Living in Calgary: 10 Things To Know About Canada’s Western Gem

Known for its big-city energy, diverse community, and fast-growing business climate, Calgary is the largest city in Alberta and the third-largest in Canada. Its iconic skyline rises above an expansive network of river pathways and green spaces, with the snowcapped Rocky Mountains to the west and the Canadian Prairies to the east — just a few of many reasons living in Calgary is appealing. And although the city slipped this year from its ranking as the fifth most-livable metro worldwide, it still lands comfortably among the top 20 and remains one of the world's cleanest, safest places to live. If you’re thinking of moving to Calgary, you may have found the ideal destination.

Calgary at a Glance

• Population: Calgary’s population is just over 1.7 million.
• Median age: The median age in Calgary is 38 years.
• City size: Calgary’s total area is about 849.3 square kilometres.
• Location: The city is situated in Southern Alberta, Canada, at the confluence of the Elbow and Bow rivers and between the Rocky Mountain foothills to the west and the Canadian Prairies to the east, about 240 kilometres north of the United States border.  
• Fun fact: The Calgary Stampede First Nations Rodeo and Relay attracts more than 1 million people every year, celebrating the area’s Indigenous athleticism, horsemanship, and culture.
• Bonus fun fact: Calgary is known affectionately to locals as Cowtown, a nod to the agricultural and farming roots of living in Calgary.

10 Things To Know About Living in Calgary Before Moving to Calgary

With a strong job market (even with its healthcare challenges in recent years) and surprisingly manageable (by Canadian standards) cost of living, Calgary appeals to families, young professionals, entrepreneurs, and even retirees. Here are a few important things to know about living in Calgary before you pack up and head north.

1. The Cost of Living in Calgary Is High, but Reasonable Compared With Other Canadian Cities

Living in Calgary isn’t cheap, but side-by-side comparisons with cities like Toronto and Vancouver show your money definitely goes further. That’s due partly to the city’s location in Alberta, Canada's only province without a provincial sales tax and, consequently, one of the nation’s lowest tax rates. Groceries and utilities are a smidge higher than the national averages, but the “Alberta Advantage” tax rates help offset those everyday costs and make the prospect of moving to Calgary more appealing.

Calgary Cost of Living Considerations:

• 5 percent Goods and Services Tax (GST)
• Lower housing costs than other major metros
• Higher utility costs

2. Calgary’s Diversifying Job Market Remains Strong in Energy, Tech, and Finance

Long known as the energy capital of Canada, Calgary is the headquarters for most of the country’s major oil and gas companies. Even with their presence, however, the city’s major push toward renewables and cleantech has made it a hub for innovation and environmental stewardship. That means strong job growth if you’re considering moving to Calgary, with unemployment at 6.6 percent as of March 2026, which is lower than the national average. Tech is a huge part of the city’s growth: Calgary was named North America’s fastest-growing tech talent market for the second consecutive year in 2025.

Among Calgary’s Notable Job Market Stats:

• Tech employment in Calgary grew a whopping 61 percent from 2021 to 2024, adding nearly 25,000 jobs.
• Calgary’s startup scene is the fifth-strongest in Canada and in the top 100 worldwide, driven mainly by AI, fintech, and clean energy innovation.
• The University of Calgary, recognized as one of Canada’s top-five research institutions, is a key part of the city’s growth and a primary attraction for the many people moving to Calgary.

3. The Calgary Housing Market May Give You More Space for Your Money

Costs have risen in recent years along with Calgary’s population growth, but the city’s housing market is still more accessible than those of its Canadian counterparts. As of March 2026, the average home price in Calgary is $641,800, and a one-bedroom rental averages $1,600 a month. That’s compared with Vancouver, for instance, which averages $1.2M and $1,725, respectively, and Toronto, at $1M and $1,975.

The nationwide numbers are just a little higher than in the Calgary housing market, with the average home price at $661,100 and a one-bedroom renting for $1,725. Still, when you’re moving to Calgary, competition can be fierce in some of the city’s more desirable areas (the inner city and Southwest, for instance), with limited inventory pushing prices up. 

Living in Calgary means long, cold, snowy winters when the Bow River, a summer destination for kayaking and floating, turns to ice.

4. Calgary Weather Can Be Extreme, but the Calgary Chinooks Are Helpful

Calgary has more sunshine than any other major Canadian city — 333 days per year.

That’s refreshing, considering that during the deep winter, temperatures often drop to 20 below 0 in the city, and it’s not uncommon for temps to get even colder than that. Precipitation averages about 420 mm per year, with 128.8 mm in the form of snow. If you’re living in Calgary, you’re basically living in a snowglobe from October to May.

There are no long-lasting cold snaps in Calgary compared with other cities in Canada, however. That’s because the cold is partly mitigated by Chinook winds, a natural phenomenon that can cause wild temperature increases from -30°C to +10°C during a Calgary winter. And during the warm, dry summers, these highs can reach 30°C.

5. Cowtown Is Definitely a Sports Town

Among all the things to do in Calgary, sports and recreation may be the biggest draw. Who can forget the 1988 Olympics in Calgary (or at least video clips from those 16 days!), when the Jamaican bobsled team made its debut, Debi Thomas became the first Black athlete to win a Winter Olympics medal, and the famous Chinook winds boosted the temperature to a balmy 16°C? Calgary was already into sports, with the Rockies in its backyard and endless opportunities for hiking and boating. But the infrastructure created for the Games — and the excitement of it all — ingrained winter activities even more into the culture of living in Calgary for pro teams and weekend warriors alike.

Calgary’s Pro Sports Teams:

• Calgary Flames - National Hockey League
• Calgary Stampeders - Canadian Football League
• Calgary Roughnecks - National Lacrosse League
• Cavalry FC - Canadian Premier League (soccer)

More than 1 million people attend the Calgary Stampede every summer, enjoying one of the world’s largest rodeos, live music, and almost two weeks of family fun.
(Source: Brigitte Werner via Pixabay)

6. Calgary’s Festival Scene Keeps Things Lively Year-Round

Local fests honour the city’s Indigenous and Western roots and celebrate its multicultural population, attracting visitors to Calgary from all over Canada and beyond.

A Few of Our Festival Faves:

• Calgary Stampede First Nations Rodeo and Relay: More than 1 million guests come to town for one of the world’s largest rodeos, world-class concerts, and food and drink from the best local vendors. This festival, rodeo, and exhibition is basically a nonstop party atmosphere for two weeks straight — for people living in Calgary and visitors from everywhere.
• Calgary Folk Music Fest: This is a 50-year tradition in Calgary’s Prince Island Park, with 70+ artists every year, an arts market, and family-friendly activities.
• Chinook Blast: The downtown area becomes a winter wonderland for a few weekends in January and February, when Eau Claire Plaza comes alive with art installations, live music and performances, and delightful surprises like ice-carving competitions.
• Taste of Calgary: Spotlighting the dynamic dining scene that’s made headlines nationwide, this festival takes over Cowboys Park with tastes from dozens of local restaurants, food trucks, breweries, and distilleries.

7. Shopping and Entertainment Hubs Offer a Mix of Indie Flavour and Big Box Convenience

Urban sprawl isn’t unheard of to those living in Calgary, thanks in part to the usual collection of chain retail and restaurants. But there’s also a lively local scene with eclectic boutiques and entertainment centers where you can find one-of-a-kind treasures.

Some Hotspots To Check Out:

• Inglewood: This historic neighbourhood is home to more than 40 shops carrying everything from luxury home decor to vintage jewelry and handmade axes.
• 17th Ave SW: Part of Calgary’s Beltline District, this strip of shops, restaurants, and clubs known as the Red Mile is pedestrian-friendly and always near the top of the list of things to do in Calgary.
• CF Chinook Center: More than 250 stores and restaurants are here in Alberta’s biggest indoor mall, with Apple, Saks, and Abercrombie among the choices.  

Homes in Calgary neighbourhoods run the gamut from contemporary urban townhouses to single-family suburban havens.

8. The Best Calgary Neighbourhoods Offer Distinct Lifestyles and Amenities

There are more than a million residents in the four quadrants of the Calgary neighbourhoods map — northwest, southwest, northeast, and southeast. And moving to Calgary means plenty of options when it comes to lifestyles and housing choices. From vibrant intown hubs to quiet outlying suburbs, you’ll find your sweet spot in one of the many Calgary neighbourhoods.

A Few of the Best Neighbourhoods:

• Beltline: This hip hotspot is home to lots of young professionals drawn to the business center and 17th Ave SW, one of the liveliest nightlife destinations in the city. Housing ranges from condos and apartments to a modest selection of single-family homes.
• Kensington: A bit more family-oriented than Beltline and just north of downtown, Kensington is a charming, walkable neighbourhood dotted with local cafes and shops — but still with easy access to in-town offices.
• Signal Hill: This quieter district is perched above the city in the Southwest quadrant, with more spacious homes and great views of the area.

9. Commuting in Calgary Isn’t Awful

Commuting and traffic congestion are big problems in cities worldwide — but for people living in Calgary, it isn’t so bad. On a scale ranking congestion across Canada, Calgary ranks No. 9 among the 13 largest metros with an annual average commute time of 65 hours per year.

The city has an extensive network of paved and biking paths that residents regularly use to commute to work, shops, and more, making living in Calgary an even greener proposition. There’s also a well-developed public transportation system, Calgary Transit, which includes buses and light rail known as CTrain.

Pack your sunglasses if you’re moving to Calgary: The city has 333 sunny days a year — many in the winter months, when the ski slopes are packed.

10. The Scenery in Calgary Is Breathtaking

The snow-capped tops of the Rocky Mountains provide a stunning backdrop for the region’s open prairie grasslands, aspen forests, and wetlands, where outdoor lovers living in Calgary enjoy year-round sports and recreation from skiing to hiking and kayaking. Downtown, the Elbow and Bow rivers come alive with canoes, kayaks, and community floats every summer. Nearby lakes and rivers are also popular spots for boating and beach-going.

Top Summer Destinations Include:

• Barrier Lake: Fed by a glacier, this manmade lake is a great spot for paddle-boarding or picnicking on the pebble-covered beach. Brave souls living in Calgary even swim here in the warmer months.
• Bowness Park and Lagoon: Wading in shallow pools, barbecuing over firepits, and paddling through a tree-shaded lagoon make this park a summer favourite — and definitely one of the best things about living in Calgary.
• Harvie Passage: Take a surfing safari on the Bow River — but use caution: This is class two whitewater, with steep drops, sharp rocks, and frigid, fast-flowing water.

Living in Calgary — FAQs

Q: Can Americans move to Calgary?
A: Yes — but moving to Calgary isn’t quite as easy as it used to be. Background checks and other documentation requirements have become more stringent in recent years, thanks to an uptick in immigration and the need to make the system more selective. Still, Calgary’s citizens and leaders believe immigration is central to its culture and economy. Today’s immigrant community comprises nearly 30 percent of the population, or about 400,000 people — including more than 13,000 from the U.S.

Q: What is the $5,000 incentive for moving to Alberta?
A: This was a moving bonus in the form of a one-time refundable tax credit for eligible skilled workers moving to Alberta — but the program expired on March 15, 2026.

Q: Is $100,000 a good salary in Calgary?
A: Depending on your tastes and spending habits, $100,000 is a good income for living in Calgary — well above the average annual salary of $64,600. A living wage in the city, according to experts, has risen to $55,120 — 77 percent higher than the city’s minimum wage. Potential residents should also keep in mind that the Calgary cost of living is manageable compared with the rest of Canada.

Q: Is Calgary friendly to Americans?
A: By most accounts, Canada overall is friendly to Americans. Tourism leaders have stayed welcoming when it comes to American citizens — their new industry catchphrase is “Elbows up on policy, arms open to visitors.” In Calgary, where the border with Montana is just 300 km south, city boosters have rolled out the welcome mat, characterizing their city as “a welcoming, affordable.

If moving to Calgary is your next step, PODS portable containers will help make the process flexible — and can help with the heavy lifting.

 Make Moving to Calgary Flexible With PODS

Make your move to Calgary flexible with a PODS portable moving container delivered right to your driveway. One month of storage is built into the cost of every move, so there’s no need to feel rushed. And if you need help with the heavy lifting, PODS can even refer you to local packing and loading services to lend a hand.

Visit PODS online for a free local moving quote or call 877-350-7637 for long-distance moving.

Karen Bodkin is a Canadian freelance writer who is a frequent contributor to the PODS blog. When she’s not writing, you can find her exploring the great outdoors.

Editor’s note: For ease of reading, monthly rental prices were rounded to the nearest $25 and home values were rounded to the nearest $100. Home values in the millions were rounded to the nearest $100,000.