Choosing between living in Alberta vs British Columbia can be tough. Both provinces have unique features and attractions that appeal to different people.
Alberta is Affordable. It is known for its rugged landscapes, natural beauty, rocky mountains, picturesque lakes, and vast prairies. Plus, its thriving economy is largely driven by the oil and gas industry. The cost of living in Alberta is lower than in British Columbia.
On the other hand, British Columbia is known for its mild climate, stunning coastline, and lush forests. It has a diverse economy that includes technology, tourism, and forestry industries. Cities like Vancouver and Victoria are expensive.
That’s a glimpse. Continue to know which province will win your heart…
Capital: Edmonton
Federal representation: Parliament of Canada
GDP: 323.06 billion
Population: 4.371 million (2019)
Human Development Index (HDI): 0.955 [Highest across Canada – Source]
Website: https://www.alberta.ca/
A list of 12 Major Cities in Alberta province is given below –
11 Major Airports in Alberta, Canada
Population: 5.071 million (2019)
Density: 5.41/km2
Capital City: Victoria
Largest city: Vancouver
Government Type: Parliamentary constitutional monarchy
GDP: 350.6 Billion
A list of 15 Major Cities in the British Columbia province is given below –
8 Major Airports in British Columbia, Canada
Read if you have leisure time –
Both Alberta and British Columbia offer a variety of job opportunities, including positions for registered nurses and other healthcare professionals. Additionally, the job market also requires tech professionals, social workers, and legal assistants. The minimum wage in Alberta is CA$15/hour.
In Alberta, you can make money as follows –
SL no. | Job title/Profession | Salary Range | Average Salary |
1 | Software Developer | CA$50k – C$93k | CA$67,961 |
2 | Administrative Assistant | CA$37k – C$61k | CA$47,143 |
3 | Project Manager | CA$60k – C$123k | CA$86,748 |
4 | Office Manager | CA$42k – C$77k | CA$58,066 |
5 | Executive Assistant | CA$44k – C$77k | CA$59,067 |
6 | Legal Assistant | CA$39k – C$70k | CA$49,360 |
7 | Operations Manager | CA$52k – C$128k | CA$78,226 |
[Data source: Payscale]
Minimum wage in British Columbia CA$15.65/hour [Data updated for 2022].
In British Columbia, you can make money as follows –
SL no. | Job title/Profession | Salary Range | Average Salary |
1 | business services officer | CA$58k – C$66k | CA$62,000 |
2 | Data Scientist | CA$75k – C$86k | CA$80,500 |
3 | Database Analyst | CA$80k – C$90k | CA$85,000 |
4 | Administrative Officer | CA$70k – C$85k | CA$77,500 |
5 | Train Conductor | CA$100k – C$120k | CA$110,000 |
6 | Administrative Assistant | CA$56k – C$68k | CA$62,000 |
7 | Administrative Manager | CA$90k – C$100k | CA$95,000 |
[Data source: Indeed Canada]
Living costs in British Columbia are higher than in Alberta. To make a comparison, I considered Calgary and Edmonton City in Alberta. And British Columbia, Vancouver, and Victoria cities are considered.
Range of average cost of living in Alberta, Canada
Factor | Alberta | |||
2-person family | 3-person (One child family) | |||
Calgary | Edmonton | Calgary | Edmonton | |
Average Living Cost
| $2700 – $3200 | $2600 – $3100 | $4300 – $4800 | $4000 – $4500 |
*Average Living Cost includes Rent, Electricity, Transportation, Food Cost, Childcare, Phone & Internet
For Alberta, I considered Calgary City and Edmonton City to share a rough idea with the comparison. Calgary is a bit more expensive than Edmonton.
For a 2-person (couple) family, it’s around CA$200-300 extra for Calgary City. In addition, for a 3-person family (One-child family), it’s around CA$200-300 extra than Edmonton.
Range of average cost of living in British Columbia, Canada
Factor | British Columbia | |||
2-person family | 3-person (One child family) | |||
Vancouver | Victoria | Vancouver | Victoria | |
Average Living Cost
| $3300 – $3800 | $2500 – $3100 | $4500 – $5200 | $4000 – $4400 |
*Average Living Cost includes Rent, Electricity, Transportation, Food Cost, Childcare, Phone & Internet
For British Columbia, I considered Vancouver City and Victoria City to share a rough idea with the comparison. Vancouver is a bit more expensive than Victoria.
For a 2-person (couple) family, it’s around CA$200-300 extra for Calgary city. In addition, for a 3-person family (One-child family), it’s around CA$200-300 extra than Edmonton.
What is the coldest month in Alberta?
January & February
What is the coldest month in BC?
December
The range of the temperature of both provinces for the summer and winter seasons are as follows –
Alberta | British Columbia |
Summer: [June – August] 15° to 23°C 60° to 73°F
Winter: [November – February] -8° to 25°C 18° to -13°F | Summer: [June – August] 7° to 26°C 45° to 78°F
Winter: [November – February] -23° to 11°C -9° to 41°F |
Kindergarten and secondary/elementary school (Grade 12) facilities are available in both cities.
In Alberta: 8 public universities, 10 public colleges, 3 polytechnical institutes & 7 private colleges. [Source]
In British Columbia: 11 public and 5 private universities. [Source]
Universities in Alberta province:
Universities in British Columbia province:
As humans, we need outdoor activities to freshen our mental health. Am I right? Camp by a rushing river or take a kayak trip in scenic waterways… possible.
Are you looking for a place to get out and explore the wilds of Canada? Alberta and British Columbia offer a variety of choices. Hiking through majestic mountains, discovering secluded valleys, rivers, lakes, air adventures, walking through the wild environment, and much more!
It’s not possible to enlist all the outdoor activities in both provinces. But, as you nosedive here in Executive Moving, I want to share some ideas – [10 outdoor activities from each province]
Outdoor Activities in Alberta
Outdoor Activities in British Columbia
There are also some beautiful national parks in Alberta and British Columbia. National Park to admire towering rock cliffs and glacial lakes that come alive with vibrant colors in summer and freeze over in winter.
For adrenaline junkies, both provinces offer plenty of thrilling opportunities. Skiing or backcountry snowboarding, or just exploring wintery forests, Alberta and British Columbia can offer you unforgettable experiences.
Income tax rates and tax brackets in Alberta and British Columbia provinces are different. Alberta has five tax brackets ranging from 10% to 15% for taxable income up to $314,928. For taxable income above $314,928, the tax rate is 15%.
There are also five tax brackets in British Columbia ranging from 5.06% to 20.5% for taxable income up to $220,000. For taxable income above $220,000, the tax rate is 20.5%. It’s huge in percentage.
Isn’t it?
Have a look for the detailed breakdown of both provinces –
Alberta Province | Ontario Province | ||
On the first $131,220 of taxable income | 10% | $0 to $43,070 | 5.05% |
On the next $26,244 | 12% | $45,654.01 to $91,310 | 9.15% |
On the next $52,488 | 13% | $91,310.01 to $104,835 | 10.50% |
On the next $104,976 | 14% | $104,835.01 to $127,299 | 12.29% |
On the amount over $314,928 | 15% | $127,299.01 to $172,602 | 14.70% |
|
| $172,602.01 to $240,716 | 16.80% |
|
| Over $240,716 | 20.50% |
Canadim recommended Top 4 Best Provinces in Canada for New Immigrants. Among them, British Columbia ranked #2 & Alberta ranked #4.
My recommendation:
Do you love to live in land-based landscapes? Go for Alberta.
Do you enjoy living near the sea or a coastal landscape? Go to British Columbia.
Less income … low living cost… comparatively lower income tax rate… It is Alberta.
Other than choosing British Columbia is the ONE GO. You know what I mean 🙂
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Goodbye, until next time!
Read:
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