Thinking About a Move? Your Comprehensive Guide to Living in Calgary

The real estate market is just bustling with newcomers to Alberta. Literally BOOMING. And while moving to a new province (or country!) is exciting, it can be overwhelming too.

I’ve created this comprehensive guide just for you, so you can take a load off and prep for your big move! As your preferred Calgary and Surrounding Area REALTOR®, I’ve helped hundreds of families just like yours with their interprovincial or international moves. I am confident that you’re going to love it here!

Let’s dive in.

How Big is Calgary?

Calgary is Alberta’s biggest city with a population of 1.68 million people. If you’re moving to Calgary from a larger city such as Toronto, Vancouver, or even New York, I’m sure that’s music to your ears! Calgary is a vibrant and growing city though; a huge part of the reason that Alberta is the fastest-growing province in Canada.

Calgary is divided into 4 quadrants — SW, SE, NE, and NW. You can tell which quadrant of the city any house or building is in by looking at its address. For example — 1410 Stampede Trail SE.

The city is also organized by a grid system. Streets run north and south, and avenues run east and west.

Now, if you’re thinking “I’m not a very good dog, I get lost all the time!” don’t worry, it gets easier the longer you live here. And, it’s quicker to get around once you know where you’re going!

But, if you’re looking to avoid getting lost for the first little while, you could take a ride on the CTrain (LRT) or the Bus through Calgary Transit. There are multiple stations in each quadrant of the city to get you where you need to go.

Helpful station maps and other information about public transit can be found here.

Job Opportunities & Calgary’s Economy

Fun fact: Calgary is known as “the most livable city in the world,” due to its lower cost of living (in comparison to other major Canadian cities). You can also save some extra cash as Alberta is the only province that does not charge a provincial sales tax (PST).

While Calgary is reliant on the oil and gas sector, many other job fields are always on the hunt for newbies — everything from seasonal work to administrative and business, to the restaurant industry.

There are many businesses headquartered in Calgary, the highest concentration per capita in the country, to be exact. Businesses such as:

Suncor Energy
Bluearth Renewables, Inc.
Bennett Jones, LLP
Bethany Care Society
Canadian Pacific Railway Limited

Calgary is also home to many small businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs.

Our city is proud to host a wide variety of festivals throughout the year to showcase our culture and community spirit. Most notably — the Calgary Stampede, known as The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth. Here is how it contributes to the economy:

Each year, Stampede Park hosts over 1,200 business, tourism, sporting, hospitality, and community events — creating thousands of jobs and contributing more than $540 million to the Alberta economy
Welcomes more than 4 million guests every year
Day-to-day operations are carried out by over 1,200 full-time employees
Over 2,500 volunteers contribute their time and leadership to help organize events

Other economy-boosting festivals and activities include the Alberta Beer Festivals, Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo, Pet-A-Palooza, Taste of Calgary, and the Spruce Meadows International Christmas Market.

Calgary Culture & Family-Focused Programming

I can truly say that Calgary is one of those cities that “has it all.” Vibrant arts and nightlife, lots of festivals and cultural engagement, family-focused events and conscious programming, great schools and childcare.

We’re 1-hour away from the Rocky Mountains, which boast amazing natural views, scenery, wildlife, and rich history. Perfect for a weekend getaway!

We’re also known as one of Canada’s sunniest cities, ranking in at a whopping 333 days of sunshine!

Speaking of sunny days… since the majority of people who move to Calgary have kids, I find it only fitting to include some of the best activities for kids (and adults, honestly) in the area:

The Calgary Zoo (need I say more? Come on, it’s animals!)
Butterfield Acres (MORE animals? Count me in!)
Telus Spark Science Centre (for your inner nerd)
Calaway Park (did you say rollercoaster?!)
The Rec Room (basically one giant arcade)
The Calgary Public Library (over 150 free or low-cost activities to enjoy)

Other activities, which may or may not be kid-friendly, but are deserving of a mention include:

The Locked Room (escape room)
Speeders Calgary (indoor karting/racing)

When moving to a new city, I know that one of the biggest hurdles is finding a good school for your kids. And remember how I said I wanted to help you take a load off with this guide? Here are some of the top-rated schools in Calgary, according to the Fraser Institute:

Sunalta School
Hillhurst School
Louis Riel School
Calgary French & International School
Webber Academy
Rundle College (Elementary School)
FFCA Charter Academy (Foundations for the Future)
Springbank Community High School
Western Canada High School
Sir Winston Churchill High School
Ernest Manning High School
Henry Wise Wood High School
Dr. E. P. Scarlett High School

Honorable mentions for other private academies include:

Calgary Arts Academy
Calgary International Academy
Foothills Academy (specializing in education for children with autism and other learning disabilities)
Step by Step Early Intervention Society (while this isn’t a school, this is a GREAT place to start if you’ve got very young kids and they’re struggling with speech or other milestones)

TL;DR: The Pros and Cons of Moving to Calgary

For the folks who need the fast facts about our beloved city, here is the “too long, didn’t read” version, A.K.A: The pros and cons of moving to Calgary.

PROS:

Vibrant and growing economy
Low cost of living and no provincial sales tax
Supportive communities and family-focused programming
Many wonderful, top-rated schools to choose from
Robust public transportation
Lots of festivals and public events throughout the year
About an hour or so away from many Canadian tourist destinations
“Sunshine City” — 333 days of sunshine for you to enjoy!

CONS:

Classic Canadian winters — more than 100 snowy days and cold temps. Good thing we’ve got tons of sunshine and Chinooks! OH, and the Plus15 downtown helps to keep things toasty, too.
Traffic — many Calgarians complain about the amount of traffic, but it’s really not that bad compared to Toronto or Vancouver.
Overcrowding in some schools — while overcrowding has been a hot-button issue over the last few years, the provincial government will infuse $1.2 billion to address this.

We certainly think there are TONS of things to love about Calgary. But, if you’re feeling unsure, come visit and see things for yourself! (We recommend visiting from July 5-14 to experience the Calgary Stampede and all its western glory!)