We prepare this guide to help you answer some basic questions about Calgary. Where is it? How’s the cost of living? What’s the weather like? How’s the public transportation?
Overview of Calgary
Province: Alberta
Population: City -> 1,2 million / Metropolitan area -> 1,4 million (2016)
Climate: Humid continental climate
Demonym: Calgarian
Time zone: Mountain Standard Time MST (GMT -7 hours)
Area phone code: beginning with 403, 587, or 825
Postal code: beginning with T1Y, T2A to T3S
Population: City -> 1,2 million / Metropolitan area -> 1,4 million (2016)
Climate: Humid continental climate
Demonym: Calgarian
Time zone: Mountain Standard Time MST (GMT -7 hours)
Area phone code: beginning with 403, 587, or 825
Postal code: beginning with T1Y, T2A to T3S
Location of Calgary
East of the Rocky Mountains, Calgary is the largest city in the province of Alberta, bordering the U.S. (Montana)in the south, the province of British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east and the Northwest Territories to the north.
Cost of Living in Calgary
Cost of living in Calgary is lower than in Vancouver or Toronto, mainly thanks to Alberta’s low sales tax rate (5% instead of 15% in most provinces) and its low gas prices. Besides, Calgarians can be proud of having the highest median family income in Canada. Renting a standard two-bedroom condo in the downtown area would cost $1,200 to $1,800 per month. A monthly public transportation pass would cost around $100.
Overall, living costs in Calgary are very reasonable when compared to other big cities, but still above the national average, but this can be offset by slightly higher wages and lower taxes.
Check here for detailed prices of the cost of living in Calgary. You can choose your currency for more ease of comparison.
Overall, living costs in Calgary are very reasonable when compared to other big cities, but still above the national average, but this can be offset by slightly higher wages and lower taxes.
Check here for detailed prices of the cost of living in Calgary. You can choose your currency for more ease of comparison.
Weather in Calgary
Calgary is a sunny city, with just over an average of 332 days of sun. In summer, temperatures occasionally exceed 30°C (a few couple of days a year).
Winters in Calgary are very cold and the temperatures may drop below −30°C a few days a year. Chinook winds can raise temperatures by 20°C for days during the cold winter season.
Winters in Calgary are very cold and the temperatures may drop below −30°C a few days a year. Chinook winds can raise temperatures by 20°C for days during the cold winter season.
Transportation in Calgary
Calgary Transit is the name of the city’s public transportation system. It features the C-Train as well as an important fleet of buses.
Within downtown, you can travel free on the C-Train, using wind farms generated electricity. However, the C-Train stations are not underground and heated, but outside and can be very cold in winter. For more information on Calgary Transit fares, check out this page.
Using a car in Calgary is advantageous, with one of the lowest gasoline prices in Canada and a public transportation system that can be chilly in winter and not as efficient and big as Toronto’s or Vancouver’s.
Pros and cons of Calgary
Negatives :
Positives :
- The long, cold winter.
- The short summer.
- A lack of history, historical buildings, and culture.
Positives :
- Lower taxes.
- Lower house prices compared to Vancouver and Toronto.
- Low crime rate.
- Highest median household income in Canada.
- The Rocky Mountains are close to Calgary (one to two hours car drive).
- Clean air.
- A sunny climate with occasional rainfall.
- Chinook winds soften up the winter cold.
For more information on how to get an Alberta Healthcare Card, click here.
To learn more about driving and getting a driver’s licence in Alberta, click here.
To learn more about driving and getting a driver’s licence in Alberta, click here.
