Essentials
- City
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Population
- 1,600,000
- Internet Speed
- 150-1000 Mbps via Telus Fiber or Shaw/Rogers
- Currency & Banking
- 1 CAD ≈ 0.74 USD. Major banks include RBC, TD, and Scotiabank.
- Tap Water
- Safe and drinkable (High quality from Bow and Elbow Rivers)
- Power
- 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets
- SIM Card
- Telus, Rogers, Bell (approx. $50/mo for 20GB). Budget options: Public Mobile, Lucky Mobile.
- Banking for Expats
- EQ Bank, Wealthsimple, and Neo Financial offer high-interest digital banking.
- Accommodation
- Furnished rentals via RentFaster.ca and Airbnb
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, nearly 100% cashless via interact/tap
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Executive Suites by Roseman ($2,200/mo)
- Budget Accommodation
- HI Calgary City Centre Hostel ($35-$45/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Downtown West End or East Village
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Beltline (17th Ave SW) or Bridgeland
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- HustleCo ($25/day) or Workhaus Calgary ($350/mo)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Analog Coffee (17th Ave) or Phil & Sebastian (Simmons Building)
- Networking Events
- Platform Calgary (Tech Tuesdays) and YYC Tech Events
- Social Events for Expats
- Calgary Expats & Newcomers Meetup Group
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber and TappCar
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Neuron and Bird e-scooters (approx. $0.35/min)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Sikome Lake (Artificial) or Chestermere Lake (20 mins away)
- Top Regional Airline
- WestJet (Hubbed in Calgary)
- Top International Airline
- Air Canada, KLM, United
- Highway Access
- Trans-Canada Highway (Hwy 1) and Deerfoot Trail (Hwy 2)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- City Hall Station (LRT Hub)
- Public Transport Passes
- Calgary Transit Monthly Pass ($115)
- Regional Travel
- Red Arrow Bus to Edmonton/Banff or On-It Regional Transit
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Foothills Medical Centre or Rockyview General Hospital
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Santosha (Beltline) or Junction 9 Yoga & Pilates
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- MNP Community & Sport Centre ($17 drop-in) or GoodLife Fitness
- Laundry Services
- The Laundry Room on 17th or Tower Cleaners (Pickup service)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- SkipTheDishes and DoorDash
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Alberta Beef Steak or Ginger Beef (invented in Calgary)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- The Coup or V Burger
- Best Dessert Spots
- Village Ice Cream or Made by Marcus
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Crossiron Mills (Outlet Mall) or No Frills
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.ca, Indigo.ca
- Grocery Delivery
- Instacart and PC Express
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- 17th Ave SW (The Red Mile) and Stephen Avenue
- Local Brewery
- Village Brewery or Cold Garden Beverage Company
- Wine Bars
- Vin Room (Mission) or Frenchie Wine Bar
- Street Food Stalls
- First Street Market (Food Hall) or Avenida Food Hall
- Popular International Cuisine
- Lulu Bar (Pacific-Asian) or Una Pizza + Wine
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Calgary Tower and Peace Bridge
- Museums & Art Venues
- Studio Bell (National Music Centre) and Glenbow Museum
- Historical Sites
- Heritage Park Historical Village ($30 entry)
- Religious Sites
- St. Mary's Cathedral
- Annual Events
- Calgary Stampede (Every July, the 'Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth')
- Cultural Districts
- Inglewood (Boutiques and Live Music)
- Theater Venues
- Arts Commons and Theatre Calgary
- Local Markets
- Calgary Farmers' Market (South and West locations)
- Music Scene
- The Palace Theatre or Ironwood Stage & Grill
- Street Art
- BUMP (Beltline Urban Murals Project) murals
- Cooking Classes
- The Cookbook Co. Cooks
- Art Galleries
- Contemporary Calgary (In an old Planetarium)
- Historic Buildings
- Fairmont Palliser Hotel
- Local Heritage
- The White Hat Award (Symbol of hospitality)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Fish Creek Provincial Park (One of the largest urban parks in NA)
- National Parks Nearby
- Banff National Park (1 hour 15 mins drive)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Bow River Pathway (800+ km of trails)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Scotsman's Hill (Best skyline view)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Inglewood Bird Sanctuary
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Bowness Park (Designated fire pits)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Canada Post, UPS, Purolator
- Tech Repair Services
- London Drugs Tech Services or Apple Chinook Centre
- Table Tennis Spots
- My Table Tennis Calgary
- Language Classes
- Bow Valley College (ESL classes)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Calgary Central Library (Architectural masterpiece)
- Community Centers
- Cardel Rec South
- Gaming Lounges
- The Rec Room or Node Interactive
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Cowboys Casino or Elbow River Casino
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $6,800 per m² (e.g., 35 m² = $238,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $4,500 per m² (e.g., 35 m² = $157,500)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $6,200 per m² (e.g., 55 m² = $341,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $4,100 per m² (e.g., 55 m² = $225,500)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $5,800 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $464,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $3,900 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $312,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 23% (Combining 15% Federal and 8% Alberta Provincial)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 25% (Often reduced to 5-15% via treaties)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 48% (Combined Federal and Alberta rate)
- VAT
- 5% GST (No Provincial Sales Tax in Alberta)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, 'Foreign Accrual Property Income' (FAPI) rules apply
- Property Tax
- Annual municipal tax (approx. 0.65% of assessed value)
- Property Transaction Tax
- No land transfer tax in Alberta (only small registration fees)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Lowest personal and corporate taxes in Canada; 0% PST