Vaping

The Alberta government signalled in its fall budget that it plans to introduce a tax on vaping products in 2020. 

However, the government has yet to provide details of what a tax on vaping products could look like.

Museum admission

Admission prices at the Royal Tyrrell museum are going up $2 as of April 1, 2020.

That means adult day passes will increase from $19 to $21, and family passes from $48 to $50.

Short-term rentals

As of Feb. 1, 2020, Calgarians who rent their homes through Airbnb or other short-term rental services will be required to obtain a business licence, with annual fees applying based on the number of bedrooms in the rental.

One- to four-bedroom rental licences will cost $100, while owners of larger rentals will need to pay a $295 fee which includes the cost of a fire inspection. 

The province also said it intends to apply its four per cent tourism levy to short-term rentals in 2020.

House prices up, rental costs down

This increase could be good news for sellers, although not so much for buyers.

The aggregate price of a home in Calgary is forecasted to increase 1.5 per cent year-over-year in 2020 to $477,000, and the median price of a condo is forecasted to increase 0.75 per cent year-over-year to $267,500, according to Royal LePage's Market Survey Forecast.

And it's not all increases on the horizon.

Rent costs are expected to decrease slightly in 2020, according to website Rentals.ca which prepares annual forecasts with Bullpen Consulting. The site is forecasting the average rent in 2020 in Calgary will be $1,405 per month, down from an average monthly rent of $1,450 in 2019.