Calgary is a city of rich history and culture, exciting outdoor activities, a diversity of work opportunities, and blooming nightlife. These and plenty of other qualities make it one of the best cities worldwide to live in 2023, according to Bloomberg.
Calgary’s population is around 1.6 million people and it keeps on rising, making the city Canada’s third-largest and the biggest in Alberta. And if you have been contemplating moving here, too, we suggest you learn the most vital things about living in this city.
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Key Points to Consider
Whether Calgary is a good place to live depends on how you contemplate your perfect city. Before you pack up, consider these crucial points:
- Population: The high living standards, vast employment opportunities, and the quality of healthcare and education in Calgary keep attracting immigrants. Canadians move here from bigger cities like Toronto and Vancouver to escape excessive living and housing costs. Calgary is soon to become a metropolitan city as today, it features a young and diverse population.
- Unemployment rate: Compared to other major cities in Canada, Calgary has a significantly high unemployment rate, between 6.2% and 11.5%, higher than the national average of 5.13%. The only reason is the skills gap, which means bigger opportunities for newcomers.
- Average home price: According to Creb, The average home price in Calgary as of April 2023 is $549.523, not counting the mortgage insurance, closing costs, and other expenses. In fact, the prices for apartments in Calgary are around 60% less than in Toronto and over 64% less than in Vancouver.
Pros of Moving to Calgary
A lot of people are moving to Calgary in 2023. The most popular destination was moving from Toronto to Calgary. The top reasons why Calgary keeps on attracting newcomers are as follows:
- High earning potential: Calgary is Canada’s most prosperous city, with a median family household income of around $111,600 – a higher figure than in Montreal, Toronto, or Vancouver.
- Low taxes: The standout advantage of living in Calgary is the absolute absence of a provincial sales tax (compared to a 7% local tax in British Columbia and a 13% one for Ontario residents). Settling in Calgary, you will face only a 5% federal sales tax.
- Excellent employment opportunities: Calgary is known as an energy city, having headquarters of over 100 of Canada’s most prominent companies in different industries. Although the gas and oil industry dominates in the city, Calgary is also a thriving tech hub with such giants setting up shop here as IBM and Amazon.
Other booming spheres for jobs include agribusiness, aerospace, life sciences, financial services, and even movie shooting.
- Clean environment: Calgary boasts of a low air pollution level, good water drinkability, and clean sewage systems, all of which, along with a bevvy of recycling programs effectively implemented, helped make it the cleanest city in the world as of 2023, according to the World Atlas.
- Affordable and convenient public transportation: Calgary offers a reliable and accessible public transportation system with a cash fare for a one-time ticket at $3.6, and monthly adult passes at $112. The system is based on a robust network of buses and trains and a light railway C-train, running on electricity from wind farms. The latter is free to ride in part of the city center.
- Quality healthcare: While the national average of physicians per 100,000 people is 115, the number rises to 141 in Calgary. Also, all residents of Alberta are eligible for the AHCIP for free! It covers all necessary medical and health care services, including home care.
- Numerous attractions and activities: Calgary offers excellent entertainment facilities for both its young and elderly population. Canada Olympic Park introduces various winter and summer activities, such as skating, snowboarding, mountain biking, and skiing.
Also, the city is not far from the Rocky Mountains and Banff National Park if you crave an adrenaline rush. Other unique entertainments of the city include the Calgary Folk Music Festival, International Film Festival, Telus Spark Science Centre, and the Calgary Stampede – the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
Cons of Moving to Calgary
Despite the introduced advantages of living in Calgary, it’s vital you consider the negative aspects you will encounter when moving to this Canadian popular city:
- Overcrowded schools: Calgary has yet to cope with the constant rush of immigrants. The booming city is yet to enhance the schools system by constructing new ones and increasing the working staff. As for today, residents have to handle overcrowded classrooms and a shortage of teachers.
- Frosty winters: Calgary is a Prairie city, so bitterly cold winters and snow falls approximately 100 days a year are unavoidable.
Move to Calgary or Not?
Calgary is definitely the city worth moving to. It has much to offer its residents, mostly via numerous career opportunities, affordable living, a well-schemed public transportation system, and a premium health care system. Also, the city is the cleanest in the world, and residents can enjoy stellar outdoor recreation activities given its geographical location. Moving to Calgary can be your best decision; our professional moving company will help you implement it.
