Should You Move to Calgary Alberta?
Long ago, I faced this decision about whether to make a long scary journey to access the great employment opportunity in Alberta. I decided to move to Calgary.
It was an eye-opening, exciting move and I found it much easier to find employment and enjoyed short commutes. The photo above was a seen I saw hundreds of times in the park I used to jog in. Beautiful views and amazing terrain for my training.
At the time, the outlook for the Toronto area where I lived was poor and housing availability wasn’t great either. And there was no view of whether it would improve soon. It’s still like this today. However, even greater rewards might await you in Alberta.
Lots of Canadians are Choosing to Move to Calgary
As you can see in this graphic below, lots of people are taking the chance and moving to Alberta. The top draw for Easterners is jobs. And the persistent threat of Alberta separation from Canada is very real too. With the US turning protectionist, Ontario and Quebec are facing a bleak outlook. Many young Canadians migrate en masse to access the prosperity of the West before the opportunity disappears. Without Alberta Fed transfer payments, Quebec would become a 3rd world country. These issues are on young adults minds.
It’s not a pleasant thought but Albertan’s patience with the Federal Government is waning and that referendum might be forthcoming. With the PC party likely to win in 2025, the separatist sentiment is on hold. Yet Alberta’s prosperity and growth remain alluring, just it n decades past.
In an environment of strong job discrimination and high taxation, it’s easy to understand how people view the value prop of going West.
Migration from the East and from Vancouver has picked up and it’s adding to the growing pains for the city of Calgary, even with the vast land it has available.
The cost of moving, and challenge of finding a job and a place to live is a primary concern for those who plan to make the journey.
If you’re ready to move out West, you’ll need a good Calgary Realtor to get the winning bid on a house, or be very proficient at finding and winning a battle for a rental.
6 Key Factors to Review
There are 10 Good reasons to move to Calgary which are discussed below, but let’s summarize the essential ones here:
- job growth and older workers retiring
- high earnings
- high quality of living
- lower cost of living and no provincial income tax
- diversification of industries and jobs
- immigration will decrease
Always the Land of Opportunity
At the time I lived in Calgary, it offered opportunity, growth, and income that was not present in the rest of Canada. BC, Ontario, Quebec had poor economies. However, oil was in a boom and bust phase and not long after I arrived, the oil boom ended. WTI oil price hit $12 a barrel at its lowest. Unemployment was painful for Calgarians.
With the Trump tariffs, Canadian provinces and cities face big challenges in debt, costs, reduced revenues, and access to export markets. It’s a very troubling outlook right now for most Canadians and small businesses. And Calgary is exposed to risk too.
Anyone considering a move to Calgary or Edmonton has to be aware that the oil boom could end at any time. But fast forward to 2025, the demand for Canadian crude is much higher and production is more stable. Europe is in crisis and will likely out of financial necessity begin to use fossil fuels again. Oil is used in so many applications from transportation to agriculture. World demand is set to grow strongly. China will adjust and begin growing its economy and resume imports of oil and natural gas.
The macroeconomic picture then is solid. This is important to know.
Given the big losses realized by American companies, the US will likely commit to oil energy for the next 5 years. Demand for oil will grow, despite US media claims to the contrary. All demand profiles point to Alberta and the province already supplies the majority of oil the US uses for manufacturing.
Canadian oil stocks are enjoying quite a boost too. It is massive demand for Alberta energy products which is spawning growth in migration to Alberta. And a low Canadian dollar vs the USD, and lower operating costs, makes Alberta’s revenues even sweeter.
Alberta Is Diversifying its Economy
As you can see in this 2023 graph of Alberta’s economic diversification, a significant growth in non-energy investment makes 2025 a more promising year for newcomers. It is more than an oil engineer-dominated job market today.
Calgary Economic Region (CER) Labour Market Outlook
The CER labour outlook report is a little aged, and doesn’t reflect trade issues or new immigration laws that will be brought in by the PCs and Pierte Poliviere. However, it does highlight trends in Calgary’s jobs market.
Calgary Housing Market is Strong
Home prices in Calgary are more reasonable than most markets, it has plenty of new housing stock of all types, and supply is increasing as more homes are being listed during the current political turmoil. And taxes are lower, rent prices are lower, cost of living is lower, and the job market is thriving.
The Calgary housing market may represent a challenge for many in terms of price/rent prices and availability. Lower-end offerings are lower in supply.
Home prices tend to lag as oil prices and oil booms grow. People like yourself can be carried away by the Zeitgeist but it’s important to be sure of the forecast before such major purchases and life moves. As the charts show demand to live in Calgary is strong, and many more will choose it as housing and job conditions improve.
Review the price history for oil because it is important. Crude production has grown considerably and is more reliable, however, the US holds all the cards in whether Alberta will suffer losses.
One of the most promising trends is the reduction of immigrants on student visas. The Federal government program was abused and caused tremendous anguish for Canadians. Given Alberta is a hot spot, Calgary and Edmonton may not see the relief other cities will enjoy.
Earnings In Calgary
You’ll like the employment opportunities in volume and salaries in Calgary. As of December 2024, the average salary in Calgary, Alberta was $64,600 — 18.6% higher than the Canadian average. In December 2024, the unemployment rate in Calgary was 7.8% but this may be due to so many newcomers arriving in the city.
Before You Make the Move
Here are ten reasons to consider moving to Calgary in 2025:
- Strong, Thriving Economy that is Diversifying: Calgary boasts a strong and diversifying economy beyond natural resources to manufacturing, health care, construction, technology, trade, and tourism.
- Affordable Housing: The Calgary housing market offers more affordable options than other major Canadian cities such as Toronto and Vancouver.
- Low Overall Tax Rates. Alberta does not have a zero provincial tax rate, but has one of the lowest overall tax rates in Canada.
- Modern: Calgary is a relatively new city compared to others and considerable development has taken place in the last 20 years making it more accessible for most residents, from Calgary Transit to roadways to homes and building for businesses.
- High Quality of Life: Calgary consistently ranks high in global livability rankings, thanks to its excellent healthcare, recreation, low crime rates, and a clean environment.
- Natural Beauty and Outdoor Activities: Situated near the Rocky Mountains and Banff National Park, Calgary offers easy access to outdoor activities like hiking, skiing, adventure sports, and fishing appealing to a wide variety of users.
- Family-Friendly Environment: With numerous parks, family events, and recreational centers, Calgary is an ideal and safe place to raise a family.
- Sunny Weather: Calgary offers one of the most sunny and dry climates of any city in Canada, averaging about 333 days of sunshine annually, which contributes to a pleasant living environment.
- Excellent Education System: The city offers plenty of public schools, colleges and a University offering a modern education for anyone.
- Thriving Urban Scene: Whether you’re a foodie, a sports enthusiast, or a theater lover, Calgary has it all. The city offers a vibrant nightlife with numerous bars, restaurants, and clubs near the downtown area as well as a variety of sporting events and art exhibitions.
Ultimately, choosing Calgary requires a look at the road ahead. Even if you only intend to stay for 5 years, you’ll find this will be an exciting, high-growth phase of your life. If you establish yourself strategically in a durable, stable industry and profession, the rewards here could multiply.
See more on the Calgary job market outlook Labour market outlook and the Calgary Housing Market forecast.
