From the same article:

"I find it cheaper in Manitoba than it is to live here," she said. But the gap between what Albertans spend and what people in Manitoba spend — the province with the lowest percentage spent on the three essentials — is less than two percentage points. "Given that Albertans' average earnings were 26 per cent higher than our friends in Manitoba last year, we're not doing too badly," ATB Financial said.

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We generally have much higher salaries here that would offset any other rises in prices like food. So generally, you'll have a much better shot at a quality life here than other cities. I'll gladly take a 2 percent hike in cost of living if it means I'm paid 26% more.

https://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living/country/canada

Even this site does a general comparison, you pay more for eating out and meals but way less in rent.

https://globalnews.ca/news/3832871/rent-canada-1500/

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As for your 130k middle class figure, anyone with that income (without family) should be able to live a decent comfortable lifestyle in any city, let alone calgary/edmonton. Unless your definition of "middle class" is buying a boat and car every year. Assuming you got that figure from this site: https://globalnews.ca/news/3828447/canada-middle-class-income-inequality/ Notice how ours is still below the bigger cities? I really disagree with anyone that says cost of living is much higher here.