Relocation
Thinking about trading Ontario for Calgary or Airdrie? Here is what the move actually changes for your money, in plain numbers, and the one cost no spreadsheet captures.
The short answer. Alberta has no land transfer tax, so on a $700,000 home you would pay about $1,360 in land titles fees here instead of $20,950 in Toronto or $10,475 elsewhere in Ontario. You pay 5% GST instead of 13% HST. Homes cost less here than in the Toronto area, though Calgary is no longer cheap. The real cost is distance from family.
Hello, Gorgeous! We help families move here from across Canada every year, and Ontario is where a lot of them start. Statistics Canada shows Alberta gaining people from other provinces for 20 quarters in a row as of mid 2026, while Ontario lost a net 18,015 people to other provinces in the year to 1 July 2026.
So here is the version we give people on the phone.
The Closing Costs Gap.
Ontario charges land transfer tax on every purchase, and the City of Toronto charges its own on top. Alberta charges neither. You pay a land titles registration fee for the transfer and for your mortgage, and that is it.
What It Costs To Close
Transfer tax or land titles fees, with an 80% mortgage in Alberta
| Price | Toronto | Rest of Ontario | Alberta |
|---|---|---|---|
| $500,000 | $12,950 | $6,475 | about $1,000 |
| $700,000 | $20,950 | $10,475 | about $1,360 |
Ontario and Toronto figures before first time buyer refunds. Alberta figures use the Land Titles fees in place since 20 October 2024. Computed from the official formulas, October 2026.
First time buyers in Ontario get refunds that soften those numbers, up to $4,000 provincially and up to $4,475 in Toronto. In Alberta there is nothing to refund, because there is nothing to pay. For the full list of what buyers pay here, see our guide to closing costs in Alberta.
What Changes Every Week.
Sales tax. Ontario charges 13% HST. Alberta charges 5% GST and no provincial sales tax at all. It will not decide your move, but it changes what your life costs every week.
Income tax. Alberta’s provincial rates run from 8% to 15% for 2026. Ontario’s start lower, at 5.05%, but add a surtax and a health premium as income rises, so compare your total tax, not the first bracket. An accountant can run your actual numbers in ten minutes.
Home Prices, Side By Side.
The average home sold through the Toronto board in September 2026 was $1,006,409. In Ottawa the benchmark was $623,500. In Calgary the CREB benchmark for all home types was $566,700, and $739,400 for a detached home. Averages and benchmarks are measured differently, so treat this as direction, not precision.
The mistake we see is comparing on price alone. Start from the life you have, the commute, the schools, walking to coffee, then find the Calgary or Airdrie community that gives you that. Our Moving From Ontario guide matches Toronto and 905 lifestyles to specific communities.
“Tara Molina was highly recommended to us by our realtor who sold our home in Milton. New to Alberta Tara opened up her knowledge and guided us to the areas and home styles that we both were looking for.”
Sal M., moved from Milton, Ontario · Google review
The Paperwork When You Arrive.
Driver’s licence and vehicle. Exchange your licence and register your vehicle in Alberta within 90 days. A vehicle coming from another province needs an out of province inspection first.
Health care. OHIP keeps covering you until the last day of the second full month after you leave Ontario, and Alberta coverage starts on the first day of the third month after you arrive. Register with Alberta Health Care within three months and there is no gap.
Buying before you land. It works, with live video walkthroughs and an Alberta mortgage pre approval set up before you start looking. Our Moving From Ontario guide covers how we do it.
Moving From Ontario?
Tell us your budget and the life you want. We will tell you which communities fit, and what your number buys on which street.
Quick Answers.
Is there land transfer tax in Alberta?
No. Alberta has no provincial or municipal land transfer tax. Buyers pay land titles registration fees, about $1,000 on a $500,000 home with an 80% mortgage at the fees in place since October 2024.
How much would I save on closing costs moving from Toronto?
On a $700,000 home, Ontario and Toronto land transfer tax together come to $20,950 before first time buyer refunds. The Alberta land titles fees on the same purchase are about $1,360.
Is Calgary cheaper than Toronto?
Yes, by a wide margin. The average home sold through the Toronto board in September 2026 was $1,006,409, while the Calgary benchmark for all home types was $566,700.
How long do I have to switch my licence and health card?
Exchange your driver’s licence and register your vehicle within 90 days. Register with Alberta Health Care within three months; OHIP covers you until the last day of the second full month after you leave Ontario.
Related reading: our Moving From Ontario guide, the main relocation guide, and closing costs in Alberta.
Sources, read October 2026: Ontario Ministry of Finance and City of Toronto land transfer tax schedules; Alberta Land Titles; Canada Revenue Agency; Alberta Health; Ontario Ministry of Health OHIP guidance; TRREB and Ottawa Real Estate Board September 2026 releases; CREB; Statistics Canada table 17-10-0045-01. Rates, fees and prices change; confirm current figures with your lawyer and lender before you buy. Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract.