Cost of living
 

Hello all,

We are hoping to move out to Calgary within the next few months or so, my hubby has a job there now and we are going on the skilled workers route. There is just one thing i would like to know is roughy how much per month are things like water rates, taxes, gas, elec, insurances etc does anyone knwo? We will be renting for a year or so, someone said that some things like rates are included in your rent???

Thanks very much


Lisa;)

Re: Cost of living
 

Hi Lisa,

We've bought rather than rented but here's our typical outgoings. This is for a fairly modern (2004) 2,400 square feet home in Okotoks.

Property Tax = $311 per month
Shaw Cable TV / Internet / Telephone bundle = $158 per month
Direct Energy (Gas) = $170 per month (equal payments thru' year - looks like it will cover our costs at that rate)
Epcor (Electricity) = $140 per month (equal payments thru' year - will more than cover our costs)
Water / Garbage Removal / Sewerage = Average of $90 per month (paid every 2 months here in Okotoks and water is metered here - don't know about Calgary)
Contents & Building Insurance = $567 for the year.
Comprehensive Car Insurance (for a Ford Expedition Max and a Ford Taurus) = $1200 for the year.
Alberta Health = $88 per month for a family of 2. Believe this charge is disappearing from January 2009.

I haven't covered food, drink, gas and other discretionary spends as these are all so individual that comparison seems pointless.

Hope this helps.

Eamonn & Janet.

Re: Cost of living
 

As per Eamonn and Janet's post above here are our monthly out goings.

This is for an older home built in 1972 approximately 1,500 sq ft in northwest Calgary.

Property Tax = $140 per month
Shaw Cable TV / Internet / Telephone bundle = $150 per month
Natural Gas = $100 per month (average monthly payments so far this year)
Electricity = $56 per month (average monthly payments so far this year)
Water/Sewerage = $48 per (average monthly payments so far this year, most new homes in Calgary water is metered all homes to metered in the future.)
Home Insurance = $593 for the year.
Comprehensive Car Insurance = $1550 for the year (for a 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid and a 1999 Toyota Corolla).
Alberta Health Care Premiums = $88 per month for a family. (This charge is disappearing in January 2009).
Prescription drug insurance = $41 per month for a family (This is Non-Group Prescription Drug Coverage offered by the government to all Albertans under 65 and administered by Blue Cross).

Cheers
Steve

Re: Cost of living
 

Apologies for going off topic - but how do you find Blue Cross Steve? Was thinking of using them for my first 3 months cover in ON.....

Re: Cost of living
 

I've not had any problems with them.

I do have one drug for which the coverage has expired and they will no longer cover but I knew that when we started.

Here in Alberta all I pay at the pharmacy is my share of the bill and the pharmacy is paid by Blue Cross for the remainder.

Hope this helps.
Steve

Re: Cost of living
 

Cheers Steve - hopefully won't have to use it.... but sounds like they're OK if we do....!

Re: Cost of living
 

Judging by the posts on this thread, the cost of living doesn't appear to be any cheaper than living in the UK especially given the fact that salaries are lower. I'd like to put out the question, do you think the cost of living is better in Canada? If so in what way?:confused:

Re: Cost of living
 

Not really that different. They're both high-tax developed economies, so why would they be?

Re: Cost of living
 

Not very helpful bazzz

Re: Cost of living
 

Why wasn't it helpful? He just said that they weren't much different and gave a reason.

Re: Cost of living
 

I wonder how this compares to Nova Scotia or Ontario for cost of living. Didn't realise rubbish collection was on top of property taxes.

Re: Cost of living
 

Alberta is generally a little cheaper is my gut feel. No provincial sales tax for starters. Energy costs seem a tad lower too, although maybe thats just because they need less AC and arguably less Heat when the chinooks blow.

Rubbish collection is simply a couple of bucks per bag tag in order to encourage (free) recycling and composting.

Re: Cost of living
 

Garbage collection is currently included in our taxes in Calgary but an additional surcharge is about to be instituted in the new year.

Re: Cost of living
 

I'm missing mortgage/rent cost though, or am I misreading something?:unsure:

Re: Cost of living
 

No absolutely not in Vancouver. I was looking through my COL and it's practically $5k/month and that's with a very low mortgage, and missing out on essential add-ons some of which would be taken for granted in UK, particularly medical. Looking at where I can trim this down and the best I can do is bring it down $200-300.

We find life far far harsher here. People only seem friendly when they're looking for something from you or you can help them. Turn it around and you won't see them for dust. I only really experienced this in London and only with one or two individuals. The only people I have NOT experienced that here with is Expats. This says a lot.