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Moved to Ottawa or Calgary? Share your story!

mattjp1

Hero Member
Jul 23, 2017
549
152
Hello everyone,

My wife and I landed in Toronto as new PRs earlier this year. The (very) high housing prices here have led us to consider relocating to another more affordable city. We’re also looking at cutting the daily commute time down.

We are in our early thirties and to choose our next home, we are mainly looking at: housing affordability, good balance between salaries/tax levels, safety, and family friendly city (raising kids). Toronto/Vancouver are out.

We both work in HR, I am fluent French but my wife is not (so Montreal is out of the equation). My company can relocate me anywhere in Canada.

We’ve visited Calgary and Ottawa and found them both to be lovely cities. Most likely we’ll chose between these two, which to be fair looks like a great choice to do anyway.

I am interested to hear from people on this forum who have been through a similar situation and had to relocate to either Ottawa or Calgary. Where did you go? How do you like it?

Although I haven’t stayed in both cities long enough, my impression is that the employment markets are similar, housing costs roughly the same (maybe Calgary a bit more expensive), both cities look family friendly to me – only difference is that I found Ottawa to be “safer” than Calgary maybe because it’s a Government city).

Thanks to anyone who would share their experience.

Mat
 

canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
52,959
12,758
Hello everyone,

My wife and I landed in Toronto as new PRs earlier this year. The (very) high housing prices here have led us to consider relocating to another more affordable city. We’re also looking at cutting the daily commute time down.

We are in our early thirties and to choose our next home, we are mainly looking at: housing affordability, good balance between salaries/tax levels, safety, and family friendly city (raising kids). Toronto/Vancouver are out.

We both work in HR, I am fluent French but my wife is not (so Montreal is out of the equation). My company can relocate me anywhere in Canada.

We’ve visited Calgary and Ottawa and found them both to be lovely cities. Most likely we’ll chose between these two, which to be fair looks like a great choice to do anyway.

I am interested to hear from people on this forum who have been through a similar situation and had to relocate to either Ottawa or Calgary. Where did you go? How do you like it?

Although I haven’t stayed in both cities long enough, my impression is that the employment markets are similar, housing costs roughly the same (maybe Calgary a bit more expensive), both cities look family friendly to me – only difference is that I found Ottawa to be “safer” than Calgary maybe because it’s a Government city).

Thanks to anyone who would share their experience.

Mat
Actually think that Calgary may be more affordable than Ottawa. Given your French I would say Ottawa,. Alberta has a tougher job market at the moment. Taxes are higher in Ontario.
 

mattjp1

Hero Member
Jul 23, 2017
549
152
Actually think that Calgary may be more affordable than Ottawa. Given your French I would say Ottawa,. Alberta has a tougher job market at the moment. Taxes are higher in Ontario.
Tanks for your input. Tough choice yes, plus from what I saw on the internet, child daycare is similar in both cities.
 

canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
52,959
12,758
Would make the decision based on whether there are any job opportunities for your wife in either city. Calgary will be seeing more layoffs if the oil prices stay at $50or lower. On a positive note it does make houses cheaper. Think daycare is more expensive in Ottawa. Really depends on availability, what type of daycare and the area.