which one is better to live? Vancouver or Calgary?

Question

I used to live in Toronto and now looking forward to be anyplace but there. So many people say there are lots of jobs in Calgary, but is it true? cause I also heard that so many people have a hard time to find a job there and made big mistake by moving to Calgary.
Please be specific if you possibly can. thank you.

Answer 1

I'll admit my bias. I am now a Calgarian but I have a BC license plate still on my car. That should say it all.

I'll try and make my arguments simple by explaining what I think you should consider about both cities as I see it:

Calgary:
-There is something REALLY wrong with you if you can't find a job in the City of Calgary. If you can find a business that won't accept a resume and at least consider your application, I'll be surprised. That said, finding a GOOD job is what is a little more difficult. The industries that are here are very focussed on growth oriented business (building materials, land promotion etc) or petroleum. If you want to work somewhere else, finding jobs gets tougher
-The vacancy rate in this city is less than 1% right now. Over the past year it has not been uncommon for people to engage in bidding wars for low end apartments. Illegal suites are exploding in this city and they are being rented out at disgusting rates. Lets put it this way. The homeless shelters here are all full and it's estimated at least seventy five percent of the people in them have full time jobs
-If you live in Calgary, you NEED a car. This city is one seventh the population of Greater New York and just somewhat geographically larger. Our LRT system is very popular and dependable but it is ALWAYS overcrowed. Our buses however are somewhat more challenging. Routes are circuitous and erratic. They are expecially difficult if you work in an industrial area
-Calgary's downtown is an excellent place to work during the day. It is easily accessed by train. It is all inter linked by an second story walkway system that keeps you out of the cold in the winter. It also drops dead at five o'clock. There is a few bars down there and a nice theatre at Eau Claire, but most everything else shuts down. Past midnight, well, ever seen one of them movies where the world is wiped out by a diesease and there's just one guy left.....
-Calgary has huge areas that I would describe as "residential deserts" There's nothing but houses upon houses interspersed with a fast food joint or convenience store. Sometimes even supermarkets can be difficult to find. Again, you need to have a car. There are some notable exceptions to this rule, but it is important to note they are exactly that: exceptions.
-By car, the Rocky Mountains are one hour away from the city. Canmore and Banff are for the rich and international tourists, but there is hundreds of other places for you to camp, fish, hike etc for cheap/free. Beyond that all the paradise of the interior of British Columbia is close at hand, sometimes being even closer than it is to Vancouver. (ie: Kelowna is just over four hours by car from Vancouver and less than six from Calgary. In turn all the best skiing, hiking camping in the interior is EAST of Kelowna)
-Culture in Calgary is just like the rest of the city; growing. Yes, there is a definite defecit in comparison to Vancouver or Toronto, but you know, there is something really exciting about smaller, less established institutions going through massive growth.
VANCOUVER
-I don't know what Toronto is like, but I have never felt the existence of a class system more than the time I lived in Greater Vancouver. There are the neighbourhoods where the rich live, the poor live, the working class live, and immigrants live. They tend not to mix. For example, Surrey is VERY Indian in some parts and white in others. Langley has a very conservative/evangelical taste to it.
-There is lots of work in Vancouver, but it is very often far away from where you can afford to live. The reality of two hour commute one way is an experience that a lot of people in the Lower Mainland are used to. Again, I don't know if that's normal in other cities, but I have NEVER seen that in Calgary.
-The coast mountains are beautiful. The ocean in beautiful. The city is beautiful. To ski the mountains though is expensive and crowded. The coast outside of town is the domain of the rich just like the Gulf Islands are. Downtown is for the rick to live in.
-Most of the recreation areas in the area are at very bare minimum an hour away by car. Where these areas really start however ie: Whistler, Squamish, the eastern mountains are more like two and half, three hours away.
-If you like the sun, you will hate October-January in Vancouver. You're a fool if you leave the house without waterproofed shoes, a jacket for the rain and/or umbrella during these months. It doesn't matter if the forecast says sun and there's no clouds when you leave.

I think I should leave it at this. There is a lot to consider. There is a lot of people moving to Calgary and there is a lot of people leaving disappointed. It is a pretty big risk. That said, there is phenomenal growth here. Vancouver is a paradise in many ways but it has some very clear barriers to enjoying it.

Answer 2

Vancouver, Both are getting crowded, Both are nice. But Vancouver has more variety than Calgary. In the end it's about what you are looking for. If you enjoyed the "lifestyle" of toronto, then go to Vancouver, if you deside to go to Calgary be prepared for a culture shock.
If you are seriously looking at both, spend the money and visit both and look around.

Answer 3

Depends a lot on you, who you are , what you want and what kind of job you are looking for !. Are you starting in life and trying to find a good paying job in construction or oil rig or are you older and close to retirement and looking to work in a specific field ? I lived for 7 years in Scarborough, so I know what you mean by wanting to move out of TO....I have lived and worked in Calgary for 15 years. Loved it. Nice city, very clean and it is true that it is easy to find a job, if you want one. The city is just booming so, of course, accomodation is expensive and it is hard to find cheap rent.
I now live in BC just across from Vancouver on the Island, and I love it too, but Vancouver is soooooo expensive. Accomodations are hard to find and very pricey, but it is worth it for the overall quality of life you will find there.....the sea, the mountains, the mild climate, the people, the culture, the arts....
Again, it is all about what you want and need......
Good luck, but whatever you decide, it will be better than Toronto!

Answer 4

As an American who has spent much time in both, and who lives now in Vancouver ....
Vancouver!!
I liked Calgary ... but Vancouver is beautiful.
The view out my window of mountains, and from my yard, one of the many waterways ... and I live right in the city.
I can't say enough good about vancouver.
Calgary was ... nice but ho hum .. had to go to banff or jasper or whatever to really get a feel for nature ... in Vancouver there are so many natural parks, beaches, everything.
You will never regret moving to Vancouver.

Answer 5

I've lived in Vancouver(area) all my life and know this is truly the most beautiful place in Canada (my unbiased opinion, lol!) You have the beach (which I LOVE) mountains (another plus) and great people and relaxed atmosphere also.
On the negative side though...it is probably the most expensive place to live (prov. of B.C.) so your cost of living is gonna increase quite a bit, unfortunately. I don't know if the jobs are better in Calgary or Vancouver though. I don't think its very hard to find work in B.C. It's alot better than it was 10 yrs ago anyway.
I know people who live in Alberta and they love it there also...the mountains are great but it does get alot colder in the winter (and cold stays longer) than Vancouver.
They also have less taxes to deal with and their cost of living is alot better to deal with.
Every place is gonna have pros and cons...you just have to go with what priorities you have in your living arrangements and what you would feel comfortable with. Good luck.

Answer 6

I believe there are the same opportunities in both Vancouver and Calgary, both are really booming, however, for lifestyle, Vancouver is just the best overall city and it's BEAUTIFUL year round.

Answer 7

Vancouver...definitely!!

Answer 8

If you want familiarity - Vancouver
If you want change - Calgary

Calgary has slaughterhouses and rodeos as evident by the 1988 Winter Olympics.

Vancouver has more job opportunities.

Answer 9

Vancouver by a long shot....

Answer 10

too many cougars in vancouver