Cost of Living in Alberta

You know, Alberta is a great place to live. The living cost of this province is one of the lowest in Canada. Therefore, many people want to come here and enjoy the endless opportunities of this land.

Are you also planning to move in here? Then you must know how life is here in Alberta. And you know what? You have just landed in the right place to meet all your curiosity regarding this topic.

Here you will see everything about the cost of living in Alberta and the elements that influence the total amount. So, be ready, and jump into the details.

Average Living Cost in Alberta

Excluding rent, the average cost of living per month is $703 for an individual. This is comparatively less than the national average, which makes them the 4^th most expensive province in Canada.

And in terms of rent, it depends on the standard of your accommodation. If you share a room with others, the cost will be less.

Are you curious to know how much you can earn here? The average salary in Alberta is $3542 after paying your taxes. This income is higher than in the other parts of the country.

Now, let’s check out the factors that influence the cost of living in Alberta.

Factors That Affect Living Costs in Alberta

The cost of living depends on so many factors. In this segment, we will tell you about the main ones that apply to Alberta.

Groceries and Restaurants Cost

An average family spends around $168 per week on groceries and about $400 – 500$ in a month. However, the cost also depends on your food habits. Your total budget will vary according to how expensive food you buy and the amount of your purchase.

Groceries like meat and dairy products tend to be more expensive. So, if your daily menu includes these two items, you should be prepared for a high cost.

On the other hand, a typical inexpensive restaurant costs around $12 for a single meal. And a mid-range restaurant will cost you around $25. Regarding fast food, a usual fast food meal costs about $11.

Well, do you need coffee to function properly? Then you need to know the coffee bill too. An expresso costs $3, and a cappuccino will cost $4.27 here.

If you plan to reduce the cost and save your budget, you should try to depend on home-cooked food more and avoid expensive places.

Utilities Bill

Do you know why Canada’s population is so small? You might find it funny, but one reason is higher utility bills. Since Canada is a cold country and winter is very long here. So, every household needs to use a lot of power to keep their house warm. This is why the utility bill is quite high here.

Along with electricity, you have to also pay for gas and water supply, garbage disposal, etc. Altogether, the cost is about $96 for one person and around $147 for a family. But a modern house costs way more than that. This kind of house’s gas and electricity bill ranges from $100 to $200 in summer and $280 to $350 in winter.

Meanwhile, the internet service costs up to $52.5 per month.

Community and Transportation

You know, Canada’s population density is very low on average, and that’s why it’s very important to have personal transportation to communicate. Although Alberta is the 4th most populous province of Canada, it also doesn’t have a widespread public transport system.

However, Calgary and Edmonton, the two major cities of Alberta, have a pretty good communication system among the local communities. There are separate transit passes available for senior citizens. This pass costs $99 in Calgary and allows unlimited rides. A senior day pass here costs $9.50. And an individual ride in a train and bus costs about $3 per journey.

In addition, Edmonton offers a $91.50 monthly pass and a $9.25 senior day pass. A single pass in the LRT system costs around $3.25 and remains valid for 1.30 hours.

In both cities, Uber and other car rental services are highly available. If you want to save your budget, you may share your ride with others while going for a short distance.

Car Insurance, Registration, and Gasoline Prices

Alberta is very serious about its traffic issues. Therefore, they won’t allow a vehicle on the public road or property without registration and insurance. For one year of registration, you have to spend around $85, and $159.45 for two years.

In terms of the cost of insurance, it is determined by the type of car you drive, your living place, your driving history, the insurance package you want, etc., so many things. However, you may expect to spend $130 if you are aged over 35 years and are an experienced driver. On the other hand, a driver under 25 years old has to pay about $155 monthly.

Healthcare Cost

Alberta has a praiseworthy healthcare system for its citizens. The Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) provides free access to hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare services to a permanent resident of Alberta.

However, people who are not eligible for AHIP should get private health insurance. You see, without AHCIP covering, you might have to spend more than 100 dollars for a simple visit to the nearest clinic.

On the other hand, AHIP doesn’t cover routine dental care like cleaning, extraction of wisdom teeth, etc. In case you visit a dentist for these purposes, you have to spend a good amount of money. This will indeed affect your total monthly living cost.

Home Insurance

Alberta has a quite high home insurance premium. It’s the second-highest among all provinces. Depending on the location, type, and size of your home, the premium ranges from $800 to $1,200.

On the other hand, the average tenant insurance per month is $25. Depending on the place, it can be lower or higher.

Renting Cost

Rental rates are mainly determined by size, location, age, home condition, and various other factors. Let’s have a look at the next section to get a precise idea about the cost.

1-Bedroom Apartment

A 1-bedroom Apartment downtown might cost around $1220 per month. But the same type of apartment will cost you about $800-$900 outside of the city.

3-Bedroom Apartments

This type of apartment will cost around $1200 per month in the city and about $1000 outside of the city. Within this price range, you will mainly find an unfurnished home. But if you want an apartment with good facilities, the price will be higher.

Apartment Purchase Cost

If you want to buy an apartment here, you have to prepare a large amount of money. In Alberta, apartments are sold based on per square inch. On average, per square meter costs around $2400-$3200.

Property Tax

If you own a property in Alberta, you have to learn about this tax matter. The authority calculated the amount based on the area tax rate and property value. And per year, you may have to pay $1200 to $3500 depending on your assets.

Note that you won’t have to pay the tax if you rent.

Education Cost

In the healthcare sector, Alberta also takes noteworthy steps in the education sector. Here the education cost from kindergarten to 12^th grade is free. Meanwhile, private schools cost $5000-$50000 per year, depending on the quality.

On the other hand, Alberta gives special opportunities to 26 universities and colleges across the province. These institutes will provide up to 50% off tuition fees.

In short, in the educational sector, you will be able to save a lot of money, unlike the other sectors.

Leisure and Recreation Cost

Alberta provides various indoor recreational sports arenas for ice hockey, ringette, and others. It also has several golf courses and athletics fields for soccer, rugby, and baseball service. Besides, you can also join a fitness club or gym.

Meanwhile, a cinema ticket for a person will cost an average $14. The cost depends on the time slot, movie popularity, etc.

See the chart below to get an idea about recreational costs for 4 people according to the government of Alberta.

• Bowling: $40 – $60
• Movie: $35 – $60
• Theatre: $100 – $500
• Museum: Free – $40
• Indoor Swimming: $12 – $30
• Outdoor Family Amusement Park: $125
• Zoo: $78

Well, these are the main things that affect the living costs. We have discussed all the main criteria so far. We hope you don’t have any more questions left regarding this matter. Now, let’s jump to the conclusion.

Final Words

After seeing the cost of living in Alberta, you might think it’s pretty high. Although it’s quite pricey, along with high income, you can also enjoy many other support and services from the government.

Overall, Alberta is a fun place to live in. So, come here and start your new life without any worries.