3 Ways Moving To Alberta Means A Better Quality Of Life

Thinking of moving to Alberta? 

There are many reasons to move to Alberta, and the advantages of living in Alberta go far beyond cowboys and petroleum. 

Here are three main reasons you should consider a jump to Canada’s second most westerly province:

1. Lifestyle
2. Income & career opportunities
3. Cost of living

Let’s go through these reasons in more detail, and as an added bonus, we’ll show you how you can get all of them by living in our favourite Alberta town, St. Paul. (Can you blame us!?)

By the end of this article, we’ll have convinced you to make the move (to Alberta).

Reasons To Move To Alberta

1. The Lifestyle

When you take a bird’s eye view of the large province, which looks like a beautiful piece of pie with a bite taken out of it, it’s easy to imagine how Alberta could be the perfect place to move to. Moving to Alberta could offer many opportunities for personal and professional growth. 

Living in Alberta is incredibly desirable for people from all walks of life. Why? The first big reason is lifestyle.

Alberta comes with:

• A thriving capital
• The chance for small-city living
• Opportunities for outdoor recreation
• A sunny climate

These are all attractive reasons to move to Alberta but let’s get into them a bit more to show you what your lifestyle would be like after moving to Alberta.

Alberta comes with a thriving provincial capital 

In 2021, Edmonton, Alberta’s provincial capital, ranked in the top 100 best cities in the world. That was the second year in a row it earned the honour!  

With St. Paul only 2 hours away from the capital, it’s also a great place to move to in Alberta if you want a quieter lifestyle with the option to visit the big city. But back to the capital – we’ll praise St. Paul later, don’t worry.

Centrally located in the province:

• Edmonton is a festival city hosting some of the country’s best art events, cultural activities, and music festivals. For example, the extremely popular Edmonton Fringe Festival music festival is North America’s 2nd largest fringe festival. 
• Laying claim to Canada’s largest urban park. With 160 kilometres of maintained pathways, trails, and green spaces. Edmonton’s River Valley is also a popular area for residents and visitors. 

Alberta offers the chance for small-city living

While the province’s largest cities, namely Calgary and Edmonton, offer Albertans more amenities, we think it’s the small cities on the outskirts of these urban centres that are the most appealing. 

People who crave an un-city lifestyle, tight-knit communities, and volunteer-focused neighbours will adore places like St. Paul – we told you we’d brag about St. Paul later.

There’s a reason why the town’s slogan is ‘A People Kind Of Place’. The biggest draw to residents of the area is the locals. They support one another in their business ventures, whether commercial, agricultural, or industrial, and they always have each other’s backs. It’s a wonderful place to move to if you’re considering moving to Alberta.

Alberta’s climate is the sunniest in Canada

No conversation about Alberta would be complete without mentioning the weather!

We Albertans love to talk about what’s going on outside. More often than not, it involves sunshine. 

We’re proud to say that our province gets the highest number of sunny days in Canada. With 312 sunshine days a year, residents are sure to find time to enjoy the outdoors (see our earlier point), whatever the time of year. 

Yes, it might be -20°C, but that’s nothing a tuque, some good gloves, and a warm jacket can’t fix. Besides, you can’t snowmobile when there’s no snow on the ground!

Alberta offers endless opportunities for outdoor recreation 

Alberta doesn’t just have what you need for comfortable city life it also has a lot of natural beauty. Plus, Alberta has an endless supply of recreational opportunities. From massive trail systems like the Iron Horse and Trans Canada trails to RVing in the Rocky Mountains and visiting world-class fishing spots, the province has something for every adventurer. 

Whether you prefer to explore the outdoors on foot or on four wheels, those looking for a healthy lifestyle full of nature and exploration will find it in Alberta and in and around the county of St. Paul. 

2. Income & Career Opportunity

To be able to afford the previously mentioned lifestyle as well as rent and any other expenses, you need a good job. 

Compared to living in and around major cities in other Canadian provinces, like Ontario and British Columbia, living in Alberta is relatively affordable. This is due in part to its booming economy. 

No, not just because of the oil and gas sector – don’t get us wrong, the oilfield still plays a major role – but because of Alberta’s economic diversity.

Because of this economic diversity, Alberta has:

• A booming economy
• Employment and business opportunities
• The highest wages in Canada

Why does Alberta have such a booming economy?

Alberta has ties to some of North America’s largest companies, including Enbridge, Amazon, IBM, and Rogers. The province also has the highest number of head offices (per capita) and an extensive list of some of the best companies to work for in Canada. 

These factors have combined to create the perfect environment for economic growth! 

Are there many employment and business opportunities in Alberta?

The number, quality, and diversity of companies mean new Alberta residents can expect to find job openings in various areas. 

Gone are the days when oil and gas were the only careers. Now, employees can expect to grow their careers in the energy, tech, finance, health, skilled trades, and agriculture industries!

We’re especially fond of that last one – can you guess why?

The County of St. Paul is an agricultural hub. We love our hemp. We also love our tourism and oilfield sectors, both of which support the area’s farming.

Not interested in working for someone else? Alberta has you covered there, too! With low taxes, small business loans and grants, and a vibrant workforce, entrepreneurs and startups will feel like they’re in the right place. 

Alberta boasts the highest wages in Canada!

If you’re considering moving to Alberta, you can expect to earn a higher wage and pay lower income taxes than if you had stayed in another part of Canada.

In fact, the province can claim to offer Canada’s highest median after-tax income ($72,500).

Who doesn’t want to get more pay?

We bet moving to Alberta is starting to sound pretty good now!

3. Cost Of Living

With a better career and a higher salary, suddenly, it becomes much more comfortable to live, and the cost of living in Alberta is one of the most attractive qualities.

The lower cost of living, low-cost rent, electricity services, and house prices make this province a great choice. Not only this but there are also many affordable internet and energy providers in Alberta.

Going through a big move can be scary, but we want to reassure you that living in Alberta is the right choice.

Here are some of the cost of living benefits:

• Overall affordability
• House and rent prices
• Lower taxes
• Disposal income
• Affordable and accessible healthcare

Affordability

If you’re looking for a more affordable place to live, head west to Alberta, where the cost of living is much lower than in other provinces like Toronto. Living in Alberta is more affordable thanks to our high minimum wage ($15.00 an hour) and our low cost of living.

By moving to Alberta, you’ll be able to live a middle-class lifestyle surrounded by beautiful scenery and bustling cities.

Low housing and rent prices

Another attractive aspect of Alberta’s cost of living is the price of houses. Houses are cheaper and more affordable in this Canadian province, and rent is much lower than in other provinces.

Buying a home in Calgary or Edmonton is about one-third of the cost of buying the same home in the greater Toronto area or the Greater Vancouver region.

If you want to live the city lifestyle without paying a small fortune in rent, then settling in an Albertan city or town, St. John, for example, is the right choice.

Lower taxes

Not only are the house prices lower, but Alberta has one of the lowest income tax rates in Canada. The tax rates in Alberta range from 10% to 15% of income tax, and the federal and provincial sales tax rate combined is between 25% and 48%.

Disposable income at its finest 

Thanks to the higher minimum wage in Alberta, you’ll be able to rest easy and afford the things you love to do in life with extra disposable income. There are many amazing and exciting things to do in Alberta, and by living here – you’ll have the time and money to do it!

Affordable and accessible healthcare

The last thing on our list that makes this province a great place to move to is affordable and accessible healthcare.

The Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) provides all eligible Alberta residents full coverage for medically necessary physician services. When accessing these services, you’ll have to show your personal health card and photo ID.

So, if you’re thinking about moving to Alberta, be sure to register for a health card so you can register for AHCIP.

St. Paul, Alberta, offers a better life: here’s how 

If you’re thinking about making the big move, we’re here to show you why choosing St. Paul is the right decision.

The average sale price of a house in St. Paul is $263K, and the town offers a high standard of living for any individual, couple, or family.

Choosing St. Paul as your new home will provide you and your family with great healthcare, education, and career prospects, and it’s just on the doorstep of the province’s capital, Edmonton.

Make St. Paul your home with help from our team

CENTURY 21 Poirier can help you navigate the newer home and condo market to ensure an Alberta new home warranty covers your purchase.

With decades of experience working with insurance providers, home builders, and condo management companies, our team is here to help you plan your new home purchase. Contact us with any questions you might have about moving to Alberta, and we’ll help you find the perfect home for you and your family.