Alberta is a beautiful and rich province

In this article, we'll cover the following topics:

• geographical location;
• climate;
• where to live;
• crime;
• education;
• work and salary;
• in-demand professions;
• prices and taxes;
• healthcare;
• population;
• what to see;
• immigration programs.

Picture-Perfect Landscapes

Alberta is an incredibly beautiful province with crystal-clear lakes surrounded by mountains and coniferous forests. Many iconic photos of Canada were actually taken in Alberta. It's located in western Canada and borders British Columbia to the west and Saskatchewan to the east. The Northwest Territories lie to the north of the province, while Alberta shares its southern border with the United States.

The provincial capital is Edmonton, and the largest city is Calgary.

Fun fact: the province is named after Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria, who ruled from 1837 to 1901.

The province covers a pretty large area: over 660,000 square kilometers. According to Statistics Canada, in the third quarter of 2025, the province's population exceeded 5 million people and continues to grow rapidly, partly due to immigration. In 2023–2024, Alberta showed one of the highest population growth rates among Canadian provinces at 4.4% per year, the highest since 1981.

Climate

Alberta has a dry continental climate, which means cold winters and warm summers. But because of the province's size, the climate varies significantly from north to south. In the southern part, it averages 24°C in summer and -8°C in winter. Northern areas are colder: around 16°C in summer and -24°C in winter.

In southwestern Alberta, there's a winter wind called the chinook that can cause temperatures to spike dramatically. The city of Lethbridge in the south is most affected by chinooks: on average, chinook conditions prevail there 30 to 35 days per year.

Fun fact: In Alberta, in the town of Pincher Creek, the most dramatic temperature swing in Canadian history occurred in the winter of 1962. Due to a chinook, the temperature rose from -19°C to 22°C in just one hour!

Northern and western Alberta get more precipitation, while the south and east are prone to summer droughts. That said, Edmonton, Calgary, and surrounding areas experience hailstorms — they happen here more often than anywhere else in Canada.

Where to Live in Alberta

The most populated areas in Alberta are, of course, Calgary and Edmonton. The populated zone between these cities is known as the "Calgary-Edmonton Corridor," and it's home to about 75% of the province's entire population.

Calgary

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Calgary is a major city located in southern Alberta, in the foothills and prairie region. Its area is larger than Toronto's. As of 2025, the Calgary Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) has a population of about 1.8 million people, making it the fifth largest in Canada. By population within city limits (city proper), Calgary ranks third among Canadian cities. In 1988, Calgary became the first Canadian city to host the Winter Olympics.

Calgary's economy is primarily based on the oil industry, agriculture, technology, and tourism. However, after the crisis of the 1980s, the city began actively developing other sectors, so now just about anyone can find work here. In particular, light industry, e-commerce, the film industry, transportation, and the service sector have been growing rapidly in recent years.

Some of the city's major employers include:

• AltaGas — a utility service provider in Canada and the northern United States;
• Canadian Pacific Kansas City — operator of the Canadian Pacific Railway;
• Imperial Oil — Canada's largest oil company;
• Shaw Communications and Telus — telecommunications companies;
• NOVA Chemicals — a company that produces various types of plastics;
• CNRL — Western Canada's largest natural gas producer.

Calgary has repeatedly appeared in Canadian and even global rankings for quality of life and environmental standards.

You won't get bored in Calgary. It has a commercial center, an entertainment district, an arts district, and a business district. Several ski resorts are located near the city.

Calgary's climate is full of contrasts. It has long but very unstable winters, and short but warm summers. About half of winter days see temperatures above freezing due to chinooks. The average temperature on cold winter days is -15°C, and about 5 days a year it drops to -30°C. On rare occasions, you can see the northern lights in the city. Because Calgary sits high above sea level, summer evenings can be cool. But during the day, temperatures typically hover around 22°C and often reach 25–30°C — sometimes even in May and September. Calgary is also one of the sunniest cities in Canada. Every few years, the city experiences severe hailstorms.

Calgary is a great city to move to with kids. There are plenty of daycares and schools, including French-language and Catholic ones, a sports school, and lots of clubs and activities. Additionally, the city has 5 major public universities and several colleges.

The transportation infrastructure is well-developed too. The city has many bus routes, a light rail transit line, expressways, and a huge number of bike paths.

Edmonton

Edmonton is located about 300 kilometers from Calgary. The metropolitan area has a population of about 1.6 million people. Edmonton is Alberta's cultural, administrative, research, and educational center.

The climate in Edmonton is more stable than in Calgary. It has long, cool winters and warm summers. In summer, the average temperature isn't as high: just 17–22°C, rarely rising to 30°C. In winter, about 25 days a year see temperatures drop below -20°C; the rest of the time it stays around -10°C. Edmonton is prone to droughts, but summer often brings thunderstorms and sometimes hail, strong winds, and rare, usually weak tornadoes.

Edmonton is Alberta's main economic and transportation hub. The oil, petrochemical, and gas industries, energy, technology, manufacturing, and financial sectors are particularly well-developed here. You can also find work in service, sales, and hospitality, as Edmonton is home to several of Canada's largest shopping centers.

Some of the city's major employers include:

• CN Rail — a transportation company operating railways;
• Alberta Health Services — the provincial health authority;
• Stantec — a company providing design and consulting services;
• PCL Constructors Inc. — a group of construction companies;
• Government of Alberta — the provincial government of Alberta.

Besides shopping centers, Edmonton has parks, attractions, and business districts. Transportation is also well-developed. There are plenty of buses, light rail transit lines, and Edmonton is connected to other Canadian cities by railway.

The city has quite a few schools, including French-language ones. It promotes the idea of "schools of choice" — where students select programs based on their interests. This has led to the creation of alternative educational programs. Higher education is represented by several public universities and colleges.

Other Cities

Of course, the province has many wonderful cities besides Calgary and Edmonton. Let's talk about some of them.

Canmore is a small town west of Calgary. Its population is about 17,000 people, and a fifth of locals work in culture and the arts, though construction and tourism are also well-developed. The average unemployment rate is just 1.5%. The town is surrounded by mountains and borders a national park, with plenty of outdoor recreation spots. It's a great choice for those who prefer a quiet, peaceful life and love being outdoors. Another plus of Canmore is its relatively mild climate. In winter, temperatures usually stay around -10°C, though thanks to chinooks, warmer periods are common. Summer is pleasant too — averaging 18–22°C.

St. Albert is considered one of the best places to live in Alberta. It's a small city near Edmonton with a population of about 68,000 people. It's worth noting that the population here is quite educated. More than 67% of adults have completed some form of post-secondary education — higher than the Canadian average. The city has outdoor recreation areas, sports facilities, attractions, and festivals, including the "Cheremosh" Ukrainian dance festival. Downtown St. Albert is home to Western Canada's largest farmers' market.

Lloydminster is located right on the border with Saskatchewan, roughly equidistant from Saskatoon, the capital of Saskatchewan, and Edmonton. Lloydminster belongs to both provinces, which is unique in Canada. Just over 36,000 people live here. This city is attractive because it combines rural surroundings with urban amenities while growing and developing rapidly. Lloydminster's economy is primarily based on the oil industry and agriculture.

Crime

Crime rates in Alberta are average compared to other Canadian provinces. According to Statistics Canada data for 2024, the Crime Severity Index in the province was 95.6 compared to the national average of 77.9 (the baseline index value is 100, set for Canada in 2006). Compared to 2023, the indicator decreased by 9%. However, crime rates vary significantly within the province: for example, Calgary's CSI is 63.3, which is below the Canadian average, while some other cities and areas of Alberta have higher rates, which shapes the overall provincial level.

Education

University of Alberta

The University of Alberta is considered the largest university in the province and is located in Edmonton. It has 5 campuses and offers about 400 educational programs. It includes several colleges as well as the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies. The University of Alberta ranked 94th in the 2026 QS World University Rankings and 4th in Canada by the same ranking. More than 44,000 students study here, including over 11,000 international students.

University of Calgary

The University of Calgary ranks second among Alberta universities. It includes a large number of research institutes and centers. By the way, former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper studied at this university. The University of Calgary has 5 campuses and offers more than 250 educational programs. More than 38,000 students study here, of which about 6,400 are international students.

University of Lethbridge

The University of Lethbridge isn't as large as the University of Alberta or University of Calgary, but it still offers solid career and professional preparation. The main campus is in the city of Lethbridge, with another in Calgary. Applicants can choose from more than 150 undergraduate and 70 graduate programs, and the university has about 8,000 students, many of whom came to study from other countries. Its small size doesn't stop the university from conducting extensive research at the 15 institutes and centers it operates.

Work and Salaries in Alberta

Alberta's economy is one of the strongest in Canada, so there's no shortage of jobs here. Alberta is the largest producer of oil, natural gas, synthetics, and petroleum products. Agriculture and technology are developed to a slightly lesser extent. In addition, the province attracts many tourists from around the world, and it's also a center for scientific research.

The minimum hourly wage in Alberta is $15 CAD. This rate hasn't increased since 2018 and is one of the lowest in Canada. With minimum wage, working full-time (40 hours per week), you can earn about $2,600 CAD per month (based on 52 weeks per year). The average salary in Alberta is one of the highest in the country: about $36 CAD per hour according to Statistics Canada data for the third quarter of 2024. By average weekly earnings, Alberta ranks second among Canadian provinces.

In-Demand Professions

Among the in-demand professions in Alberta in 2025:

• healthcare workers (general practitioners and family physicians, registered nurses, opticians and optometrists, nursing assistants);
• technical specialists (engineers of various specializations, network and electronics technicians, cybersecurity specialists);
• construction and trades workers (electricians, welders, building inspectors, regulatory engineers);
• service industry specialists (cooks and chefs, hospitality and food service managers);
• management and HR specialists (human resources managers, business management consultants, accountants and auditors).

Prices and Taxes

Let's put it this way: life in Alberta, while not cheap, is more affordable than in provinces like Ontario and British Columbia. You can rent a one-bedroom apartment for an average of $1,300–1,600 CAD per month, a two-bedroom for $1,700–2,000 CAD. The average cost of buying a house is around $500,000–510,000 CAD.

Other average expenses (in Canadian dollars):

• groceries ― $400 CAD per month per person;
• transportation ― $100 to $300 CAD per month;
• utilities ― $250–350 CAD for a 90 square meter place;
• internet and TV ― $120–170 CAD per month;
• lunch at a mid-range restaurant ― $25–40 CAD.

The fairly high cost of living is offset by the fact that Alberta has low taxes. As of 2025, provincial income tax is calculated using a "bracket system":

$$

• on the first $60,000 CAD ― 8%;
• from $60,000 to $151,234 CAD ― 10%;
• from $151,234 to $181,481 CAD ― 12%;
• from $181,481 to $241,974 CAD ― 13%;
• from $241,974 to $362,961 CAD ― 14%;
• over $362,961 CAD ― 15%.

The sales tax in Alberta is actually the lowest in the country. It only includes the federal Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 5%. Meanwhile, residents of most provinces pay between 11% and 15% in taxes.

Healthcare

Alberta stands out for its high level of healthcare funding per capita. The Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) fully covers necessary medical care, including diagnostic services, and partially covers eye care and dental services. The government also funds addiction treatment, cancer care, and obesity support, which includes nutritional counseling, medication and surgical treatment, and psychological counseling.

Population

Alberta's population, like other Canadian provinces, is very diverse. There are many people from other countries, especially England, Scotland, and Ireland. Alberta is the second province in western Canada (after Manitoba) in terms of French-speaking population. Overall, people in the province are friendly, especially according to residents of smaller towns.

There are quite a few Russian speakers in the province. Alberta has a significant Ukrainian diaspora ― according to the 2021 census, about 343,000 people identified as having Ukrainian heritage, which is approximately 8% of the province's population. The diaspora is particularly large in Edmonton and Calgary. It's pretty easy to find Russian-speaking communities of people living in the province online.

What to See in Alberta?

Banff National Park

This is Canada's oldest national park and one of the most visited parks in North America. Over 6,500 square kilometers of wilderness, coniferous forests, mountains, scenic lakes, and numerous glaciers ― it's the perfect place for nature lovers. By the way, this is where Moraine Lake is located ― the one that photographers and tourists love so much. In the center of the park is the small town of Banff. The Trans-Canada Highway runs through the park, so you can admire it even from your car window. In winter, you can ski and snowboard in the park.

Heritage Park Historical Village

This historical park is located in Calgary and is Canada's second-largest living history museum. Here you can fully immerse yourself in history: you'll be surrounded by old houses, cars, horse-drawn carriages, and the park staff also wear period clothing. The park has over 100 exhibits, including a passenger train, streetcar, Alberta Indigenous camp, trading fort, brewery, and much more.

West Edmonton Mall

One of North America's largest shopping centers is located in Alberta's capital. Across 490,000 square meters, you can find over 800 stores and service providers. The mall houses one of North America's largest water parks, World Waterpark, with a 20,000 square meter pool and a 25-meter high slide. The water park also has the world's highest indoor bungee jumping platform. This water park will delight not only kids but adults too.

Alberta Immigration Programs

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) is divided into several streams for skilled workers and entrepreneurs. You can find descriptions of them on a separate page.