So...which is it going to be? Vancouver or Calgary? If you are thinking of moving to either, be sure to reach out here: Call/Text Direct - 604-831-4837 email: sebastian@albrechtgroup.ca website: www.calendly.com/albrechtgroup ...and thank you for watching! :)
@@LivingInVancouver-BC I think they are both wonderful Canadian cities. Amazing. Some of them most dynamic and beautiful. Vancouver is shockingly beautiful. Calgary is not exactly ugly either.
I moved from Vancouver to Calgary and my dollar goes about 33% further than it did in Vancouver. I can now afford to travel, live in a nicer/larger place, and even have enough money for disposable income and savings. So glad I made the move 😊
I hear you, @mattlandsiedel! The cost of living is definitely something that has been driving people to Calgary in recent years. However, as the population and demand grows in Calgary that advantage may be changing. Basic necessities are now more expensive in Calgary than in any other Canadian city (other than the northern territories): www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/market-basket-measure-calgary-2023-1.7054147 But hey, if you are saving money over Vancouver looks like it was a wise move for you. Appreciate you checking out the channel and sharing your experience!
@@janiceho6034 6% of Alberta’s employment comes from oil and gas. That leaves 94% of diversified jobs in Alberta. But I can understand how the stereotype would mislead you believe that everything in Alberta revolves around oil and gas.
@@mattlandsiedel However you said this % is direct related to oil and gas job. A lot of jobs in Calgary esp high pay is relate directly or indirectly to oil and gas. I know a lot of jobs lay off ppl lately in Calgary . I live in Calgary . I know the job market is not that strong now, do not listen to all these advertising from government.
@mattlandsiedel I was trying to find a stat for Calgary but couldn't. I did come across the 6% of jobs in Alberta are oil and gas related...which is very significant. Also, it's 21% of GDP. That's HUGE! As I said elsewhere, Calgary is more diversified than it once was...but it's obviously still very much tied to the oil and gas industry. I mean, just look at the economic slump you were in a few years ago.
We have lived half our lives in calgary and half in vancouver. Vancouver is more expensive, but, there’s much more to do and see there or within close proximity to Vancouver. We would choose Van any day over Calgary! Travel to major destinations from Vancouver is also a bonus and easy - portland, seattle, san francisco. Few more plus’s for Van: - Access to the coastal towns abd destinations (tofino, seaschelt); - food is way better in vancouver and likely due to the diversification of cultures; - skiing - we have five hills close by - cypress, seymour, grouse, sasquatch, mt baker (ie within 1.5hrs) and then whistler (some of the best terrain for skiing and mtb); - Lakes close by within a few hrs; - we have flat rates for water and the water is way better! Hiking and paddleboarding (know both have and both citys have great access to this); - fishing - all da salmon, steelhead, dolly’s/bulls and other species (but my toes to the bow will always be there in calgary); Homes are more expensive, but think about it this way - a home worth $400k 10-12yrs ago is now worth almost $2mil (talk about an investment!); - rain - yes it rains, but for us, rain means snow in the mts for skiing! - culture diversity is so great in Vancouver too! - jobs - many jobs! My thoughts based on our experiences.
@pje3325 I appreciate you sharing your thoughts and experiences. Thank you for watching and for commenting. I'm with you on all those positives about Vancouver as I personally would also choose Vancouver over Calgary. :)
I’m returning to Canada after nearly 20 years of living in Asia. I’ve been contemplating both of these cities (I’m originally from Halifax)…. Thank you so much for all of the great insight.
Thats a good video comparison. I believe if the person is ready to start a family, buy a house and settle, Calgary is better. If you are single , interested in nightlife and meet new people, Vancouver is by far the better option.
Thank you, @guigram1124. I appreciate you checking out the video and sharing your opinion! I think you’ve simplified pretty accurately…although not sure what that says about me. I’ve got four kids and very happily living in Vancouver. :)
I haven’t been to any of those cities and did find your video really interesting! You covered a lot of points and made them clear. I want to visit both and Vancouver looks wonderful. I’m living in Toronto right now but who knows :)
Thanks for your transparency. Calgary is an amazing city however one thing you didn’t mention is that Calgary weather is very very dry. You would need to be a best friend with Vaseline and your house might need at least 2-3 humidifiers. Also the downtown Calgary will be very quiet after 5pm as people tend to live in the suburbs. If you don’t have a car in Calgary it’s very very hard to get around. I’ve been living in Calgary for a couple years. After seeing lots of your videos I eventually moved to Vancouver. Happy to connect with you 😀
Hi @jerryphamrealtor. I appreciate you saying that, thank you. And great to connect with you as well! That's a good point you make about Calgary being dry...especially in comparison to Vancouver! What part of Vancouver did you end up settling in?
@@jerryphamrealtor yes it is dry. A lot of it due to the wind. Vancouver is not extremely humid which makes it very desirable. It’s not like a Toronto. It’s nothing like New York. It’s nothing like Houston. It is not like Tokyo or Hong Kong. It is ideal in terms of humidity. Vaseline must become ones best friend especially for chat In Calgary. Having said that interior BC is extremely pretty dry too. In Los Angeles in the valley, I’ve seen 8% humidity. It’s not uncommon to see it have around 15%. It’s hard to believe.
On the flip side, if i spill water on the floor i just use my sock to kind of spread it and partially mop it, i dont even bother turning on the bathroom fan, and boots/gloves will be dry by morning if you leave them out.
Make sure you find a job before moving to calgary. Calgary job market is not that good right now. Oil price has been dropped 30% since Sept. we will see more lay off coming to Calgary . Calgary job market is mainly rely on oil price .
It's all about finding a place that works for you, your family and what you find important....happy for you @JeffSartor that you found that place for you!
We have more game development companies in Alberta over BC if we start to compare that you should do deeper research on things and recently a lot of movies and TV series made in Calgary and surrounding areas. Play Banff if UNESCO graded park ;) as for concerts Vancouver and Calgary now a tie… Witold soccer cup will have events in Edmonton…
I went for a holiday in Vancouver It was very expensive to go out and when you go to the parks you always have to pay for parking Not too impressed with Vancouver
I've lived in both. If money isn't a factor? Vancouver, obviously. For regular folks like you and I? Calgary, by a long shot. The monetary gap has shrunk in recent years but it's still wide enough to affect your overall quality of life.
@Xyy2387 Appreciate you sharing your point of view and boots on the ground experience! I think it would surprise many (sounds like you are seeing this to some extent, too) these days that Calgary has actually become more expensive than Vancouver AND Toronto (for the typical middle-income family in 2023 according to Statscan). Rapid increases in rents, utilities costs and insurance have pushed Calgary into a much less affordable place than many imagine.
Usually when I see taxes mentioned I don’t factor that in anymore as employers adjust wages accordingly. I assume the average salary in Calgary is lower than Vancouver to the extent that after taxes the lifestyle is roughly the same.
@pif5023 The same job would likely pay about the same between Calgary and Vancouver. The thing is that there are more higher paying jobs in Calgary than Vancouver...especially for lower skilled positions...specifically in the oil and gas industry. But the big employers in Vancouver don't typically offer more money (for the same position) to induce people to move here (which you'd normally need to do in a higher cost of living city) because the city sells itself.
I believe the wages are higher in Calgary on average, combine that with lower taxes and housing being a fraction of the cost, it makes a difference. Coming from Ontario, I can say I've saved tens of thousands of dollars just in taxes in a single year compared to doing similar work/ real estate transactions in Ontario On a side note, The Stampede is definitely a good time 💯
@TheNewSchoolGamer There are definitely some areas where you'll save money in Calgary and some that will cost more. For instance, not having rental protection and high utility costs led StatsCan to rate Calgary as the most expensive city in Canada (yes even higher than Vancouver and Toronto) for a typical middle income family recently....but amazing that it's working for you and you are enjoying living in Calgary!
@iharvalianski7843 I didn't actually say it was the "coldest" city. What I DID say is that it had cold winters and followed that up by saying it had some of the mildest climates in the prairies....so not sure what you are laughing at?
@@LivingInVancouver-BC you said it with an expression :) Calgary is an amazing city to live in many ways. Yeah we are definitely conservative, but we are not bad people and being conservative not a bad thing are all :) I lived in Manitoba we had -60 way too often…
If you watched the video, you'll know that I agree with you. Calgary has a lot going for it...it's not for me, but I'm glad you feel at home there. Regarding politics, I didn't voice an opinion on that. I merely brought to the viewers attention that there's a significant difference in the politics of each city. It's for them to decide where they'd feel at home.
@@iharvalianski7843 the city and region votes conservative. I don’t find it a lot more conservative. Vancouver has become more conservative in my estimation in general than it was in the 1980s. It was a much more liberal centric city at that time. I think it was one of the most progressive cities at the time now a lot more conservatism there. I do not believe the average person thinks in conservative terms they vote conservative in a blue zone in the rule Alberta, and in a certain section of South Calgary. As a result not that different IMHO. it baffles me while ALBERTA continues to vote and that South region of Calgary blue conservative. Long history of it going back to lawÅj.. It makes me want to scratch my eyes out. You can feel it no sections in the city. It is not that different than the west side of Vancouver.
As much as I appreciate the saving, hotter summers and colder winters has little appeal to us. We really do love ocean moderated climate versus continental climates. I was even thinking of the east coast, but they are getting more frequent storms. It would be nice if you have the big one before we move ;)
@OrdinaryFilmmaker It's become pretty clear since I made that video that Calgary isn't as cheap as it once was. Statscan reported last year that for the average family Calgary is now actually the MOST expensive city in Canada (yes, a head of Toronto and even Vancouver). The rapid influx of people in recent years combined with a lack of government controls pushed rents, utility costs and insurance expenses up very quickly. I'll see what I can about the earthquake for you. ;)
The frst thing I saw in Vancouver was cable hanging over my head, which is not aesthetic. Unfortunately Vancouver has serious issue with addiction and homelessness too.
haha lucky me, your last 2 videos are the topics I'm researching the most right now! I'm hesitating between Calgary and Vancouver because I'm a new immigrant from Europe coming to Canada and the cost of living is a big factor for my first year in the country. That's why I'm studying in Calgary, although I'm also interested in Vancouver (and its suburbs like Burnaby to save some money). Anyway, a very interesting video and I'm sure it will help a lot of people!
Perfect @ultrajericho! Glad to hear that this was timely content for you! I think you'll love living in the Vancouver area. :) Appreciate your continued support.
Make sure you have a place to live before you arrive we have had a massive amount of Immigrants come in and now we have a huge shortage rentals and you could end up in a bad spot.
Yep, @robertguay3773. Good point...and one that I make in many of my videos about moving to Vancouver. It's pretty tough to secure a longterm rental without being in Vancouver and so having at least a short-term rental nailed down for a month or two before you arrive helps with the transition.
Calgary is a boom and bust housing and working market . Once the oil price is in slump again for a year or so, you will not easy to find a job. My friend in Calgary told me he has looked for a job in Calgary for almost a year in IT field, still no luck. High paid job is not easy to get in Calgary especially a lot of ppl move in that makes fewer jobs . Oil Companies like suncor has massive layoff recently too.
@janiceho6034 hard to comment on someone looking for a job with no luck could be he job hops to much maybe he sucks at interviews and should take a course. However calgary is one of the highest wages to cost of living in the country and has been for decades. BC while beautiful your quality of life is so low and the constant struggle to even eat.
Vancouver would be the best if you could make enough money to live there. if you are an accountant married to a mechanic in Calgary you own a house have a nice holiday every year. In Vancouver you rent a 1 bedroom in a decent area of town.
Very true @robertguay3773. The trick in Vancouver is earning enough money to live the life style that makes it worth living here. Many people are managing to do it...but if that's a struggle then that can be a major factor in motivating a move to Calgary.
not to mention the dicks that drive them. Calgary is 50% rednecks and 50% immigrants that don't integrate, so if you're Filipino you can come here and have a thousand Pinoy buddies
@banjoboy01 Immigrants that don't integrate is part of the vibrancy of our cities, in my opinion. And in my experience (of nearly 50 years in Vancouver) while that first generation might not easily integrate, their children do. But yeah, I think we all can't help but make some judgements based on the car a person drives...especially if they have balls hanging from the trailer hitch.
Edmonton is way more left leaning than Calgary. I assume you’re saying Calgary is left leaning because of the mayor? It’s a pretty conservative city I’d say
@tervkeh3426 You are totally right! Not sure why I wasn't thinking of Edmonton when I made those comments about Calgary politics (I was thinking inner city Calgary vs say, Red Deer)...but Edmonton is definitely more left leaning than Calgary. Thanks for pointing this out!
Another great content. Calgary reminds me of a whatsapp message I received in Jan 18, from a friend of mine who lives in Newbrook, 4 hours or so from Calgary [where her son lives], "We just survived -48 Celcius with the wind chill!!! It was for about a week on the thermometer it showed about -40 but with the wind it dropped more..." So if someone used to live in that kind of weather, me from Malaysia [tropical weather] would die frozen. Her neighbour escaped the weather by flying over to my hometown, Penang Malaysia until the cold weather resides... Her text: " my neighbour arrived in georgetown penang He is there for a couple of weeks then off to the Philippines."
Thanks @frankielee908! I can't imagine living in that kind of cold either...at least Calgary tends to get respites from the complete deep freeze due to Chinooks, but yeah, that's still some intense cold! I'd be spending a lot of time in tropical climates too!
Vancouver is not just the city/downtown area, but rather North/West Vancouver, Richmond, Delta, Surrey, New Westminister, Burnaby, Coquilam/Port Coquilam and Langley....
Well, Metro Vancouver or the Lower Mainland is not just the City of Vancouver. That is true. Same can be said about Victoria. Both regions have significant amounts of their population in the surrounding suburbs. I’ve got many videos explaining what it’s like to live in the areas around the city of Vancouver, too…this one is just trying to generally give the sense of the differences between the two cities.
Haha...yes, I think many would agree. Appreciate the input, @icemanlikegervin! Tough to dispute the cost of living argument...Calgary is definitely much cheaper. And that's been motivating it's growth the last few years as it draws people from Toronto and Vancouver. In my experience, people moving to Vancouver aren't as motivated by finances. Either they already have a comfortable amount of equity, or they value a work-life balance that Vancouver offers. ...I do want to point out one thing that I feel a lot of people miss in the comparison of Vancouver vs Calgary. There are no rent controls in Alberta while BC has considerable tenant protections. Calgary is just coming out of a period of slow economic growth and as it's population growth continues to lead the country I don't think it's likely that rents will stay so low...and tenants will feel that increase.
I live in Calgary for over 25 years. I am planning to move to Vancouver. Compare to weather, Calgary is very dry with extreme weather . It didn’t be snow either-20/30 degree, then chinook wind comes with warmer and sunny weather. Because of this plus 20 degree up for few days, you can easy to get headaches which is called migraines, quite common in Calgary . You cannot open eyes to look at the sun with bad headaches. My husband has this problem now, cannot live here for long term. The elevation is very high in Calgary , not good for ppl with asthma . Also, the high pay job is mainly relate to oil and gas. When oil price is down , a lot of layoff coming . I have seen this spoon few times in past 20 years. Engineers have no jobs and driving garbage trucks that was sad. I think Vancouver has more diversified jobs, mild weather and stable housing price . Calgary house price is up and down so much based on oil price .
Great points, @janiceho6034. I think many people are unaware of the boom and bust cycle that the local economy has gone through in Calgary in recent years...and how much that can affect you if you live there. BUT, Calgary's economy has been diversifying in recent years. It just isn't anywhere as diverse as Vancouver's. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and checking out the channel!
I was talking to a chef from Vancouver just a few weeks ago he made $86,000 in Vancouver. He is now in Calgary and make $82,000. In Calgary He owns a nice house goes on 1-2 nice holidays a year. In Vancouver he lived in a 1 bedroom apartment that had units with over a dozen people trying to live in them, he sold it for $500,000 just as interest rates went up. Vancouver has the draw of weather and it is very beautiful but at what cost to your quality of life.
@@robertguay3773 Big house does not mean good quality of life. I used to live in Hong Kong . Condo is very common but big cities are convenient, more opportunities with more city life and close to ocean . I think Calgary has a big house but not qualify of life. Weather is very extreme , with high elevated land, not convenient , you cannot live in Calgary without car, you need to drive for everything , it is only close to Mountain , Banff. Vancouver has beautiful mountain and ocean , close to Seattle . You do not need to spend that much time at home , you can always have outdoor activities. If you live in Calgary , you will spend most of the time at home that why ppl like to have a big house.
@janiceho6034 100% that a big house/property does not necessarily offer a better quality of life. That's a great perspective...and I agree with you that a bigger city can offer more opportunities and more convenience. But, both cities are great places to live for the right people.
@@LivingInVancouver-BC It is truth . But if you have to compare that what I am thinking because I live in Calgary for many years. I can tell Calgary is hard to live when there is a bust and boom economy market. I am lucky to keep my job here.
They don’t call BC bring cash for no reason. Government had driven up the costs in BC. The weather is better in BC I grew up in Kelowna and moved to Calgary in the late 1970’s . I have a great life thanks to moving to Calgary.
Yeah, someone pointed that out to me earlier and that's definitely true. I misspoke that Calgary was the most left-wing area in Alberta, that would definitely be Edmonton. Appreciate the insight, @SpottedOwl23!
@@gunthertobias3909 I was considering moving there but not knowing French means you can't get a job, or so I heard. I just need a change and in videos it looks like an amazing city
Calgary is a city you live in because you grew up there or got a job there. Vancouver is a city you choose to live in because you love nature. No one should pick Calgary over Vancouver if they have the option, the real choice is Vancouver vs Montreal. Expensive nature vs more affordable urban.
@TedTed-xh1ys In more recent years one of the bigger reasons to move to Calgary has been affordability (although this is no longer true). While I'm not sure that many Canadians decide between Montreal and Vancouver...I do think that could be true of many new immigrants.
Things change - i fact a lot has changed since this video was made and Calgary is statistically much more expensive. Love Vancouver BUT...started loosing its soul mid 90"s , lived in Yaletown early 2000"s. Many areas soul less now ( ruined). I know Vancouver very well for many decades. Calgary has far better roads and the night life in Vancouver is terrible for a city that size and has been LOST since late 70"s in Vancouver imho. Tragic. Both great cities. I love 240+ days a year of bikes on roads, pathways in Vancouver, I also love Calgary with 45 minutes some of the most shocking beauty of many kinds anywhere. I feel Vancouver is not as liberal as it used to be and Calgary t be more liberal regardless of how it votes imho. Population update: CMA 1.68 million vs 2.68 million. Fraser Valley is like Lethbridge to Calgary. Both are great cities and modern thinking and feeling. Both with a pioneering spirit and that translates even more in Calgary. Vancouver with the ocean, mountains and parks is a hard city to beat on a great day! Calgary is overlooked by many and relegated as an affordable city choice. It is a great choice also. Calgary has a slight edge and always has in diversity of cultures that are at street level. Vancouver is mostly Asian not better or worse just different with less Africans and Caribbeans also. Both are far far less * traditional corporate culture and business * than Toronto and much friendlier in general street level. ----- FELT you dd a great video of each city. have. slightly different view (?), perhaps. IMHO. Thank you for the video !
@gunthertobias3909 Appreciate you sharing your own perspective on this...and glad to hear you felt the video was pretty fair on both cities. You are right, though, that things do change. That's the nature of cities especially. They are living and dynamic things where nothing stays the same for long.
@user-jf8ke8hz6i Yeah, I do think that the cost of housing is a major contributor to people deciding to move further into the suburbs (I think that's what you meant by sub-divisions?). Thanks for watching!
It affects a lot of people. Having moved from colder places to YYC, and having lived on the west coast too, honestly you can think of Calgary as something in between (but dry) - a mild version of stereotypical frozen North winters that is intermittent. The description of Calgary's weather in this video is pretty accurate. We have a saying: "if you don't like the weather, wait five minutes."
@@danielnascimento6300 votes right wing, oil and gas tradition. NOT the people, Although as far as attitude it is far more WE CAN DO. By far Calgary is the most American city for many decades imho and many that know. Having lived in LA, NYC, Boston - Calgary most American in Canada good or bad. Not because MAGA i am talking non politics Canadian style with MAGA do not confuse politics. Granville & the 40"S to Arbutus is a very very conservative part of Vancouver. Mission? New West? North Shore ?
I think that's fair to a certain degree (although I'm not 100% that I am certain what you meant by that, so I'll respond to the two options that I see). Vancouver definitely has a little more global presence than Calgary, but not a significant amount. If people know about Vancouver internationally they've USUALLY also heard of Calgary. In terms of population though, there's certainly more diversity in Vancouver than Calgary (as touched on in the video). Thanks for chiming in @vancbenson!
@@LivingInVancouver-BC based on what I’ve experienced, especially people from Asia, most people only know Vancouver or Toronto maybe Montreal, that’s it! Nearly one body as I know knows of Calgary
Yeah. I hear you. I suspect the top 5 Canadian cities ranking for international brand recognition goes something like: 1. Toronto 2. Vancouver 3. Montreal 4. Ottawa 5. Calgary. But you are probably right that in Asia Vancouver's brand is MUCH stronger than Calgary. That could make sense...but I still think on the international scene in the grand scheme of things neither city is particularly prominent. Like, we're no Hong Kong, London, Berlin or NYC...cities that I'd consider international cities.
You are delusional if you really think of Vancouver on that level. Most countries with the exception of the United States have maybe one or two cities at the most that might be recognized around the world or can be deemed as International cities. Vancouver is no international city. The only cities in Canada that come close to that term are Toronto and Montreal. Please come down to reality.
@cityboyis2 I disagree. I'm assuming you were responding to @vancbenson but I would say that in the last 20 years or so Vancouver's brand has surpassed Montreal. While it certainly used to be a no-brainer that Montreal was the second most recognizable Canadian city, I don't think it's a slam dunk any longer. Montreal had expo 67 and the Olympics in 76, Vancouver had Expo 86, the Olympics in 2010 and the World Cup in 26...putting Vancouver more in the forefront of people's minds than Montreal. Now...is Vancouver a first-tier world class city? Probably not. It's no Berlin, Paris, London or NYC...but I've never been anywhere in the world (and I've travelled a lot in my lifetime) people didn't know Vancouver or be jealous that I was from here.
@tonysung3553 It's no longer the case that Calgary is cheaper...according to Statscan research Calgary is now MORE expensive than Vancouver for the typical family.
The average person cannot afford Vancouver- our whole country is on the edge of financial ruin, out of the G7 countries Canadians are among the most indebted; with high inflation, we are hanging on the edge of ruin; comparable to the 2008 USA financial failure…..if the bank of Canada decides to raise interest rates one percentage point say hello to foreclosures and Van-life….. Calgary is slowly but surely squeezing people financially due to the high cost of living.
@dishappywithlife2556 It's tough just about everywhere with the inflation we've seen in recent years. But Canada being on the edge of ruin? I love how the rhetoric just gets ratcheted up in an election year. Personally, I think that's a little overly dramatic...but no doubt things are more challenging today for many in the world.
That's an interesting perspective @junehappy20. I quite pointedly tried to present facts to allow the viewer to decide which was better for them (which you'll notice in the majority of my videos is something that I do)...but you know, this is TH-cam. Obviously the presenter's personal bias comes through. Funny enough I've had people comment the opposite...saying I didn't express my personal opinion enough. 💁 😀
Yeah. Although, I don't really see it as a problem in this context. I'm not trying to hide my bias anywhere. But I am trying to be fair in presenting both sides of the argument...and then letting my viewers decide what's best for them. Appreciate you watching @junehappy20 and sharing your thoughts!
I can say this because I grew up in Calgary but ewwwww Calgary. You cannot compare Vancouver & Calgary, Calgary is by far inferior. Thank you for trying to say good things about Calgary though but Vancouver all the way… I would rather live in a shoebox in Vancouver than a mansion in Calgary.
LOL. I appreciate you sharing your experience and checking out the channel, @winnietam6203. I think both of us have made our choice...BUT I do try and present both sides of any issue that I'm talking about. Personally, I don't think Calgary is that bad and many people do love it...but I also much prefer Vancouver. :) What part of Vancouver do you live in now?
You are really truth. Calgary is only for working , fewer restaurants choices, no fun, only hiking outdoor, only indoor mall time in winter, very boring lifestyle, working , cooking at home , grocery , not much stuff to do. Restaurants even coffee shop closed earlier .
@janiceho6034 Great insights! I think which city works for you really depends on what you prioritize personally...but yes, there's comparatively much less going on in Calgary vs Vancouver. When are you moving here? ;)
@@LivingInVancouver-BC I bought a duplex in Vancouver beginning of this year which was cheap. My son is in the last year of university. I want him to find a job and move to Vancouver before me. He may buy a two bedroom or 1 bed with 1 den condo at that time. I may need your help. Once he moves, then I will move to Vancouver. The rent is high in Vancouver now. It is $4000 a month for my duplex. Someone is paying my mortgage . I am happy .
@janiceho6034 Well it sounds as though you’ve got a solid plan! And a good situation to move here whenever you are ready. I’ll be happy to help whenever you need it!
There is no comparison. Calgary is a settlement filled with homes. No design, no aesthetic, just homes in communities and roads connecting them. There are no places to go and there is no urban planning - just cookie-cutter wooden box houses placed next to each other in the middle of nowhere. Vancouver is one of the most beautiful and amazing cities in the world. Nobody outside of Canada has any idea about Calgary. Cost of living, income, and taxes are the only reasons why anyone would live in Calgary. If someone already owns a house or a DINK in Vancouver, it's a no-brainer. EDIT: Hey everyone, just wanted to share a bit about my journey with cities. I grew up in a small, kinda dull town through my school years. 5 years ago, I found myself in Calgary as I moved here for a job opportunity. Calgary has been extremely good to me professionally and personally, and I'm very grateful for that. But I have not been able to convince myself to stick around since day 1. I've been lucky enough to travel to 20+ countries and 100+ cities, getting a feel for different places. Now, I totally respect those who love Calgary, but it's not for everyone, right? Still on the lookout for my ideal city, and Vancouver is high up on that list. Not asking for advice on staying or leaving - it's my personal decision. Just want to say, everyone's got their own preferences, and that's what makes the world interesting. If you're curious about my original comment, maybe check out some cities beyond North America’s suburbs. I'm all about that "organized chaos" vibe in a city. I like cities that have a soul, character, and energy - I feed off that energy. In a beautiful city, you can walk miles without feeling tired or feeling the need to drive. There's a cool TH-cam video that captures it here: th-cam.com/video/6TIPkGpuPmE/w-d-xo.html Cheers!
Very very truth . You can ask ppl living in Calgary . A lot of them want to move to Vancouver if they can buy a house in Vancouver. That why you see so many ppl from Alberta going to BC for travel every year .
@punnyabrata I was trying to get some of that across in my description of Calgary. I see it as a much more suburban city than Vancouver is. Now, that's fine for some...but it's not what everyone is looking for. But there's no denying that housing costs (even for those that already own in Vancouver or Toronto) are motivating many to move to Calgary in recent years. Do you live in Vancouver now?
@LivingInVancouver-BC Ofcourse I get where you're coming focused from a choice of real estate perspective. My response was based on comparing apples to apples. A Vancouver compares to a San Francisco or a Seattle. A Calgary compares to a Halifax, NS or a St. Louis, Missouri. They're different segments altogether. I've been living in Calgary since 2018 due to the reasons I mentioned - cost of living, job & taxes. Calgary definitely is clean for the size of the city but that's because 90% of it is just residential communities. Well that's it pretty much. Well its definitely safe. And slowest drivers in the widest of roads. Not the most inspiring places in the world. Even driving here is boring. You get the drift. Best place for zombie routine loving folks.
@@punnyabrata it depends what you want. Lower cost of living is also a factor for quality of life. For example, to raise a family, I believe Calgary is a better suit than Vanc. If you're younger of course Vancouver is better and has more things to do. Even though I live in Downtown Calgary and I am pretty happy with the options I have around me and plus the mountains just one hour away.
@guigram1124 I never said Calgary was a bad place in any way. Just that I take issue at comparison with Vancouver. For example a Toyota Corolla is an amazing mass market car and probably the best in its segment but you would compare it to a Honda Civic maybe, not to a Noble M600 which is a bespoke made to order car which is a totally totally different product segment for a totally different market segment. The features don't compare and comparison as such is a futile exercise in my opinion. I can try to be lucid with another example.
hahahahah If people have money to live in raincouver id take my money and live in california with sun. Also the downtown eastside is an example of the stellar city council. For the money Vancouver is nice but overated
@gp7910 According to recent Statscan data, Calgary just overtook Vancouver and Toronto as the most expensive Canadian city for an average family (basic necessities)...apparently, big increases in the cost of rent (no rent control), utilities and insurance. SO...are you going to move to California with the money it now costs to live in Calgary? ;)
Lived in Coquitlam from 92 to 2008. No doubt Vancouver is beautiful but livability unless ur wealthly I mean wealthy ur screwed. Rent is higher and buying a house is so much higher. My house is worth $550000 in Calgary similar house in Vancouver with the property I have about 1.5 to 2 million to buy. Calgary has a ring road and our traffic is nothing compared to the crap traffic in Vancouver and surrounding areas. Vancouver is the San Francisco of Canada, homelessness etc is brutal in downtown Vancouver. Vancouver has left wing socialist slant. Why don't u mention crime man, Vancouver was a much better place years ago now it's a socialist eutopia
Coquitlam respectfully feels like and is like the conservative SW part of Calgary mentioned here. For me? If literally cannot SEE the ocean and walk sea wall i only see 240 days of no snow or so as the advantage in Vancouver because i love to bike.
I lived in Vancouver area for over 16 years, just didn't stay in Coquitlam all the time so I know what I'm talking about, plus lived briefly in Victoria, it's expensive as hell, plus the lower east side is fkking dump. If u like Vancouver fine ur opinion
@@graniteman62 this is precisely my point. Coquitlam does not represent what I would define as Vancouver. Vancouver specifically some very small portion of Vancouver. There’s a very small segment of that city. I’m talking Kitsilano the west side or I’m looking at ocean or the north shore if it’s in your budget. I’ll talk to you about West Vancouver. Otherwise it will be suburban county. With the exception of one major factor. This thing called Snow. If your bike rider or a walker, you can walk 240 days a year. That’s one of the things that is, a great advantage to Vancouver in my estimation. I love the city of Vancouver. I think it has lost a massive part of its soul. It became gentrified. It’s far more conservative than want to believe.
On an honest note, I currently live in vancouver and i want to be clear there is no other city comparable to vancouver, especially regarding nature. Everywhere you look you see life from the mountains to the seas, its almost like a city that was built around trees and wildlife. No hate towards calgary, especially given that my family live here. It just feels dead here, the only greenery you see bow river and the rest of the parks theres no vegetation, like tf theres either withered trees or no trees. Kinda sad especially in the NE. JUST MY THOUGHT THOUGHT NO NEED TO BE OFFENDED. AND YES I’D PICK VAN OVER CAL IN A HEARTBEAT (Given van wouldn’t bleed you dry)
I appreciate you watching and sharing your thoughts, @riaajjaair1196. I think a lot of people feel very passionately about Vancouver...and particularly it's natural beauty, that's for sure! Glad to hear that you love this city as much as I do! :)
@SafferCA I doubt that many people from Vancouver have been to Cape Town. I suspect there aren't too many places that are actually physically further from here. By all accounts it's an incredibly beautiful city facing a whole host of issues that we should be grateful to avoid. Is that where you are from?
Yes we call the west coast more “progressive” than Calgary and other cities in the prairies, but truly they have a more progressive taxation regime than we do in Vancouver. Let’s look at this: Lower sales tax = lower consumption tax Lower income tax Higher property tax = higher wealth tax Taxing wealth over consumption and income is definitional to progressive taxation policy: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_tax The reasons are easy to see, richer people have more wealth, poorer people earn most of their money in income (over capital gains) and poorer people spend more of their money on consumption (rich people have higher savings and investment rate) Yes, we all call ourselves progressive and Alberta conservative and we use social-vs-fiscal reasons to make this claim. But looking at the actual definition of the terms BC couldn’t be more regressive (especially with ultra-low wealth tax and super high consumption tax). Tried to keep this technical rather than political. I hope it didn’t sound political.
I live in Calgary . Property tax is much higher than Vancouver if you compare with the house value . Our city mayor has the highest income in national . Utilities is much higher than Vancouver . For example, we pay min $200 water bill per month for family of 4. The electricity bill is crazy in Calgary . You have to see the whole picture , don’t only listen to Alberta calling Advertising.
@sriniamoudane2840 Appreciate you chiming in on this (and trying to keep it apolitical)! :) You make some valid points about the taxation systems of BC vs Alberta. However, if you watched the section of my video on the cost of living...the idea that Alberta has lower income taxes is misleading. Income taxes aren't actually less across the board in Alberta. They are lower (marginally) if you make $150K. It's when you earn over $250K that you start saving a significant amount in Alberta (about $4,000). So...in regard to income tax, in BC the middle class benefit the most. High-income earners benefit the most in Alberta (going against the idea that they are fully progressive in comparison to BC).
@@LivingInVancouver-BC Absolutely. Marginal tax rates in Alberta lead to more inequitable outcomes in certain income brackets. By no means, either of the taxation regimes are anywhere close to perfect. My claim(gripe?) is rather with the popular use of the terms progressive to refer to pretty regressive taxation schemes (see above about consumption and wealth). Btw, I live in BC and have never lived in Alberta. My point here is there there are pretty useful things both provinces can learn from each other to make lives of the average people better. I do not think the two provinces can be looked at as left or right (again from a very technical perspective, rather than a political one).
@sriniamoudane2840 I think we can talk about the general political leanings of a region based on historical voting practices. It’s not my biggest concern but I’m recent years it’s become a more important factor in where people decide to settle. I would note that i wasn’t meaning to compare all of BC to Alberta. Much of BC is actually quite conservative…but the south west corner is generally and comparatively very left wing vs the tradition of greater conservatism in Alberta.
So...which is it going to be? Vancouver or Calgary?
If you are thinking of moving to either, be sure to reach out here:
Call/Text Direct - 604-831-4837
email: sebastian@albrechtgroup.ca
website: www.calendly.com/albrechtgroup
...and thank you for watching! :)
@@LivingInVancouver-BC I think they are both wonderful Canadian cities. Amazing. Some of them most dynamic and beautiful. Vancouver is shockingly beautiful. Calgary is not exactly ugly either.
I moved from Vancouver to Calgary and my dollar goes about 33% further than it did in Vancouver. I can now afford to travel, live in a nicer/larger place, and even have enough money for disposable income and savings. So glad I made the move 😊
I hear you, @mattlandsiedel! The cost of living is definitely something that has been driving people to Calgary in recent years. However, as the population and demand grows in Calgary that advantage may be changing. Basic necessities are now more expensive in Calgary than in any other Canadian city (other than the northern territories): www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/market-basket-measure-calgary-2023-1.7054147 But hey, if you are saving money over Vancouver looks like it was a wise move for you. Appreciate you checking out the channel and sharing your experience!
As long as oil price is not drop to $50 and you still have a job in Calgary .
@@janiceho6034 6% of Alberta’s employment comes from oil and gas. That leaves 94% of diversified jobs in Alberta. But I can understand how the stereotype would mislead you believe that everything in Alberta revolves around oil and gas.
@@mattlandsiedel
However you said this % is direct related to oil and gas job. A lot of jobs in Calgary esp high pay is relate directly or indirectly to oil and gas. I know a lot of jobs lay off ppl lately in Calgary . I live in Calgary . I know the job market is not that strong now, do not listen to all these advertising from government.
@mattlandsiedel I was trying to find a stat for Calgary but couldn't. I did come across the 6% of jobs in Alberta are oil and gas related...which is very significant. Also, it's 21% of GDP. That's HUGE!
As I said elsewhere, Calgary is more diversified than it once was...but it's obviously still very much tied to the oil and gas industry. I mean, just look at the economic slump you were in a few years ago.
I have schooling opportunity in Toronto and Vancouver for my son. Thanks for the update. Finally choose Vancouver.
@contrivix1720 Amazing. Glad to see that the videos helped in some small way...and best of luck to your son!
We have lived half our lives in calgary and half in vancouver.
Vancouver is more expensive, but, there’s much more to do and see there or within close proximity to Vancouver. We would choose Van any day over Calgary!
Travel to major destinations from Vancouver is also a bonus and easy - portland, seattle, san francisco.
Few more plus’s for Van:
- Access to the coastal towns abd destinations (tofino, seaschelt);
- food is way better in vancouver and likely due to the diversification of cultures;
- skiing - we have five hills close by - cypress, seymour, grouse, sasquatch, mt baker (ie within 1.5hrs) and then whistler (some of the best terrain for skiing and mtb);
- Lakes close by within a few hrs;
- we have flat rates for water and the water is way better!
Hiking and paddleboarding (know both have and both citys have great access to this);
- fishing - all da salmon, steelhead, dolly’s/bulls and other species (but my toes to the bow will always be there in calgary);
Homes are more expensive, but think about it this way - a home worth $400k 10-12yrs ago is now worth almost $2mil (talk about an investment!);
- rain - yes it rains, but for us, rain means snow in the mts for skiing!
- culture diversity is so great in Vancouver too!
- jobs - many jobs!
My thoughts based on our experiences.
@pje3325 I appreciate you sharing your thoughts and experiences. Thank you for watching and for commenting.
I'm with you on all those positives about Vancouver as I personally would also choose Vancouver over Calgary. :)
I’m returning to Canada after nearly 20 years of living in Asia. I’ve been contemplating both of these cities (I’m originally from Halifax)…. Thank you so much for all of the great insight.
@Ampy8384 My pleasure! Glad you found the video and that it came in handy. I hope that your move back to Canada goes smoothly!
Thats a good video comparison. I believe if the person is ready to start a family, buy a house and settle, Calgary is better. If you are single , interested in nightlife and meet new people, Vancouver is by far the better option.
Thank you, @guigram1124. I appreciate you checking out the video and sharing your opinion! I think you’ve simplified pretty accurately…although not sure what that says about me. I’ve got four kids and very happily living in Vancouver. :)
I haven’t been to any of those cities and did find your video really interesting! You covered a lot of points and made them clear.
I want to visit both and Vancouver looks wonderful.
I’m living in Toronto right now but who knows :)
@mvalentinans thank you! I think you’ll find that there’s a lot to like about Vancouver!
Thanks for your transparency. Calgary is an amazing city however one thing you didn’t mention is that Calgary weather is very very dry. You would need to be a best friend with Vaseline and your house might need at least 2-3 humidifiers. Also the downtown Calgary will be very quiet after 5pm as people tend to live in the suburbs. If you don’t have a car in Calgary it’s very very hard to get around.
I’ve been living in Calgary for a couple years. After seeing lots of your videos I eventually moved to Vancouver. Happy to connect with you 😀
Hi @jerryphamrealtor. I appreciate you saying that, thank you. And great to connect with you as well! That's a good point you make about Calgary being dry...especially in comparison to Vancouver! What part of Vancouver did you end up settling in?
@@jerryphamrealtor yes it is dry. A lot of it due to the wind. Vancouver is not extremely humid which makes it very desirable. It’s not like a Toronto. It’s nothing like New York. It’s nothing like Houston. It is not like Tokyo or Hong Kong. It is ideal in terms of humidity. Vaseline must become ones best friend especially for chat In Calgary. Having said that interior BC is extremely pretty dry too.
In Los Angeles in the valley, I’ve seen 8% humidity. It’s not uncommon to see it have around 15%. It’s hard to believe.
On the flip side, if i spill water on the floor i just use my sock to kind of spread it and partially mop it, i dont even bother turning on the bathroom fan, and boots/gloves will be dry by morning if you leave them out.
100% agree, stayed in both cities and yes calgary is starting to pick up.
@poochax101 👍
i will be moving to Calgary next year. I lived in Vancouver for about 12 years now. Sad to leave this city but i have to relocate for affordability.
I hear you @jhetrohhilario1537! Sorry to see you go, but I hope that things work out for you in Calgary. What will you miss the most about Vancouver?
Make sure you find a job before moving to calgary. Calgary job market is not that good right now. Oil price has been dropped 30% since Sept. we will see more lay off coming to Calgary . Calgary job market is mainly rely on oil price .
Finding a job before moving anywhere is a great idea! :)
I grew up in Coquitlam
Calgary is amazing and I'd NEVER move back.
It's all about finding a place that works for you, your family and what you find important....happy for you @JeffSartor that you found that place for you!
Such a nice video! Truly appreciate it
@AneeshKK Thank you! :)
Thank you for the useful information. This video was very informative and helpful ✊🏾
My pleasure @takondwapangalala3755. Glad to hear that and thank you so much for watching (and commenting)!
We have more game development companies in Alberta over BC if we start to compare that you should do deeper research on things and recently a lot of movies and TV series made in Calgary and surrounding areas. Play Banff if UNESCO graded park ;) as for concerts Vancouver and Calgary now a tie… Witold soccer cup will have events in Edmonton…
👍
I went for a holiday in Vancouver
It was very expensive to go out and when you go to the parks you always have to pay for parking
Not too impressed with Vancouver
@sheilarae354 Yep. Those things are true @sheilarae354. Where were you visiting from? I'm assuming Calgary?
I've lived in both. If money isn't a factor? Vancouver, obviously. For regular folks like you and I? Calgary, by a long shot.
The monetary gap has shrunk in recent years but it's still wide enough to affect your overall quality of life.
@Xyy2387 Appreciate you sharing your point of view and boots on the ground experience! I think it would surprise many (sounds like you are seeing this to some extent, too) these days that Calgary has actually become more expensive than Vancouver AND Toronto (for the typical middle-income family in 2023 according to Statscan). Rapid increases in rents, utilities costs and insurance have pushed Calgary into a much less affordable place than many imagine.
Usually when I see taxes mentioned I don’t factor that in anymore as employers adjust wages accordingly. I assume the average salary in Calgary is lower than Vancouver to the extent that after taxes the lifestyle is roughly the same.
@pif5023 The same job would likely pay about the same between Calgary and Vancouver. The thing is that there are more higher paying jobs in Calgary than Vancouver...especially for lower skilled positions...specifically in the oil and gas industry. But the big employers in Vancouver don't typically offer more money (for the same position) to induce people to move here (which you'd normally need to do in a higher cost of living city) because the city sells itself.
I believe the wages are higher in Calgary on average, combine that with lower taxes and housing being a fraction of the cost, it makes a difference. Coming from Ontario, I can say I've saved tens of thousands of dollars just in taxes in a single year compared to doing similar work/ real estate transactions in Ontario
On a side note, The Stampede is definitely a good time
💯
@TheNewSchoolGamer There are definitely some areas where you'll save money in Calgary and some that will cost more. For instance, not having rental protection and high utility costs led StatsCan to rate Calgary as the most expensive city in Canada (yes even higher than Vancouver and Toronto) for a typical middle income family recently....but amazing that it's working for you and you are enjoying living in Calgary!
As Manitoban who loves in Calgary for 14 years… I laugh when he says that Calgary if “coldest” city 😂
@iharvalianski7843 I didn't actually say it was the "coldest" city. What I DID say is that it had cold winters and followed that up by saying it had some of the mildest climates in the prairies....so not sure what you are laughing at?
@@LivingInVancouver-BC you said it with an expression :) Calgary is an amazing city to live in many ways. Yeah we are definitely conservative, but we are not bad people and being conservative not a bad thing are all :) I lived in Manitoba we had -60 way too often…
If you watched the video, you'll know that I agree with you. Calgary has a lot going for it...it's not for me, but I'm glad you feel at home there.
Regarding politics, I didn't voice an opinion on that. I merely brought to the viewers attention that there's a significant difference in the politics of each city. It's for them to decide where they'd feel at home.
@@iharvalianski7843 the city and region votes conservative. I don’t find it a lot more conservative. Vancouver has become more conservative in my estimation in general than it was in the 1980s. It was a much more liberal centric city at that time. I think it was one of the most progressive cities at the time now a lot more conservatism there. I do not believe the average person thinks in conservative terms they vote conservative in a blue zone in the rule Alberta, and in a certain section of South Calgary. As a result not that different IMHO. it baffles me while ALBERTA continues to vote and that South region of Calgary blue conservative. Long history of it going back to lawÅj.. It makes me want to scratch my eyes out. You can feel it no sections in the city. It is not that different than the west side of Vancouver.
As much as I appreciate the saving, hotter summers and colder winters has little appeal to us. We really do love ocean moderated climate versus continental climates. I was even thinking of the east coast, but they are getting more frequent storms. It would be nice if you have the big one before we move ;)
@OrdinaryFilmmaker It's become pretty clear since I made that video that Calgary isn't as cheap as it once was. Statscan reported last year that for the average family Calgary is now actually the MOST expensive city in Canada (yes, a head of Toronto and even Vancouver). The rapid influx of people in recent years combined with a lack of government controls pushed rents, utility costs and insurance expenses up very quickly.
I'll see what I can about the earthquake for you. ;)
The frst thing I saw in Vancouver was cable hanging over my head, which is not aesthetic. Unfortunately Vancouver has serious issue with addiction and homelessness too.
haha lucky me, your last 2 videos are the topics I'm researching the most right now!
I'm hesitating between Calgary and Vancouver because I'm a new immigrant from Europe coming to Canada and the cost of living is a big factor for my first year in the country. That's why I'm studying in Calgary, although I'm also interested in Vancouver (and its suburbs like Burnaby to save some money).
Anyway, a very interesting video and I'm sure it will help a lot of people!
Perfect @ultrajericho! Glad to hear that this was timely content for you! I think you'll love living in the Vancouver area. :) Appreciate your continued support.
Make sure you have a place to live before you arrive we have had a massive amount of Immigrants come in and now we have a huge shortage rentals and you could end up in a bad spot.
Yep, @robertguay3773. Good point...and one that I make in many of my videos about moving to Vancouver. It's pretty tough to secure a longterm rental without being in Vancouver and so having at least a short-term rental nailed down for a month or two before you arrive helps with the transition.
Calgary is a boom and bust housing and working market . Once the oil price is in slump again for a year or so, you will not easy to find a job. My friend in Calgary told me he has looked for a job in Calgary for almost a year in IT field, still no luck. High paid job is not easy to get in Calgary especially a lot of ppl move in that makes fewer jobs . Oil
Companies like suncor has massive layoff recently too.
@janiceho6034 hard to comment on someone looking for a job with no luck could be he job hops to much maybe he sucks at interviews and should take a course. However calgary is one of the highest wages to cost of living in the country and has been for decades. BC while beautiful your quality of life is so low and the constant struggle to even eat.
Vancouver would be the best if you could make enough money to live there. if you are an accountant married to a mechanic in Calgary you own a house have a nice holiday every year. In Vancouver you rent a 1 bedroom in a decent area of town.
Very true @robertguay3773. The trick in Vancouver is earning enough money to live the life style that makes it worth living here. Many people are managing to do it...but if that's a struggle then that can be a major factor in motivating a move to Calgary.
@LivingInVancouver-BC if I was shooping for a place to move it would be Saskatoon or Ottawa right now
@robertguay3773 i see that you don’t mind a cold winter and a hot summer. :)
You forgot to mention Calgary has about 3000 Dodge Rams per square km.
@gotyounow4789 Haha. Darn…guess I’ll have to redo it now…
It’s more of a Hylander/Rav4 town. Basically for every BMW in Vancouver there is a Rav 4 here.So a lot
LOL I feel that Teslas are outnumbering BMWs now in Vancouver...
not to mention the dicks that drive them. Calgary is 50% rednecks and 50% immigrants that don't integrate, so if you're Filipino you can come here and have a thousand Pinoy buddies
@banjoboy01 Immigrants that don't integrate is part of the vibrancy of our cities, in my opinion. And in my experience (of nearly 50 years in Vancouver) while that first generation might not easily integrate, their children do. But yeah, I think we all can't help but make some judgements based on the car a
person drives...especially if they have balls hanging from the trailer hitch.
Edmonton is way more left leaning than Calgary. I assume you’re saying Calgary is left leaning because of the mayor? It’s a pretty conservative city I’d say
@tervkeh3426 You are totally right! Not sure why I wasn't thinking of Edmonton when I made those comments about Calgary politics (I was thinking inner city Calgary vs say, Red Deer)...but Edmonton is definitely more left leaning than Calgary. Thanks for pointing this out!
Another great content. Calgary reminds me of a whatsapp message I received in Jan 18, from a friend of mine who lives in Newbrook, 4 hours or so from Calgary [where her son lives], "We just survived -48 Celcius with the wind chill!!! It was for about a week on the thermometer it showed about -40 but with the wind it dropped more..." So if someone used to live in that kind of weather, me from Malaysia [tropical weather] would die frozen. Her neighbour escaped the weather by flying over to my hometown, Penang Malaysia until the cold weather resides... Her text: " my neighbour arrived in georgetown penang He is there for a couple of weeks then off to the Philippines."
Thanks @frankielee908! I can't imagine living in that kind of cold either...at least Calgary tends to get respites from the complete deep freeze due to Chinooks, but yeah, that's still some intense cold! I'd be spending a lot of time in tropical climates too!
lol that -49 day was big news for us here in Calgary because it's very rare. Our winters are overall pretty awesome.
Fellow Malaysian what’s up
@@wg.anthony Everything is up except salary... Penang here... you?
@frankielee908 KL here but dad from penang actually. I feel you bro cannot tahan anymore 😭😭
Vancouver is not just the city/downtown area, but rather North/West Vancouver, Richmond, Delta, Surrey, New Westminister, Burnaby, Coquilam/Port Coquilam and Langley....
Well, Metro Vancouver or the Lower Mainland is not just the City of Vancouver. That is true. Same can be said about Victoria. Both regions have significant amounts of their population in the surrounding suburbs. I’ve got many videos explaining what it’s like to live in the areas around the city of Vancouver, too…this one is just trying to generally give the sense of the differences between the two cities.
Factor in cost of living and it's Calgary hands down. If you have enough money it's Vancouver.
Haha...yes, I think many would agree. Appreciate the input, @icemanlikegervin!
Tough to dispute the cost of living argument...Calgary is definitely much cheaper. And that's been motivating it's growth the last few years as it draws people from Toronto and Vancouver.
In my experience, people moving to Vancouver aren't as motivated by finances. Either they already have a comfortable amount of equity, or they value a work-life balance that Vancouver offers.
...I do want to point out one thing that I feel a lot of people miss in the comparison of Vancouver vs Calgary. There are no rent controls in Alberta while BC has considerable tenant protections. Calgary is just coming out of a period of slow economic growth and as it's population growth continues to lead the country I don't think it's likely that rents will stay so low...and tenants will feel that increase.
If I have a lot of money I would not choose either city. I will probably live in a warmer climate.
100%! I could use a warmer climate at this time of year, too! Leaving Canada isn't an option for everyone, though. :)
I live in Calgary for over 25 years. I am planning to move to Vancouver. Compare to weather, Calgary is very dry with extreme weather . It didn’t be snow either-20/30 degree, then chinook wind comes with warmer and sunny weather. Because of this plus 20 degree up for few days, you can easy to get headaches which is called migraines, quite common in Calgary . You cannot open eyes to look at the sun with bad headaches. My husband has this problem now, cannot live here for long term. The elevation is very high in Calgary , not good for ppl with asthma .
Also, the high pay job is mainly relate to oil and gas. When oil price is down , a lot of layoff coming . I have seen this spoon few times in past 20 years. Engineers have no jobs and driving garbage trucks that was sad.
I think Vancouver has more diversified jobs, mild weather and stable housing price . Calgary house price is up and down so much based on oil price .
Great points, @janiceho6034. I think many people are unaware of the boom and bust cycle that the local economy has gone through in Calgary in recent years...and how much that can affect you if you live there. BUT, Calgary's economy has been diversifying in recent years. It just isn't anywhere as diverse as Vancouver's.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and checking out the channel!
I was talking to a chef from Vancouver just a few weeks ago he made $86,000 in Vancouver. He is now in Calgary and make $82,000. In Calgary He owns a nice house goes on 1-2 nice holidays a year. In Vancouver he lived in a 1 bedroom apartment that had units with over a dozen people trying to live in them, he sold it for $500,000 just as interest rates went up. Vancouver has the draw of weather and it is very beautiful but at what cost to your quality of life.
@@robertguay3773
Big house does not mean good quality of life. I used to live in Hong Kong . Condo is very common but big cities are convenient, more opportunities with more city life and close to ocean . I think Calgary has a big house but not qualify of life. Weather is very extreme , with high elevated land, not convenient , you cannot live in Calgary without car, you need to drive for everything , it is only close to
Mountain , Banff. Vancouver has beautiful mountain and ocean , close to Seattle . You do not need to spend that much time at home , you can always have outdoor activities. If you live in Calgary , you will spend most of the time at home that why ppl like to have a big house.
@janiceho6034 100% that a big house/property does not necessarily offer a better quality of life. That's a great perspective...and I agree with you that a bigger city can offer more opportunities and more convenience. But, both cities are great places to live for the right people.
@@LivingInVancouver-BC
It is truth . But if you have to compare that what I am thinking because I live in Calgary for many years. I can tell Calgary is hard to live when there is a bust and boom economy market. I am lucky to keep my job here.
They don’t call BC bring cash for no reason. Government had driven up the costs in BC. The weather is better in BC I grew up in Kelowna and moved to Calgary in the late 1970’s . I have a great life thanks to moving to Calgary.
@AnthonyStone-mo6qy Glad to hear that you are happy with your decision to move to Calgary.
I worked in politics in Alberta. Edmonton is definitely more liberal than Calgary. Calgary is liberal in some areas
Yeah, someone pointed that out to me earlier and that's definitely true. I misspoke that Calgary was the most left-wing area in Alberta, that would definitely be Edmonton. Appreciate the insight, @SpottedOwl23!
Alberta has sales tax, we have GST, but no PST
Yes, you are right....GST is a national tax that applies everywhere in Canada.
Now do Montréal
Thanks for the input @rickprocure6321! :)
Used to be a great city! Lost it long ago.... about 25 years ago bit has a charm!
@@gunthertobias3909 I was considering moving there but not knowing French means you can't get a job, or so I heard. I just need a change and in videos it looks like an amazing city
I have the same trust for a real estate agent as I have for a used car salesman.
@Seven.Heavenly.Sins.666 Congratulations?
Calgary is a city you live in because you grew up there or got a job there. Vancouver is a city you choose to live in because you love nature. No one should pick Calgary over Vancouver if they have the option, the real choice is Vancouver vs Montreal. Expensive nature vs more affordable urban.
@TedTed-xh1ys In more recent years one of the bigger reasons to move to Calgary has been affordability (although this is no longer true). While I'm not sure that many Canadians decide between Montreal and Vancouver...I do think that could be true of many new immigrants.
Things change - i fact a lot has changed since this video was made and Calgary is statistically much more expensive. Love Vancouver BUT...started loosing its soul mid 90"s , lived in Yaletown early 2000"s. Many areas soul less now ( ruined). I know Vancouver very well for many decades. Calgary has far better roads and the night life in Vancouver is terrible for a city that size and has been LOST since late 70"s in Vancouver imho. Tragic. Both great cities. I love 240+ days a year of bikes on roads, pathways in Vancouver, I also love Calgary with 45 minutes some of the most shocking beauty of many kinds anywhere. I feel Vancouver is not as liberal as it used to be and Calgary t be more liberal regardless of how it votes imho. Population update: CMA 1.68 million vs 2.68 million. Fraser Valley is like Lethbridge to Calgary. Both are great cities and modern thinking and feeling. Both with a pioneering spirit and that translates even more in Calgary. Vancouver with the ocean, mountains and parks is a hard city to beat on a great day! Calgary is overlooked by many and relegated as an affordable city choice. It is a great choice also. Calgary has a slight edge and always has in diversity of cultures that are at street level. Vancouver is mostly Asian not better or worse just different with less Africans and Caribbeans also. Both are far far less * traditional corporate culture and business * than Toronto and much friendlier in general street level. ----- FELT you dd a great video of each city. have. slightly different view (?), perhaps. IMHO. Thank you for the video !
@gunthertobias3909 Appreciate you sharing your own perspective on this...and glad to hear you felt the video was pretty fair on both cities. You are right, though, that things do change. That's the nature of cities especially. They are living and dynamic things where nothing stays the same for long.
people love living outside in the sub-division cause it can be more cheaper
@user-jf8ke8hz6i Yeah, I do think that the cost of housing is a major contributor to people deciding to move further into the suburbs (I think that's what you meant by sub-divisions?). Thanks for watching!
Lol neither, montreal baby
@liberator328 Another great Canadian city. I hope that it works out for you!
who cares if you can see the sun when its -20 out
@mikehennessy6766 I do prefer warmer temperatures, too...but I wouldn't complain if we got more sun, too. ;)
It affects a lot of people.
Having moved from colder places to YYC, and having lived on the west coast too, honestly you can think of Calgary as something in between (but dry) - a mild version of stereotypical frozen North winters that is intermittent.
The description of Calgary's weather in this video is pretty accurate. We have a saying: "if you don't like the weather, wait five minutes."
Calgary might as well be the USA at this point…
How do you mean, @danielnascimento6300?
@@LivingInVancouver-BC culturally right wing.
I’m an ex Vancouver born living in London UK now so I see it even more clearly
No question that Calgary is more to the right than most places in Canada.
@@danielnascimento6300 votes right wing, oil and gas tradition. NOT the people, Although as far as attitude it is far more WE CAN DO. By far Calgary is the most American city for many decades imho and many that know. Having lived in LA, NYC, Boston - Calgary most American in Canada good or bad. Not because MAGA i am talking non politics Canadian style with MAGA do not confuse politics. Granville & the 40"S to Arbutus is a very very conservative part of Vancouver. Mission? New West? North Shore ?
Vancouver is an international city, Calgary is a Canadian city
I think that's fair to a certain degree (although I'm not 100% that I am certain what you meant by that, so I'll respond to the two options that I see). Vancouver definitely has a little more global presence than Calgary, but not a significant amount. If people know about Vancouver internationally they've USUALLY also heard of Calgary. In terms of population though, there's certainly more diversity in Vancouver than Calgary (as touched on in the video). Thanks for chiming in @vancbenson!
@@LivingInVancouver-BC based on what I’ve experienced, especially people from Asia, most people only know Vancouver or Toronto maybe Montreal, that’s it! Nearly one body as I know knows of Calgary
Yeah. I hear you. I suspect the top 5 Canadian cities ranking for international brand recognition goes something like: 1. Toronto 2. Vancouver 3. Montreal 4. Ottawa 5. Calgary. But you are probably right that in Asia Vancouver's brand is MUCH stronger than Calgary. That could make sense...but I still think on the international scene in the grand scheme of things neither city is particularly prominent. Like, we're no Hong Kong, London, Berlin or NYC...cities that I'd consider international cities.
You are delusional if you really think of Vancouver on that level. Most countries with the exception of the United States have maybe one or two cities at the most that might be recognized around the world or can be deemed as International cities. Vancouver is no international city. The only cities in Canada that come close to that term are Toronto and Montreal. Please come down to reality.
@cityboyis2 I disagree. I'm assuming you were responding to @vancbenson but I would say that in the last 20 years or so Vancouver's brand has surpassed Montreal. While it certainly used to be a no-brainer that Montreal was the second most recognizable Canadian city, I don't think it's a slam dunk any longer. Montreal had expo 67 and the Olympics in 76, Vancouver had Expo 86, the Olympics in 2010 and the World Cup in 26...putting Vancouver more in the forefront of people's minds than Montreal. Now...is Vancouver a first-tier world class city? Probably not. It's no Berlin, Paris, London or NYC...but I've never been anywhere in the world (and I've travelled a lot in my lifetime) people didn't know Vancouver or be jealous that I was from here.
If u gotta really chose. Calgary if you are new to canada... simply cannot afford to live in vanccity lol... 2024.
@tonysung3553 It's no longer the case that Calgary is cheaper...according to Statscan research Calgary is now MORE expensive than Vancouver for the typical family.
The average person cannot afford Vancouver- our whole country is on the edge of financial ruin, out of the G7 countries Canadians are among the most indebted; with high inflation, we are hanging on the edge of ruin; comparable to the 2008 USA financial failure…..if the bank of Canada decides to raise interest rates one percentage point say hello to foreclosures and Van-life….. Calgary is slowly but surely squeezing people financially due to the high cost of living.
@dishappywithlife2556 It's tough just about everywhere with the inflation we've seen in recent years. But Canada being on the edge of ruin? I love how the rhetoric just gets ratcheted up in an election year. Personally, I think that's a little overly dramatic...but no doubt things are more challenging today for many in the world.
C train = Calgary train
Haha. Of course! Thanks for pointing that out @gregsparrow1499!
😂😂😂😂 You made this video mostly about how Vancouver is better than Calgary...
That's an interesting perspective @junehappy20. I quite pointedly tried to present facts to allow the viewer to decide which was better for them (which you'll notice in the majority of my videos is something that I do)...but you know, this is TH-cam. Obviously the presenter's personal bias comes through. Funny enough I've had people comment the opposite...saying I didn't express my personal opinion enough. 💁 😀
Our preferences shoving in our presentation of the facts... I think we all have the same problems sometimes😉@@LivingInVancouver-BC
Yeah. Although, I don't really see it as a problem in this context. I'm not trying to hide my bias anywhere. But I am trying to be fair in presenting both sides of the argument...and then letting my viewers decide what's best for them. Appreciate you watching @junehappy20 and sharing your thoughts!
I can say this because I grew up in Calgary but ewwwww Calgary. You cannot compare Vancouver & Calgary, Calgary is by far inferior. Thank you for trying to say good things about Calgary though but Vancouver all the way… I would rather live in a shoebox in Vancouver than a mansion in Calgary.
LOL. I appreciate you sharing your experience and checking out the channel, @winnietam6203. I think both of us have made our choice...BUT I do try and present both sides of any issue that I'm talking about. Personally, I don't think Calgary is that bad and many people do love it...but I also much prefer Vancouver. :) What part of Vancouver do you live in now?
You are really truth. Calgary is only for working , fewer restaurants choices, no fun, only hiking outdoor, only indoor mall time in winter, very boring lifestyle, working , cooking at home , grocery , not much stuff to do. Restaurants even coffee shop closed earlier .
@janiceho6034 Great insights! I think which city works for you really depends on what you prioritize personally...but yes, there's comparatively much less going on in Calgary vs Vancouver. When are you moving here? ;)
@@LivingInVancouver-BC
I bought a duplex in Vancouver beginning of this year which was cheap. My son is in the last year of university. I want him to find a job and move to Vancouver before me. He may buy a two bedroom or 1 bed with 1 den condo at that time. I may need your help. Once he moves, then I will move to Vancouver. The rent is high in Vancouver now. It is $4000 a month for my duplex. Someone is paying my mortgage . I am happy .
@janiceho6034 Well it sounds as though you’ve got a solid plan! And a good situation to move here whenever you are ready. I’ll be happy to help whenever you need it!
There is no comparison. Calgary is a settlement filled with homes. No design, no aesthetic, just homes in communities and roads connecting them. There are no places to go and there is no urban planning - just cookie-cutter wooden box houses placed next to each other in the middle of nowhere. Vancouver is one of the most beautiful and amazing cities in the world. Nobody outside of Canada has any idea about Calgary. Cost of living, income, and taxes are the only reasons why anyone would live in Calgary. If someone already owns a house or a DINK in Vancouver, it's a no-brainer.
EDIT: Hey everyone, just wanted to share a bit about my journey with cities. I grew up in a small, kinda dull town through my school years. 5 years ago, I found myself in Calgary as I moved here for a job opportunity. Calgary has been extremely good to me professionally and personally, and I'm very grateful for that. But I have not been able to convince myself to stick around since day 1. I've been lucky enough to travel to 20+ countries and 100+ cities, getting a feel for different places. Now, I totally respect those who love Calgary, but it's not for everyone, right? Still on the lookout for my ideal city, and Vancouver is high up on that list. Not asking for advice on staying or leaving - it's my personal decision. Just want to say, everyone's got their own preferences, and that's what makes the world interesting. If you're curious about my original comment, maybe check out some cities beyond North America’s suburbs. I'm all about that "organized chaos" vibe in a city. I like cities that have a soul, character, and energy - I feed off that energy. In a beautiful city, you can walk miles without feeling tired or feeling the need to drive. There's a cool TH-cam video that captures it here: th-cam.com/video/6TIPkGpuPmE/w-d-xo.html
Cheers!
Very very truth . You can ask ppl living in Calgary . A lot of them want to move to Vancouver if they can buy a house in Vancouver. That why you see so many ppl from Alberta going to BC for travel every year .
@punnyabrata I was trying to get some of that across in my description of Calgary. I see it as a much more suburban city than Vancouver is. Now, that's fine for some...but it's not what everyone is looking for. But there's no denying that housing costs (even for those that already own in Vancouver or Toronto) are motivating many to move to Calgary in recent years. Do you live in Vancouver now?
@LivingInVancouver-BC Ofcourse I get where you're coming focused from a choice of real estate perspective. My response was based on comparing apples to apples. A Vancouver compares to a San Francisco or a Seattle. A Calgary compares to a Halifax, NS or a St. Louis, Missouri. They're different segments altogether. I've been living in Calgary since 2018 due to the reasons I mentioned - cost of living, job & taxes. Calgary definitely is clean for the size of the city but that's because 90% of it is just residential communities. Well that's it pretty much. Well its definitely safe. And slowest drivers in the widest of roads. Not the most inspiring places in the world. Even driving here is boring. You get the drift. Best place for zombie routine loving folks.
@@punnyabrata it depends what you want. Lower cost of living is also a factor for quality of life. For example, to raise a family, I believe Calgary is a better suit than Vanc. If you're younger of course Vancouver is better and has more things to do. Even though I live in Downtown Calgary and I am pretty happy with the options I have around me and plus the mountains just one hour away.
@guigram1124 I never said Calgary was a bad place in any way. Just that I take issue at comparison with Vancouver. For example a Toyota Corolla is an amazing mass market car and probably the best in its segment but you would compare it to a Honda Civic maybe, not to a Noble M600 which is a bespoke made to order car which is a totally totally different product segment for a totally different market segment. The features don't compare and comparison as such is a futile exercise in my opinion. I can try to be lucid with another example.
hahahahah If people have money to live in raincouver id take my money and live in california with sun. Also the downtown eastside is an example of the stellar city council. For the money Vancouver is nice but overated
@gp7910 According to recent Statscan data, Calgary just overtook Vancouver and Toronto as the most expensive Canadian city for an average family (basic necessities)...apparently, big increases in the cost of rent (no rent control), utilities and insurance. SO...are you going to move to California with the money it now costs to live in Calgary? ;)
Lived in Coquitlam from 92 to 2008. No doubt Vancouver is beautiful but livability unless ur wealthly I mean wealthy ur screwed. Rent is higher and buying a house is so much higher. My house is worth $550000 in Calgary similar house in Vancouver with the property I have about 1.5 to 2 million to buy. Calgary has a ring road and our traffic is nothing compared to the crap traffic in Vancouver and surrounding areas. Vancouver is the San Francisco of Canada, homelessness etc is brutal in downtown Vancouver. Vancouver has left wing socialist slant. Why don't u mention crime man, Vancouver was a much better place years ago now it's a socialist eutopia
Coquitlam respectfully feels like and is like the conservative SW part of Calgary mentioned here. For me? If literally cannot SEE the ocean and walk sea wall i only see 240 days of no snow or so as the advantage in Vancouver because i love to bike.
I lived in Vancouver area for over 16 years, just didn't stay in Coquitlam all the time so I know what I'm talking about, plus lived briefly in Victoria, it's expensive as hell, plus the lower east side is fkking dump. If u like Vancouver fine ur opinion
@@graniteman62 this is precisely my point. Coquitlam does not represent what I would define as Vancouver. Vancouver specifically some very small portion of Vancouver. There’s a very small segment of that city. I’m talking Kitsilano the west side or I’m looking at ocean or the north shore if it’s in your budget. I’ll talk to you about West Vancouver. Otherwise it will be suburban county. With the exception of one major factor. This thing called Snow. If your bike rider or a walker, you can walk 240 days a year. That’s one of the things that is, a great advantage to Vancouver in my estimation. I love the city of Vancouver. I think it has lost a massive part of its soul. It became gentrified. It’s far more conservative than want to believe.
IMHO
My vote to Calgary. Enough with the liberal cities. Eeeh, enough!
LOL. I really don't get the political divisiveness...but ok. ;)
Good ol' bitumen 🍻
LOL @freebarbecue622
@@LivingInVancouver-BC i agree!
@@Procyon-j7e Great guess how about old abandoned mines. Thats a water threat. Wait forestry! Pulp & Paper..... on and on
On an honest note,
I currently live in vancouver and i want to be clear there is no other city comparable to vancouver, especially regarding nature. Everywhere you look you see life from the mountains to the seas, its almost like a city that was built around trees and wildlife.
No hate towards calgary, especially given that my family live here. It just feels dead here, the only greenery you see bow river and the rest of the parks theres no vegetation, like tf theres either withered trees or no trees. Kinda sad especially in the NE.
JUST MY THOUGHT THOUGHT NO NEED TO BE OFFENDED. AND YES I’D PICK VAN OVER CAL IN A HEARTBEAT (Given van wouldn’t bleed you dry)
I appreciate you watching and sharing your thoughts, @riaajjaair1196. I think a lot of people feel very passionately about Vancouver...and particularly it's natural beauty, that's for sure! Glad to hear that you love this city as much as I do! :)
I guess you've never been to Cape Town, then.
@SafferCA I doubt that many people from Vancouver have been to Cape Town. I suspect there aren't too many places that are actually physically further from here. By all accounts it's an incredibly beautiful city facing a whole host of issues that we should be grateful to avoid. Is that where you are from?
wild junkies on the street is not what he meant by wildlife , i walk by deer on my way to the ctrain
No contest-Vancouver!! Calgary is a poor man's Vancouver
I tend to agree with you personally, @lightseeker134 but I wanted to present the differences and let the viewers decide for themselves. :)
vancouver has always smelled like a sewer , probably from the crap you put in your water systems
Calgary feels like a vast wasteland compared to Vancouver. Vancouver is the crown jewel of Canada - yep, Im biased😜
Haha @lightseeker134 maybe a little biased. ;)
Yes we call the west coast more “progressive” than Calgary and other cities in the prairies, but truly they have a more progressive taxation regime than we do in Vancouver.
Let’s look at this:
Lower sales tax = lower consumption tax
Lower income tax
Higher property tax = higher wealth tax
Taxing wealth over consumption and income is definitional to progressive taxation policy: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_tax
The reasons are easy to see, richer people have more wealth, poorer people earn most of their money in income (over capital gains) and poorer people spend more of their money on consumption (rich people have higher savings and investment rate)
Yes, we all call ourselves progressive and Alberta conservative and we use social-vs-fiscal reasons to make this claim. But looking at the actual definition of the terms BC couldn’t be more regressive (especially with ultra-low wealth tax and super high consumption tax). Tried to keep this technical rather than political. I hope it didn’t sound political.
I live in Calgary . Property tax is much higher than Vancouver if you compare with the house value . Our city mayor has the highest income in national . Utilities is much higher than Vancouver . For example, we pay min $200 water bill per month for family of 4. The electricity bill is crazy in Calgary . You have to see the whole picture , don’t only listen to Alberta calling Advertising.
@sriniamoudane2840 Appreciate you chiming in on this (and trying to keep it apolitical)! :) You make some valid points about the taxation systems of BC vs Alberta. However, if you watched the section of my video on the cost of living...the idea that Alberta has lower income taxes is misleading.
Income taxes aren't actually less across the board in Alberta. They are lower (marginally) if you make $150K. It's when you earn over $250K that you start saving a significant amount in Alberta (about $4,000).
So...in regard to income tax, in BC the middle class benefit the most. High-income earners benefit the most in Alberta (going against the idea that they are fully progressive in comparison to BC).
@@LivingInVancouver-BC Absolutely. Marginal tax rates in Alberta lead to more inequitable outcomes in certain income brackets. By no means, either of the taxation regimes are anywhere close to perfect. My claim(gripe?) is rather with the popular use of the terms progressive to refer to pretty regressive taxation schemes (see above about consumption and wealth). Btw, I live in BC and have never lived in Alberta. My point here is there there are pretty useful things both provinces can learn from each other to make lives of the average people better. I do not think the two provinces can be looked at as left or right (again from a very technical perspective, rather than a political one).
@sriniamoudane2840 I think we can talk about the general political leanings of a region based on historical voting practices. It’s not my biggest concern but I’m recent years it’s become a more important factor in where people decide to settle. I would note that i wasn’t meaning to compare all of BC to Alberta. Much of BC is actually quite conservative…but the south west corner is generally and comparatively very left wing vs the tradition of greater conservatism in Alberta.