Calgary is one of the fastest-growing cities in Canada, and for good reason. Alberta’s largest city offers an exceptional lifestyle, great homes, and some of the best natural scenery in North America.

To that end, Calgary is often compared to Vancouver, BC, with both places offering a welcoming down-to-earth atmosphere and incredible outdoor activities. However, one of the primary differences between Calgary and Vancouver is the cost of living.

While one of Calgary’s major draws is its affordability, the cost of living in Vancouver is famously high.

As experienced Calgary real estate agents who specialize in supporting relocators, we have direct insight into the average cost of living in Calgary. This blog is a cost-of-living comparison to help you decide if life in Calgary is right for you!

Looking for more insights on living in Calgary vs Vancouver? Click here to learn about 3 big differences between the two cities.

Why Cost of Living Matters

Moving to a new city is a big decision, one that can have a great payoff. But it comes with a number of important considerations too.

If you’re moving to Calgary from Vancouver, or moving to Western Canada and trying to decide which city is best for you, you need to consider each city’s cost of living and how it lines up with your income and financial goals.

A manageable cost of living means you’re able to live comfortably today while still saving and investing for the future.

Moving to Calgary? Read these related blogs next!

What is The Cost of Living in Calgary?

As the city has grown in recent years, we’ve heard more potential relocators asking “ Is Calgary expensive?”. Here’s the deal, everyone’s cost of living is different. Your financial needs will ultimately be unique depending on things like your lifestyle, housing situation, family, and interests. However, when it comes to most everyday people, the average cost of living in Calgary is much lower than the average cost of living in Vancouver.

Calgary Vs Vancouver Housing Costs

Let’s start with most people’s largest living expense: Housing. On average, the cost of housing in Calgary is much cheaper than in Vancouver – this goes for renting and buying.

Many new Calgarians choose to buy a house shortly after moving here. With a variety of housing options, from condos and townhouses to single-family homes, there are opportunities for a wide range of budgets. People who have been (or would be) priced out of Vancouver’s housing market are often excited to realize how far they can stretch their budget here.

On top of that, average rental rates in Calgary are also more reasonable, which makes it much easier for new Calgarians to save and work their way up to homeownership in the future.

With all this in mind, it’s worth pointing out that Calgary’s real estate landscape is made of many different micro-markets. In other words, real estate trends (including average costs) can change at a neighbourhood level. So, if you are looking to find your dream home in Calgary, you’ll want to work with an experienced professional who understands these micro-markets front to back.

Beyond Housing

When it comes to understanding the short and long term expenses of living in one place over the other, there’s more to think about than just housing. Having the financial flexibility to live your ideal lifestyle (while still saving for the future) is an important part of your well-being.

For example, both Calgary and Vancouver are famous for their ski hills. However, the financial footprint of this hobby is significantly smaller for Calgarians, with Banff’s budget-friendly hills being much easier on the wallet compared to Whistler.

Of course, you’ll also want to consider daily necessities, such as transportation and groceries. Once again, Calgary’s affordable cost of living beats out Vancouver in these areas too. One of the main reasons for this is tax. While Alberta has no provincial sales tax (PST), BC charges a 7% PST on all goods and services (this is on top of GST).

Buying a house in Calgary soon? Check out these advice-filled blogs next!

Moving to Calgary? We Can Help!

If you’re thinking about moving to Calgary, you’ll want to work with an experienced real estate team that specializes in supporting relocators – like us. As one of Calgary’s top real estate teams, Dolce Real Estate Group has a proven process for helping new Calgarians make a smooth transition to their new home.

In addition to helping you find the right home, we’ll act as your personal guides to discovering Calgary and settling into your new life in Alberta.

If you’re looking for an expert to guide you through the process of relocating to Calgary, look no further than our dedicated team of Realtors. Call 403-999-5882 or send us an email at info@dolcerealestate.ca.

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Planning your next Calgary home purchase or sale? Book a consultation with us today and see the Dolce Difference.

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