AB Municipal Service Efficiency Rankings

Total operating expenses per person indicates overall spending efficiency for municipal services delivered.

314 municipalities ranked Lower is better

Lowest — Best Performing

1. I.d. No. 24 (Wood Buffalo) (Under 1,500) $451 2. Spring Lake (Under 1,500) $1,424 3. Chestermere (15,000-50,000) $1,432 4. Nobleford (1,500-5,000) $1,444 5. Barnwell (Under 1,500) $1,506

Highest — Needs Attention

310. Saddle Hills County (1,500-5,000) $15,296 311. Ma-Me-O Beach (Under 1,500) $20,116 312. Opportunity No. 17, M.d. of (1,500-5,000) $23,058 313. Northern Sunrise County (1,500-5,000) $26,604 314. Ranchland No. 66, M.d. of (Under 1,500) $34,664

Distribution

110

Top of Band

Mid-Band

111

Bottom of Band

About this Metric

Low value means

The municipality delivers services at a lower per-person cost — reflecting lean operations, economies of scale, or a leaner service menu compared to peers.

High value means

Each resident costs more to serve — this may reflect higher service levels, expensive geography, aging infrastructure, or operational inefficiency relative to peers.

For Councillors

Comparing cost-per-resident to similarly sized municipalities is the most direct test of operational efficiency. A significantly higher figure should prompt questions: Are we delivering more services? Do we have cost drivers peers do not (geography, infrastructure age, union agreements)? Are there consolidation or shared-service opportunities? The goal is not the lowest number at any cost — service quality matters — but unexplained gaps warrant scrutiny.

For Residents

Think of this as the price tag for running your city per person. Comparing it to towns of similar size tells you whether you are getting reasonable value. A much higher figure means you are paying more per person than comparable communities — which may be justified by better services, or may indicate room for greater efficiency.

Full Rankings

Click column headers to sort. Filter by population band.

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Prov. # ▲	Municipality	Type	Population	Value	Band Rank	vs Band Avg
1	I.d. No. 24 (Wood Buffalo)	D	706	$451	1 of 193	-89%
2	Spring Lake	D	772	$1,424	2 of 193	-66%
3	Chestermere	D	31,671	$1,432	2 of 48	-51%
4	Nobleford	T	1,694	$1,444	2 of 106	-68%
5	Barnwell	D	1,073	$1,506	3 of 193	-64%
6	Bonnyville Beach	V	70	$1,565	5 of 193	-63%
7	Czar	D	281	$1,575	6 of 193	-63%
8	West Cove	V	307	$1,586	7 of 193	-63%
9	South Baptiste	V	85	$1,690	8 of 193	-60%
10	Coalhurst	T	3,244	$1,773	8 of 106	-60%
11	Island Lake South	V	83	$1,990	10 of 193	-53%
12	Clive	D	907	$1,991	11 of 193	-53%
13	Brooks	D	17,537	$2,032	9 of 48	-30%
14	Rosalind	D	192	$2,045	13 of 193	-52%
15	Whispering Hills	V	136	$2,052	14 of 193	-52%
16	Magrath	T	2,566	$2,092	14 of 106	-53%
17	Larkspur	V	53	$2,097	15 of 193	-51%
18	Kitscoty	D	964	$2,105	16 of 193	-50%
19	Sunrise Beach	V	166	$2,131	17 of 193	-50%
20	Raymond	T	4,600	$2,132	15 of 106	-52%
21	Cochrane	T	39,397	$2,134	12 of 48	-26%
22	Bondiss	V	126	$2,142	18 of 193	-49%
23	Ponoka County	D	10,670	$2,181	11 of 91	-38%
24	Birchcliff	V	301	$2,205	19 of 193	-48%
25	Linden	D	911	$2,208	21 of 193	-48%
26	Westlock County	D	7,556	$2,216	13 of 91	-37%
27	Airdrie	D	92,544	$2,232	8 of 22	-26%
28	Redcliff	T	5,916	$2,263	14 of 91	-36%
29	Legal	T	1,253	$2,270	22 of 193	-46%
30	Cardston County	D	4,948	$2,270	18 of 106	-49%
31	Berwyn	D	599	$2,273	23 of 193	-46%
32	Claresholm	T	4,248	$2,288	19 of 106	-49%
33	Barrhead County No. 11	D	6,186	$2,322	15 of 91	-34%
34	Norglenwold	V	339	$2,324	24 of 193	-45%
35	Vauxhall	T	1,451	$2,326	25 of 193	-45%
36	Coaldale	T	9,644	$2,337	16 of 91	-34%
37	Crossfield	T	4,075	$2,351	20 of 106	-47%
38	Gull Lake	V	274	$2,369	26 of 193	-44%
39	Waskatenau	D	324	$2,373	27 of 193	-44%
40	Strathmore	T	16,416	$2,380	20 of 48	-18%
41	Bowden	T	1,315	$2,382	28 of 193	-44%
42	Stavely	T	577	$2,430	29 of 193	-43%
43	Stirling	D	1,350	$2,432	30 of 193	-43%
44	Lamont	T	1,856	$2,435	21 of 106	-46%
45	Two Hills	T	1,698	$2,446	22 of 106	-45%
46	Bruderheim	T	1,439	$2,448	31 of 193	-42%
47	Grimshaw	T	2,799	$2,458	23 of 106	-45%
48	Sandy Beach	V	291	$2,462	32 of 193	-42%
49	Bassano	T	1,381	$2,464	33 of 193	-42%
50	Beaumont	D	26,305	$2,472	22 of 48	-15%
51	Camrose	D	20,801	$2,476	23 of 48	-15%
52	Okotoks	T	33,482	$2,491	24 of 48	-14%
53	Barons	D	334	$2,500	34 of 193	-41%
54	Foothills County	D	25,779	$2,503	25 of 48	-14%
55	Blackfalds	T	12,258	$2,520	20 of 91	-29%
56	Edberg	D	123	$2,534	35 of 193	-40%
57	Picture Butte	T	2,380	$2,539	24 of 106	-43%
58	Silver Sands	V	244	$2,556	36 of 193	-40%
59	Sunset Beach	V	64	$2,564	37 of 193	-40%
60	Holden	D	381	$2,574	38 of 193	-39%
61	High River	T	15,518	$2,574	27 of 48	-11%
62	Bawlf	D	390	$2,576	39 of 193	-39%
63	Carstairs	T	5,248	$2,579	23 of 91	-27%
64	Didsbury	T	5,185	$2,592	24 of 91	-27%
65	Lac Ste. Anne County	D	12,639	$2,611	26 of 91	-26%
66	Duchess	D	1,045	$2,621	40 of 193	-38%
67	Bow Island	T	2,310	$2,622	26 of 106	-41%
68	Cremona	D	486	$2,639	41 of 193	-38%
69	Sylvan Lake	T	17,897	$2,693	29 of 48	-7%
70	Spruce Grove	D	44,575	$2,711	30 of 48	-7%
71	Wetaskiwin	D	13,703	$2,716	27 of 91	-23%
72	Bentley	T	1,153	$2,724	43 of 193	-36%
73	Birch Cove	V	68	$2,730	44 of 193	-36%
74	Calmar	T	2,345	$2,733	29 of 106	-39%
75	Morinville	T	10,763	$2,746	28 of 91	-22%
76	Nanton	T	2,522	$2,747	30 of 106	-39%
77	Jarvis Bay	V	224	$2,754	45 of 193	-35%
78	I.d. No. 04 (Waterton)	D	550	$2,755	46 of 193	-35%
79	Morrin	D	231	$2,758	47 of 193	-35%
80	Elnora	D	307	$2,760	48 of 193	-35%
81	Bon Accord	T	1,457	$2,760	49 of 193	-35%
82	Fort Macleod	T	3,945	$2,771	32 of 106	-38%
83	Rocky Mountain House	T	8,144	$2,785	31 of 91	-21%
84	Rosemary	D	374	$2,797	50 of 193	-34%
85	Delburne	D	949	$2,803	51 of 193	-34%
86	Parkland Beach	V	175	$2,811	52 of 193	-34%
87	Cowley	D	209	$2,812	53 of 193	-34%
88	Amisk	D	210	$2,822	54 of 193	-33%
89	Stony Plain	T	19,662	$2,830	33 of 48	-2%
90	Rimbey	T	2,502	$2,836	35 of 106	-37%
91	Mundare	T	875	$2,838	55 of 193	-33%
92	Eckville	T	1,088	$2,846	57 of 193	-33%
93	Pelican Narrows	V	162	$2,857	58 of 193	-33%
94	Mountain View County	D	14,776	$2,859	33 of 91	-19%
95	Grandview	V	181	$2,863	59 of 193	-32%
96	Hardisty	T	628	$2,876	60 of 193	-32%
97	Glenwood	D	294	$2,885	61 of 193	-32%
98	Clyde	D	419	$2,899	63 of 193	-32%
99	Sedgewick	T	793	$2,900	64 of 193	-32%
100	Lethbridge County	D	10,988	$2,929	36 of 91	-17%
101	Half Moon Bay	V	68	$2,936	65 of 193	-31%
102	Hill Spring	D	183	$2,943	66 of 193	-31%
103	McLennan	T	729	$2,955	67 of 193	-30%
104	Wainwright	T	6,997	$2,968	37 of 91	-16%
105	Diamond Valley	T	5,694	$2,981	38 of 91	-16%
106	Rocky View County	D	50,260	$2,982	15 of 22	-1%
107	Girouxville	D	311	$2,995	68 of 193	-29%
108	Hanna	T	2,665	$2,995	38 of 106	-33%
109	Warburg	D	684	$3,000	69 of 193	-29%
110	Hay Lakes	D	430	$3,018	70 of 193	-29%
111	Wembley	T	1,516	$3,026	39 of 106	-32%
112	Lacombe	D	14,733	$3,030	40 of 91	-14%
113	Warner No. 5, County of	D	4,290	$3,040	40 of 106	-32%
114	Wetaskiwin No. 10, County of	D	11,217	$3,042	42 of 91	-14%
115	Hughenden	D	203	$3,052	71 of 193	-28%
116	Parkland County	D	34,286	$3,073	35 of 48	+6%
117	Mewatha Beach	V	96	$3,076	72 of 193	-27%
118	Warner	D	400	$3,083	73 of 193	-27%
119	Edmonton	D	1,238,295	$3,085	8 of 10	+37%
120	Yellowstone	V	117	$3,088	74 of 193	-27%
121	Alix	D	877	$3,090	75 of 193	-27%
122	Cardston	T	3,853	$3,090	42 of 106	-31%
123	Calgary	D	1,612,834	$3,091	9 of 10	+37%
124	Mackenzie County	D	14,488	$3,105	43 of 91	-12%
125	Sexsmith	T	2,561	$3,117	43 of 106	-30%
126	Island Lake	V	164	$3,127	76 of 193	-26%
127	Ghost Lake	V	75	$3,128	77 of 193	-26%
128	Beaver County	D	6,245	$3,136	45 of 91	-11%
129	Fort Saskatchewan	D	30,575	$3,148	36 of 48	+9%
130	Sunset Point	V	270	$3,156	80 of 193	-26%
131	Bashaw	T	905	$3,156	81 of 193	-26%
132	Drumheller	T	8,439	$3,162	47 of 91	-11%
133	St. Paul	T	6,218	$3,179	48 of 91	-10%
134	St. Albert	D	74,730	$3,180	16 of 22	+6%
135	Camrose County	D	8,951	$3,188	49 of 91	-10%
136	Carmangay	D	297	$3,188	83 of 193	-25%
137	Falher	T	1,084	$3,207	84 of 193	-24%
138	Penhold	T	3,812	$3,216	44 of 106	-28%
139	Vulcan	T	1,922	$3,249	45 of 106	-27%
140	Hinton	T	10,124	$3,256	51 of 91	-8%
141	Tofield	T	2,122	$3,271	47 of 106	-27%
142	Innisfail	T	8,736	$3,279	52 of 91	-7%
143	Barrhead	T	4,768	$3,300	49 of 106	-26%
144	Fairview	T	2,918	$3,321	50 of 106	-26%
145	Golden Days	V	257	$3,330	86 of 193	-21%
146	Grande Prairie	D	71,160	$3,338	17 of 22	+11%
147	Elk Point	T	1,481	$3,362	87 of 193	-21%
148	Youngstown	D	179	$3,383	88 of 193	-20%
149	Taber, M.d. of	D	7,447	$3,394	55 of 91	-4%
150	Val Quentin	V	169	$3,398	89 of 193	-20%
151	West Baptiste	V	48	$3,407	90 of 193	-20%
152	Coutts	D	260	$3,410	91 of 193	-20%
153	Vegreville	T	6,153	$3,413	56 of 91	-3%
154	Caroline	D	513	$3,414	92 of 193	-19%
155	Paradise Valley	D	205	$3,426	93 of 193	-19%
156	Chipman	D	286	$3,429	94 of 193	-19%
157	Marwayne	D	547	$3,448	95 of 193	-19%
158	Leduc	D	39,966	$3,455	38 of 48	+19%
159	Devon	T	6,965	$3,459	57 of 91	-2%
160	Ponoka	T	8,212	$3,465	58 of 91	-2%
161	Redwater	T	2,301	$3,468	56 of 106	-22%
162	Provost	T	1,875	$3,469	57 of 106	-22%
163	Whitecourt	T	10,711	$3,490	59 of 91	-1%
164	Taber	T	10,175	$3,492	60 of 91	-1%
165	Mayerthorpe	T	1,413	$3,493	98 of 193	-18%
166	Glendon	D	532	$3,521	99 of 193	-17%
167	Milk River	T	826	$3,522	100 of 193	-17%
168	Daysland	T	902	$3,525	101 of 193	-17%
169	Killam	T	887	$3,529	102 of 193	-17%
170	Westlock	T	5,363	$3,533	61 of 91	-0%
171	Stettler	T	6,035	$3,541	62 of 91	+0%
172	Beaverlodge	T	2,454	$3,552	58 of 106	-21%
173	Mannville	D	829	$3,559	104 of 193	-16%
174	Vermilion	T	4,192	$3,574	60 of 106	-20%
175	Edson	T	8,692	$3,590	63 of 91	+2%
176	Slave Lake	T	7,334	$3,625	64 of 91	+3%
177	Irma	D	482	$3,639	106 of 193	-14%
178	Longview	D	304	$3,643	107 of 193	-14%
179	Bittern Lake	D	224	$3,656	108 of 193	-14%
180	Burnstick Lake	V	29	$3,661	109 of 193	-14%
181	Willow Creek No. 26, M.d. of	D	6,081	$3,665	66 of 91	+4%
182	Bonnyville	T	7,366	$3,685	67 of 91	+4%
183	Pincher Creek	T	3,890	$3,699	63 of 106	-17%
184	Lougheed	D	224	$3,703	110 of 193	-13%
185	Swan Hills	T	1,430	$3,717	111 of 193	-12%
186	Horseshoe Bay	V	82	$3,718	112 of 193	-12%
187	Millet	T	1,967	$3,728	65 of 106	-17%
188	Ross Haven	V	120	$3,746	113 of 193	-12%
189	Gibbons	T	3,352	$3,747	66 of 106	-16%
190	Peace No. 135, M.d. of	D	1,581	$3,750	67 of 106	-16%
191	Smoky Lake	T	1,159	$3,754	116 of 193	-11%
192	Standard	D	384	$3,760	117 of 193	-11%
193	Crowsnest Pass	D	6,011	$3,779	68 of 91	+7%
194	Vilna	D	269	$3,788	118 of 193	-11%
195	Cold Lake	D	17,815	$3,805	40 of 48	+31%
196	I.d. No. 09 (Banff)	D	1,004	$3,810	119 of 193	-10%
197	Andrew	D	414	$3,815	120 of 193	-10%
198	Sundre	T	2,683	$3,857	70 of 106	-14%
199	Beiseker	D	787	$3,861	121 of 193	-9%
200	Red Deer	D	115,409	$3,866	18 of 22	+29%
201	Athabasca	T	2,887	$3,922	71 of 106	-12%
202	Alberta Beach	D	815	$3,934	122 of 193	-7%
203	Nakamun Park	V	80	$3,959	123 of 193	-7%
204	Heisler	D	129	$4,003	124 of 193	-6%
205	Red Deer County	D	22,076	$4,015	41 of 48	+38%
206	Olds	T	9,679	$4,027	70 of 91	+14%
207	White Sands	V	183	$4,044	125 of 193	-5%
208	Myrnam	D	246	$4,058	126 of 193	-4%
209	Waiparous	V	65	$4,070	127 of 193	-4%
210	Forestburg	D	833	$4,081	128 of 193	-4%
211	Acadia No. 34, M.d. of	D	494	$4,096	130 of 193	-3%
212	Strathcona County	D	107,345	$4,111	19 of 22	+37%
213	Coronation	T	885	$4,136	131 of 193	-2%
214	Seba Beach	V	244	$4,148	132 of 193	-2%
215	Sunbreaker Cove	V	137	$4,151	133 of 193	-2%
216	Acme	D	651	$4,154	134 of 193	-2%
217	Newell County	D	7,846	$4,159	71 of 91	+18%
218	Veteran	D	230	$4,159	135 of 193	-2%
219	Stettler No. 6, County of	D	5,666	$4,222	73 of 91	+19%
220	South View	V	74	$4,231	136 of 193	-0%
221	Thorsby	T	928	$4,233	137 of 193	-0%
222	Empress	D	179	$4,236	138 of 193	-0%
223	Forty Mile County No. 8	D	4,073	$4,249	73 of 106	-5%
224	Rycroft	D	629	$4,275	139 of 193	+1%
225	St. Paul County No. 19	D	6,462	$4,321	74 of 91	+22%
226	Onoway	T	957	$4,324	141 of 193	+2%
227	Peace River	T	7,220	$4,328	75 of 91	+22%
228	Cypress County	D	7,855	$4,339	76 of 91	+23%
229	Norris Beach	V	71	$4,360	142 of 193	+3%
230	High Prairie	T	2,607	$4,384	75 of 106	-2%
231	Edgerton	D	383	$4,386	143 of 193	+3%
232	Spirit River	T	927	$4,414	144 of 193	+4%
233	Consort	D	707	$4,417	145 of 193	+4%
234	Brazeau County	D	7,685	$4,434	77 of 91	+25%
235	Smoky Lake County	D	4,043	$4,435	76 of 106	-1%
236	Canmore	T	17,341	$4,457	42 of 48	+54%
237	Lethbridge	D	113,671	$4,481	20 of 22	+49%
238	Ryley	D	486	$4,500	146 of 193	+6%
239	Oyen	T	961	$4,507	147 of 193	+6%
240	Medicine Hat	D	68,714	$4,578	21 of 22	+52%
241	Manning	T	1,153	$4,682	150 of 193	+10%
242	Castor	T	876	$4,696	151 of 193	+11%
243	Lakeview	V	26	$4,699	152 of 193	+11%
244	Delia	D	145	$4,716	153 of 193	+11%
245	Drayton Valley	T	8,047	$4,770	79 of 91	+35%
246	Lacombe County	D	11,072	$4,859	80 of 91	+37%
247	Alliance	D	158	$4,862	155 of 193	+15%
248	Leduc County	D	16,400	$4,906	44 of 48	+69%
249	Sturgeon County	D	21,035	$4,928	45 of 48	+70%
250	Vermilion River County	D	8,215	$4,969	81 of 91	+41%
251	Vulcan County	D	4,491	$4,970	78 of 106	+11%
252	Athabasca County	D	7,280	$4,974	82 of 91	+41%
253	Rockyford	D	421	$4,977	156 of 193	+17%
254	Minburn County No. 27	D	3,142	$4,988	79 of 106	+12%
255	Poplar Bay	V	96	$5,012	157 of 193	+18%
256	Hussar	D	192	$5,046	158 of 193	+19%
257	Two Hills No. 21, County of	D	3,412	$5,077	80 of 106	+14%
258	Innisfree	D	205	$5,124	159 of 193	+21%
259	Lloydminster	D	21,295	$5,149	46 of 48	+78%
260	Wheatland County	D	10,150	$5,155	83 of 91	+46%
261	Clear Hills County	D	3,006	$5,236	81 of 106	+17%
262	Rochon Sands	V	115	$5,243	160 of 193	+24%
263	Grande Prairie No. 1, County of	D	26,701	$5,260	47 of 48	+81%
264	Kapasiwin	V	34	$5,285	161 of 193	+25%
265	Viking	T	964	$5,300	162 of 193	+25%
266	Boyle	D	859	$5,320	163 of 193	+26%
267	Thorhild County	D	3,147	$5,345	82 of 106	+20%
268	Chauvin	D	284	$5,372	164 of 193	+27%
269	Hines Creek	D	355	$5,574	165 of 193	+32%
270	Kneehill County	D	5,037	$5,597	84 of 91	+58%
271	Pincher Creek No. 9, M.d. of	D	3,240	$5,603	83 of 106	+25%
272	Lamont County	D	3,918	$5,617	84 of 106	+26%
273	Fairview No. 136, M.d. of	D	1,580	$5,642	85 of 106	+26%
274	Northern Lights County	D	4,115	$5,711	86 of 106	+28%
275	Milo	D	131	$5,730	167 of 193	+35%
276	Betula Beach	V	25	$5,789	168 of 193	+37%
277	Silver Beach	V	54	$5,856	169 of 193	+38%
278	Banff	T	11,402	$5,861	85 of 91	+66%
279	Clearwater County	D	12,326	$5,904	86 of 91	+67%
280	Fox Creek	T	2,013	$6,195	88 of 106	+39%
281	Wainwright No. 61, M.d. of	D	4,446	$6,232	90 of 106	+39%
282	Birch Hills County	D	1,522	$6,256	91 of 106	+40%
283	Valleyview	T	1,807	$6,408	93 of 106	+43%
284	Foremost	D	413	$6,452	172 of 193	+52%
285	Woodlands County	D	4,778	$6,486	94 of 106	+45%
286	Nampa	D	430	$6,510	173 of 193	+54%
287	Flagstaff County	D	3,729	$6,941	95 of 106	+55%
288	Yellowhead County	D	10,966	$6,999	87 of 91	+98%
289	Big Lakes County	D	5,106	$7,185	88 of 91	+103%
290	Paintearth No. 18, County of	D	1,990	$7,463	96 of 106	+67%
291	Castle Island	V	17	$7,772	176 of 193	+83%
292	Sundance Beach	V	44	$8,017	177 of 193	+89%
293	Crystal Springs	V	82	$8,038	178 of 193	+90%
294	Argentia Beach	V	36	$8,178	180 of 193	+93%
295	Bighorn No. 8, M.d. of	D	1,598	$8,242	97 of 106	+84%
296	Wood Buffalo	D	81,577	$8,399	22 of 22	+179%
297	Bonnyville No. 87, M.d. of	D	11,864	$8,452	89 of 91	+139%
298	Halkirk	D	95	$8,620	182 of 193	+103%
299	Starland County	D	1,820	$8,668	98 of 106	+94%
300	Point Alison	V	19	$8,893	184 of 193	+110%
301	Lesser Slave River No. 124, M.d. of	D	2,809	$9,219	100 of 106	+106%
302	Lac la Biche County	D	8,580	$9,226	90 of 91	+161%
303	Itaska Beach	V	29	$9,293	186 of 193	+119%
304	Smoky River No. 130, M.d. of	D	1,895	$9,318	101 of 106	+108%
305	Spirit River No. 133, M.d. of	D	649	$9,506	188 of 193	+124%
306	Provost No. 52, M.d. of	D	2,071	$11,999	102 of 106	+168%
307	Rainbow Lake	T	421	$12,817	190 of 193	+202%
308	Jasper	D	4,627	$13,100	103 of 106	+193%
309	Greenview No. 16, M.d. of	D	8,584	$14,119	91 of 91	+300%
310	Saddle Hills County	D	2,449	$15,296	104 of 106	+242%
311	Ma-Me-O Beach	V	125	$20,116	192 of 193	+375%
312	Opportunity No. 17, M.d. of	D	3,382	$23,058	105 of 106	+416%
313	Northern Sunrise County	D	1,848	$26,604	106 of 106	+495%
314	Ranchland No. 66, M.d. of	D	110	$34,664	193 of 193	+718%