What You Should Know Before Moving to Calgary

Have you been accepted to a new job in Calgary? Are you being relocated to the Calgary branch of your company? Or maybe you just want a change in your environment and you feel like you’re ready to move to this city?

Moving from one place to another could get pretty stressful. You’ll be leaving behind years’ worth of memories and experiences. There are also a lot of things you’ll need to settle before you can start to appreciate what your new environment has to offer.

But don’t worry. Whether you’re already convinced about moving to Calgary or still thinking about it, we’re here to help you out. Here are the pros and cons of moving to Calgary.

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Pros of Moving to Calgary

Cheaper Cost of Living

The cost of living in Calgary is much cheaper than in bigger cities like Toronto or Montreal.

Goods and services are more affordable. There are also fewer taxes. The whole province of Alberta doesn’t charge an additional provincial sales tax. You’d only have to pay for the goods and services tax levied by the federal government.

Properties are also cheaper in Calgary. The Calgary real estate market will be hot in 2022. If you’re looking forward to buying property, Calgary might be a good place to consider.

See how Canada’s top cities are doing this year so you can decide better.

Downtown Accessibility

Calgary’s downtown area has pathway networks that help you get from one place to another without walking on the street.

This would be convenient for the people who live and work in downtown Calgary. But the pathway networks are especially useful during the winter months. You get to stroll around the city without freezing from the cold weather.

If you’re not from downtown, there are also pathways bordering Calgary’s rivers that help you get to the city’s center. You might need a car or a bicycle, though. These pathways aren’t exactly made for walking.

Culture and Diversity

The people who live in Calgary come from different cultures. Diversity is one of the charms of the city. Calgarians are friendly, too.

The local restaurant scene in Calgary offers both authentic cuisines and their westernized versions. There are also a lot of festivals celebrated in Calgary which gives people the chance to appreciate cultures from around the world.

Calgary also offers diversity in the form of job opportunities. The city mainly relies on the gas and oil industry, but it’s slowly branching out to other fields of expertise. There are now a lot of different companies in Calgary that make more services available to its people.

Cons of Moving to Calgary

Drier Climates and Harsh Winters

Summers in Calgary could get quite hot. If you’re not such a fan of warm climates, you might want to think twice before moving to this city. It’s not that unbearable, though. It just takes quite some time to get used to.

Winters could also get pretty harsh. It sometimes stretches for about 9 months and it does get seriously cold.

There are chinooks, though. These are the warm winds that could turn a winter day into a summer day within a matter of hours. Most Calgarians appreciate the warmth that chinooks bring.

But if you’re a little sensitive to weather changes, you could expect to experience some migraines when these chinooks come. Again, it just takes getting used to.

Public Transportation

While there are pathway networks that make places more accessible for Calgarians, you’d still need a ride to get to places easier. And public transportation isn’t the best in Calgary.

There are good public transportation options, but there aren’t a lot of them. Most locals would advise you to get your own car, especially if you’re not from downtown.

And with the increase of population and cars, streets are also starting to become congested. Traffic is slowly becoming an issue in Calgary. Although, it’s not as bad as traffic in other bigger cities in Canada.

Social Life

The median age for Calgarians is quite young at 37.6 years. But the social life is a little duller than you’d expect for a city.

Nightlife in Calgary isn’t bustling, except for when it’s the Stampede. On a normal day, the downtown area becomes quiet after work hours.

If you’re looking for some clubs to destress in after an exhausting day, there might be a few here and there. But it’s not as alive as the nightlife scene in other cities.

Moving to Calgary From Toronto

Moving to Calgary from a major city like Toronto does have its share of perks and disadvantages.

A city like Calgary offers a slower pace of living compared to Toronto. You’ll have more time to breathe and relax in Calgary. This also means you’ll get enough time to adjust to your new environment when you move to Calgary from Toronto. You won’t always have to be on edge about the fast pace of things.

And while Calgary is generally more accessible for people, getting to some US cities could be harder and take more time. There are things that you can only buy at stores in the US. From Toronto, US cities are more accessible and faster to get to.

As for job opportunities, there might be more in Toronto than in Calgary. As some locals would advise, it would be better to get a job in Calgary first before moving. It’s much easier and more convenient.

The Bottom Line

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People have their own views and experiences that make them say whether a place is good or bad to move to. But from an objective point of view, moving to Calgary is a risk worth taking. The city has a lot to offer for different people. So don’t be scared to try it out for yourself.

Again, here are the things to take note of before moving to Calgary:

• The cost of living is cheaper in Calgary than in other cities.
• Pathway networks are available in downtown Calgary to help people get to places without stepping on the street.
• Cultural diversity and friendliness are some of the charms of living in Calgary.
• The weather might not be ideal for some people, but it’s not unbearable. You’ll just have to give yourself time to get used to it.
• Public transportation isn’t that accessible. You might need to have your own car to get to places.
• Social life in Calgary is a little dull compared to other cities, but it won’t be that bad.