Where is Calgary
If you want to move to Calgary or just moved there, this guide will help you figure out how to live in your new home.
How does it feel to live in Calgary? What part of Canada is Calgary in? How does Calgary’s cost of living compare with that of other cities? We’ve put together answers to some of the most common questions about Calgary.
Where is Calgary in Canada?
Calgary is the biggest city in Canada’s Alberta province.
The province of British Columbia is to the west of Alberta. Saskatchewan is to the east, and the Northwest Territories are to the north. Calgary is in the prairies, where the Bow and Elbow rivers meet, just east of the Rocky Mountains.
From here, in Alberta’s Grassland region, the prairies start rolling east through central Canada. People often say that Calgary is the gateway to the Rocky Mountains, which make a beautiful backdrop for the city. Skiing that is known all over the world and the town of Banff are only 90 minutes away by car to the west.
About the city of Calgary
Calgary is home to about 1.3 million people, which makes it Canada’s third-largest municipality and fourth-largest metropolitan area. According to the 2016 Census, since 2011, Calgary has had the most population growth of any major city in Canada. It also has the youngest average age of any major city in Canada.
Calgary is bigger than Edmonton, which is the capital of the province and is about 2 1/2 hours north by car. Calgary is the most important city in the southern half of the Alberta province. It is surrounded by a very beautiful area that has a lot of natural resources and is mostly untouched.
The oil industry, agriculture, and tourism are all very important to Calgary’s economy. Alberta is where most of Canada’s oil is made. It is thought that its oil sands are second only to Saudi Arabia’s in terms of how much oil it has. Calgary is one of Canada’s wealthiest cities because most of the oil companies in Canada have their headquarters there. Because this industry is so important to Calgary’s economy, it usually goes through “boom” and “bust” cycles. Right now, low oil prices mean that Calgary’s economy is recovering.
Calgary was the first city in Canada to host the Winter Olympics. This happened in 1988. These games are still used as a model for how to run a successful Olympics in the future. The Calgary Olympics were the first to use volunteers from the community, which is something Canadians are proud of.
Calgary is still known for having a “can-do” attitude and being good for business.
Alberta is often called “the Texas of Canada” because its economy is based on oil and it has strong Cowboy traditions. Calgary is often called “Cowtown,” and the 10-day Calgary Stampede in July is called the “Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.”
The Stampede is a rodeo where cowboys from all over come to show off their skills. It’s not just for people who live in Calgary; it’s also a big draw for tourists. During this time, hotels and flights are very busy and cost a lot, so book early. During the Stampede, most of downtown Calgary shuts down so that people can enjoy the events.
“Heart of the new West” is another name for Calgary.
How the weather is in Calgary:
At 1,048 meters above sea level, Calgary is a mountain city. The weather is dry, and there isn’t much humidity.
Calgary gets the most sun of Canada’s big cities because it is on the prairies. Summers can be hot and dry, with temperatures that can reach or go above 30°C. Most of the time, it’s not too bad, especially compared to the rest of Canada. Most of the time, it’s sunny even when it’s cold. This can make it seem like a good idea to live in Calgary.
There are four different types of weather in Calgary. It usually cools down nicely at night, when frost can happen any time of year.
By Canadian standards, winter is pretty nice. Temperatures stay below -10°C for only a few weeks out of the year. The city is close to the Rockies, which makes winter in the city more pleasant. There are a lot of great places to ski, so don’t be afraid to enjoy the winter!
The Chinook is the thing that makes a Calgary winter stand out. This is a warm wind from the Pacific Ocean that can raise the temperature by up to 15 degrees in a few hours.
When the dark Chinook arch shows up in the west, the warm wind is coming. You might wear a winter coat one day and a short-sleeved shirt and shorts the next. People who like to run have been known to say that they run in shorts at least once a month, even in the dead of winter.
Most of the time, May is a windy month, while June has more rain than usual. The hottest months are July and August. September and October often have weather that is called “Indian summer.”
Calgary only gets a small amount of rain every year. Most of its precipitation comes in the form of snow in the winter.
Depending on the time of year and how often the warm Chinook winds blow, snowfall in the winter may only last a few days. People say that August is the best time to visit Calgary because of the weather. And if you want to stay in Calgary all year, make sure your clothes are good for all four seasons.
Culture That Is in Calgary
About one-third of the people who live in Calgary was born in a country other than Canada. This makes the city very diverse. Calgary’s population is made up of people from many different countries. There are large Filipino, Indian, and Chinese communities in the city. A little more than a third of the people are from a visible minority.
When the economy is good, Canadians from other provinces move to Calgary.
Calgary is also often the first place that “second movers” choose to live. These are people who moved to Canada and lived somewhere else for a while, like Toronto or Vancouver, before deciding to move again.
Since many Calgarians aren’t from Calgary, those who always make sure to say, “Born and raised here!”
Calgary is also very proud of its long history with country music, which you will hear a lot of if you choose to live there. Many of Calgary’s radio stations, like Wild 953 and Country 105, only play this kind of music.
If you want to stay in shape by playing sports like soccer, basketball, tennis, volleyball, and so on, you can do so in Calgary. The professional sports scene in the city is not as lively as it is in other cities, though. The Calgary Flames, the city’s National Hockey League (NHL) team, have a lot of fans and play at the downtown Scotiabank Saddledome, which is a famous sports arena. You can also cheer for the Calgary Stampeders on the Canadian Football League (CFL) field during the summer and fall. However, the city does not have any NBA, MLB, or MLS teams.
Cost of living in Calgary
This growing city has a lot of money, but the cost of living in Calgary is less than in Vancouver, which is also on the coast.
This is partly because there is no sales tax in Alberta and gas and natural gas are cheaper there. Calgary has a high cost of living compared to smaller towns in Alberta, but it’s not too bad compared to many other big cities in Canada.
Calgary’s economic recovery from the last recession has kept house prices and rent at reasonable levels, which is great news for people who want to move to Calgary. There are a lot of places to rent, but most of them are only available without furniture. A standard one-bedroom apartment costs about $1,000 per month to rent, while a two-bedroom apartment costs around $1,500 or more.