Halloween is a time for fun and frights, and a new survey has revealed that many Albertans are hoping to celebrate the season at a low cost, too.
With Oct. 31 fast approaching, new research from Angus Reid and Nextdoor Canada showed that the majority of Albertans are keeping Halloween budgets modest, with almost a fifth not spending anything at all.
Over half (51 per cent) of Albertans expect to spend $0 to $49 on Halloween this year, compared to the national average of 65 per cent going with that same ballpark amount. A further 13 per cent of Albertans are planning to spend $50 to $69, while 18 per cent expect to spend $100 to $149, the highest of all provinces. Albertans who are planning not to spend any money on Halloween this year came to 17 per cent.
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Respondents also said that barriers such as low awareness and costs of items played a role in not splurging on Halloween. More than one in four (27 per cent) say better awareness of what’s happening would make them more likely to attend local events or support local vendors leading up to Halloween.
One in four (25 per cent) say free or low-cost community events would make them more likely to go local, and more than one in five (22 per cent) say lower prices or deals would have the same effect.
The province where residents expected to spend the least amount on Halloween this year was British Columbia, with 69 per cent saying they expect to spend between $0 and $49.
These findings are from a survey conducted by Nextdoor Canada from Oct. 5 to Oct. 7, 2026, among a representative sample of 1,515 online adult Canadians who are members of the Angus Reid Forum. The survey was conducted in English and French.
You can view the full Nextdoor Canada study online.
How much are you aiming to spend this Halloween? Let us know in the comments.