#Scott on Jul 31, 2014 :
Calgary resident since 1998 here. There is less than 2% vacancy for rentals in Calgary. You will pay a minimum of $1,000 monthly for any accommodation, and that will be the bottom end of the housing market, so you will live in a cold, moldy dump. Indian or other job experience and education will not be recognized, 3rd world experience is not applicable due to the difficulties in verifying that your education and experience are legitimate. If you are a foreign temp worker you will be paid 2/3 or less what a Canadian resident would be paid; I guarantee it will not be enough to make it worth coming here. Companies are exploiting temp foreign workers to pad their bottom line, paying them less than the Canadian equivalent, then charging them fees, rent etc. for the privilege of working. Please also bear in mind this program is extremely unpopular, and highly politicized. It is intended to allow corporations to import foreigners and exploit their labor without all the protections Canadian employees receive by law. You may find that your visa to work here is pulled or non renewed if the next election stops the program. You are better off if you apply to immigrate normally and wait until your turn comes up. If you are an engineer, or technician you WILL be admitted to Canada as long as you speak English or French. You may need to upgrade your education to western standards before you can have a job with an engineering firm. Think about how much time you have to dedicate to this, if you are 40 and have a family you may not be able to resume your career at the same level as your home country.
There are many, many people from India and East Asia who have immigrated to Canada and become very successful. Please understand the vast majority of these people are members of large, influential and wealthy families in their home country. You will not have an easy time without the resources to upgrade your education, find employment and accommodation here. That said, if you can upgrade your education to Canadian standards, get a bit of experience (with references) and survive the first 5 years or so; you will be on an even playing field with citizens seeking the same job. It is not easy here, even if you immigrate, get a job, find a home etc., there will always be a good chance you could be laid off or replaced with a younger cheaper worker.
I have met published chemistry professors, aeronautical engineers and former Pakistani army officers driving taxi cabs here. There are programs which may help you integrate and get a job, but you will not have many options if you are not a permanent resident or citizen of Canada.
The climate here is harsh in the winter, are you really prepared? It can range from 5c to -35c in Calgary, but if you work in the field for oil recovery or construction industries, you will be in the North of Alberta and will need to work outside in -40C for 12+ hours a day for 2-3 weeks at a stretch. If you live in a tropical country you wont really understand how deadly our climate is in winter until you experience it yourself. Cold of this magnitude hurts, it is painful and it pulls the strength from you. What will you do if the heat in your home is shut off during winter? How do you ensure you will survive if your vehicle breaks down in the countryside when it is -35C? You should have an answer to this, most Canadians already do.
Many jobs available to new arrivals are difficult to access by transit. How will you get around? Car insurance is mandatory and you will not receive credit for experience for 3rd world driving. If your job is to involve operating a vehicle you will need 3 years verifiable experience in North America, European Union, China, Japan, Korea or Australia. If not insurance will cost upwards of $2,000 a year for minimum coverage to drive. For long haul or commercial driving, expect to pay $10,000 + per year to obtain insurance without experience. Public transit is acceptable, but not frequent or always reliable. Are you ready to wait for an hour in the dark outside your work for a bus that may not come when it is -35C? The sun sets in winter as early as 4:30. Not having a car in Calgary will seriously limit your opportunities and quality of life.
Moving from BC or Eastern Canada? You will not be taken seriously for a job offer until you live here. Most hiring staff wont look at resumes unless they have a Calgary address. You should have some post secondary qualifications or experience in a trade; the minimum wage jobs in Alberta have all gone to temp foreign workers due to the ease of abuse under the current program. You will need to make at least $65,000 annually to afford living in the city with your own place, a car and spending income for more than one person. Everything costs more here, unless you are coming from Vancouver. Plan ahead and live with a roommate(s). If you are under 30 it will be much easier to transition here, if you have a family don't come until you have a job because you will almost certainly be better off waiting to move them here when you are established.
Avg home in Calgary is ~$500,000
Average rent is $1,500 per month, will go up at end of summer break.
Avg Salary (according to this site $5,660 before tax. Bull*censored word* - $68,000 is in the top 10th percentile of earners in Canada.) Average salary is more like $42,000, which is barely enough to live here.
Taxes - 28 - 38% of your income goes to federal and provincial income tax, CPP etc.
Gas - currently $1.22 per litre.
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Guys I read this blog from numbeo.com, may be useful for all our friends
