The beautiful ice bubbles on Abraham Lake
Alberta offers the opportunity for investing in yourself, your family, your career and home ownership is still attainable and affordable!
A quick overview of this incredible Province
Alberta is famous for being home to the Canadian Rockies, sunshine, mountains, open spaces, forests, and fresh air. But we also are home to prairies, forests and desert badlands. We have two major cities, Edmonton and Calgary, that offer metropolitan entertainment, sporting events and dining, while the vast landscape and 500 natural preserves—including 75 provincial parks—offer plenty of activity for outdoorsy adventurers and nature lovers alike. Whether you want to camp, glamp, hike, fish, boat, ski, jet-ski, ice fish, climb, ice climb… whatever you want to do – you can do it bigger and better right here in Alberta.
Agriculture, cattle ranching, natural gas and, of course, the oil industry are the three major industries in Alberta, and its residents are some of the best paid in the country. The oil fields are a thriving industry, despite the fluctuating state of the oil industry.
Cattle Ranching Fort McMurray Oil Sands
Alberta home prices are much more affordable than the hot markets of Metro Vancouver and Toronto, and there is plenty of room for growth Province Wide, including in the two largest cities. A side by side breakdown is below.
You get paid more, and your costs of living are lower. What will you do with your extra time and extra money? Book a luxurious stay in the famous Banff Springs Hotel (known locally as the Castle in the Mountains)? Or you could jump in on one of our favorite activities! Pitch a tent, rent or purchase a tent trailer and enjoy the vast public use zones? You’ll be able to have expendable income and extra time here in Alberta. The options are limitless.
A peaceful camp site near Calgary The famous Castle in the Mountains (aka Fairmont Banff Springs)
Key features and demographics
Over the past two decades, Alberta’s population has been steadily growing, thanks to its equally growing economy. Alberta has one of the highest rates of growth within the country!
As of the last census, Alberta is one of the youngest provinces – the average age is just 38.1 years old. British Columbia’s average age is 42 Ontario is sitting at 40.4
The entire Province of Alberta has a population of just over 4 Million residents. We offer room to breath. To put this into context, macrotrends.net states the metro area population of Toronto is over 6 Million! That is 1.5 times the population of our entire Province crammed into one City.
Our City of Edmonton has a population of 1,544,000 over a land size of 684.4 km2
Toronto (proper, not GTA) has a population of 2,600,000 over a land size of 630.2 km2
Vancouver has a population of 2,657,000 over a land size of only 115 km2
WOW! Right!? Can you imagine the breathing room you will have in the sunny, festival city of Edmonton?
Needless to say, commuting here is much easier than the GTA and Vancouver!
The Average Median Household Income in Alberta is the third highest in the Country – only Nunavut and the Northwest Territories are higher!
City | Avg Income | Tax Rate | Net |
Vancouver | $96,423 | 5.06%-20.5% | $68,494 |
Toronto | $85,000 | 5.05% - 13.16% | $60,203 |
Edmonton | $140,919 | 10% - 15% | $95,180 |
Our lower tax bracket will leave plenty of money left over in your pocket so you can play in our beautiful backyard. Take those hot holidays during the winter because you can fly right out of EIA!
Why buy in Edmonton?
Well, if you need more reason than you because you actually can... How about not only can you comfortably afford your mortgage payments with plenty left over to enjoy your life, work in your yard, maintain the home and keep a fridge full of food... We're here to tell you whether you are a home owner or an investor, this City offers something for everyone. Higher income, jobs galore, lower cost of living, low taxes and more time to enjoy your day-to-day life.
City | Avg Income |
Avg Home Price |
Monthly Mortgage |
Vancouver | $96,423 | $2,205,997 | $9,906 |
Toronto | $85,000 | $1,556,566 | $6,989 |
Calgary | $140,919 | $732,321 | $3,993 |
Edmonton | $121,620 | $500,635 | $2,776 |
*Calculated with 5% down a 4.64% interest rate and 25-year amortization
City | Average Home Value | Property Tax (annual) | Monthly Payment |
Vancouver | $2,205,997 | $5,941.00 | $495.08 |
Toronto | $1,556,566 | $10,370.99 | $864.25 |
Edmonton | $500,635 | $4,729.75 | $394.15 |
Lower closing costs
Buying Real Estate in Ontario and British Columbia has long been subject to hefty taxes and closing costs. For example, purchasing a $2M property in the City of Toronto will run you a cool $65,900 in land transfer taxes alone.
Alberta’s land titles fees are significantly lower than Ontario and British Columbia. The Land Transfer Registration Fee in Alberta costs a base of $50 and an additional $2 for every $5000 of property value and the Mortgage Registration Fee also costs a base of $50 and an additional $1.5 for the mortgage amount. For simplicity, on a $500K property in Edmonton, you’ll pay $350-$500 in Land Titles fees. A huge difference from what you would pay in Ontario.
Education
There are a whopping eight public universities in Alberta, ten public colleges, three polytechnical institutes (which grant degrees) and seven private colleges (all of which grant degrees)
In total, Alberta offers 162 Designated Learning Institutions. From Bible training, aviation training, holistic education to running farms – there truly is something for everyone in this amazing Province.
In summary
What are you waiting for? Jobs, education, lower cost of living, lower taxes, easier commute. Mountains, valleys, boreal forest, water-falls, sunshine, open spaces, and fresh air. You should really consider picking up if Alberta is calling and don't forget that Edmonton has so much to offer! We are called "Festival City" for a reason.
Cariwest Festival
Klondike Days
River Canoe
Heritage Days
Posted by Paul Lamba on
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