So you’ve decided to move to Calgary! Whether you’re coming from the US or elsewhere in Canada, be prepared for a unique combination of Wild West ranching history and high-tech innovation. Calgary is one of the fastest growing cities in North America, and with good reason – Alberta charges no provincial sales tax, has abundant oil reserves in the form of the Tar Sands, and the city itself is surrounded by some of the most beautiful landscape on the continent in the form of the Rocky Mountains. Perhaps most importantly, the people are friendly and the jobs are plentiful!
When you’re looking for a house rental in Calgary, there are a few crucial things to keep in mind – the most important being that you find a house rental in a nice neighbourhood. It can be hard to choose a place to rent remotely, but we’ve got the scoop on the hottest neighbourhoods. Tuscany and Rosedale are great neighbourhoods in the North West quarter of the city, and have some great views of the surrounding mountains, but the crème de la crème is found in the South Western quarter of the city. Avoid renting a place in the North East, as this is where the airport is located, and is a fairly industrialized sector of the city. This does, of course, lend itself to cheaper rent, however.
In terms of the average pricing for Calgary house rentals, as of this writing (February 2012), a decent-sized house in a nice neighbourhood could be rented for approximately $2000 CAD per month, although many large homes are available for less (and some for more, of course). Calgary is currently in a bit of a bubble phase in its real estate market due to the recent influx of new money and development opportunities, but rental pricing is generally still comparable to any mid-sized city in the United States. Check popular websites like Craigslist and RentFaster to get a sense of the current market before you dive right in and join us in one of the sunniest places in Canada! We’ve got jobs aplenty, and our standard of living is among the highest in the country!