How come Calgary has such a high cost of living when 4 years ago it didn't? Is it not worth moving there now?

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Willster

Calgary is "off the scale" pricewise, Edmonton is very close behind it -- and a surprisingly large number of people are just selling their houses and moving to pleasant, medium-sized nearby cities like Regina or Saskatoon, where the quality of life is just as good and the cost of living is about 50% cheaper. I've heard of four people making that move in the last week.

piths77

Largely due to the oil wealth of Alberta and Calgary being a major city in the province attracts all the people thereby raising the cost of living.

oighrig

With the recent population explosion, housing has become a problem. Social services are lagging behind as well, like child care, police forces etc.

artisticallyderanged

Higher housing costs are typical in a booming economy. Especially one where people from all over are moving to for better opportunity.
You would have to try pretty hard not to find a job in calgary. And because of that, wages are generally increasing which helps to offset the housing costs. Really just a matter of supply and demand like in any city. Although in Calgary, many people demand housing to move into, and there is only so much to go around (hence the rising costs). With so much construction however, they hope to at least live up to the demand. I see the market starting to level a little bit, but dont expect prices to drop any time soon.
Is it worth it? For an amazing standard of living in a fantastic city, I would have to say yes. The only limit to opportunity is your own ability and drive. Only you know if it is truly worth it for yourself.

Shanny

There might be a high cost of living, but the pay is really good. Some jobs over the summer got crazy high! Fast food places paying $10/hour or more...

Constant_Traveler

I moved there about 5 years ago and found a cheep apartment and a job quickly but then I moved away and came back last January and we had a horrible time finding a reasonably prices apartment. We ended up being lucky and finding one but then my friend moved back a few months later, she is an Engineer and has not been able to find an apartment at all. It is terrible. I think that there is just not enough housing so they know they can charge what they want, unfortunately many people can't afford it. We only ended up staying 6 months and now we are in Europe and find it better.

alphawolf38

Yes, there are lots of jobs in Calgary (and Edmonton) , but few "family supporting jobs"

Unless you have a trade or degree, forget it

Lots of work if you want to make less than $20 per hour, but you can't rent a place on those wages.

Johnny

The high price of oil has amped up the economy. If you get a job that pays enough it's worth it.

David H

Right on, and the main reason is the Governmment of Alberta gave huge tax incentives, plus the oilsands, and even Edmonton is booming again, I lived there in the 80's and now it is back.

Relocating without a job is difficult, I am a computer tech/programmer/helpdesk expert, and have tried to get into Dell in Edmonton, but the prices of apartments plus a 1-3% vacancy rate, it is almost impossible to find a decent place without a couple of thousand ahead.

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