Moving to Calgary

A combination of wild-west landscape, urban sprawl, and downtown commercialism has made Calgary the largest city in Alberta. It’s home to 1.34 million people – some 300,000 more than the city of Edmonton.

Calgary offers opportunities for those seeking work in construction, engineering, agriculture, high-tech, or energy. Many oil companies have their headquarters in Calgary. Much of the city’s highly-educated workforce have jobs in the energy industry.

Fans of Mother Nature will be in their element here. Calgary is surrounded by natural beauty, with world-class ski resorts just a 90-minute drive away. The dramatic, and beautiful, Rocky Mountains provide the backdrop to the city’s stunning vistas.

Compared to other cities in Canada, Calgary doesn’t experience long-lasting cold snaps. The natural phenomenon of the Chinook winds cause wild temperature increases. Temperatures during a Calgary winter can range from -30°C to +10°C. During the warm, dry, summers, these highs can increase to 30°C.

Anyone interested in moving to Calgary can complete their research with the wealth of information we have on the city. You can see our full range of articles here, or go directly to these helpful articles:

• What’s it like living in Calgary?
• Best neighbourhoods in Calgary
• Things to do in Calgary

Moving to Calgary from abroad

Moving to Calgary is possible through various immigration options.

For short-term moves, there are temporary work permits that will allow new residents to live and work in Calgary for a limited period of time. Young citizens from over 30 participating International Experience Canada countries can avail of a Working Holiday Visa in Canada. Where local staff cannot be found to fill a vacancy, a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) may be obtained and a work permit issued.

See our full guide to Canadian work permits for more information.

Permanent Residency options are also available for those who wish to immigrate to Calgary. Many popular federal economic immigration programs are aligned with the Express Entry Canada selection system.

There are also provincial immigration options, which are hosted as part of the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program. It allows a broad range of workers, graduates, and entrepreneurs to immigrate to Calgary permanently.

If you’re moving to Calgary from abroad, you will be in good company. Over 400,000 immigrants live in the Calgary area – 29.4% of the city’s total population (Census 2016).

Moving to Calgary: factfile

• Population (2017): 1.34 million
• Average July highs: 23°C
• Average January highs: -1°C
• Rainy days (0.2mm+) per year: 68
• Snowy days (0.2mm+) per year: 54
• Top industries: Oil, gas, energy, financial services.
• Average semi-detached home price (March 2024): $777,000
• Time zone: PST (UTC -7 hours)
• Official City of Calgary website: calgary.ca