Have you noticed that many of your friends have been moving to Calgary lately? This is not a coincidence. Our city is getting better and better every year. As a property management company in Calgary, Green Casa has seen this happen. The Calgary livability ranking is going up. I want to tell you why. Today, we will look at the reasons why Calgary is becoming one of the best places to live.
What is the Calgary Livability Ranking?
Before we talk about how great Calgary is, let me explain what this ranking means. Some organizations, such as the Economist Intelligence Unit and Mercer, assign Calgary a score. They look at five things: how safe the city is, how good the healthcare is, how nice the culture and environment are, how good the education is, and how good the infrastructure is. Each of these things has smaller parts. For example, they look at crime rates to see how safe the city is.
They also look at how easy it is to see a doctor and how good the hospitals are. Calgary is very good at keeping people safe and providing healthcare. We used to be weak in culture and dealing with winter. That is changing fast. Understanding the ranking helps you see why living in Calgary is great.
The Economy and Housing are Getting Better
Let me start with the reason. The Calgary economy is getting more diverse. We still have oil and gas. Now we also have tech, film, logistics, and green energy. Companies like MNP, Neo Financial, and Benevity are moving here. This means jobs and more people moving to Calgary, which makes housing more expensive. The good thing is that housing in Calgary is still cheaper than in Vancouver or Toronto.
The average house price in Calgary is $550,000, which is much lower than in other big cities. This makes it easier for people to live well in Calgary. You can buy a house with a yard without being rich. This is almost impossible in big cities in Canada.
Great Healthcare and Education
We all know that good schools and hospitals are very important. Calgary has a healthcare system, thanks to Alberta. We have short wait times and great hospitals, such as Foothills Medical Center and South Health Campus. For families, we offer schools with programs such as French immersion and gifted education.
The University of Calgary and Mount Royal University attract students from all over the world. When the Calgary livability ranking looks at healthcare and education, we always do well. I have seen families choose Calgary because of our schools and hospitals.
Better Infrastructure and Transit
Remember when the CTrain did not go far? Now it goes over the city. Calgary has invested a lot in transit. The Green Line LRT will connect the north and south parts of the city. The MAX BRT lines already give us bus service. Our ring road is almost finished, which has shortened commute times. The airport just got an upgrade, making it a great international hub.
We also have bike lanes and pathways throughout the city. These improvements make our city a better place to live. I live in the northwest. My commute to downtown is now 25 minutes, which is 20 minutes shorter than it used to be.
Culture and Recreation are Getting Better
Calgary used to be seen as a city, but that is changing. We have the National Music Center at Studio Bell, which is world-class. Our new Central Library is one of the most beautiful in the world. East Village is now an arts district. We have many craft breweries and a great pathway system along the Bow River.
The Calgary livability ranking is starting to reflect our growth. We have many events, including jazz festivals, folk music events, and literary readings. Calgary is no longer a place to stop on the way to the mountains.
The Climate and Outdoor Lifestyle
People think that our winters hurt our ranking. That is not true. Calgary gets a lot of sunshine in the winter. We have winters that are not as bad as those in other parts of Canada. We have Chinook winds, which sometimes raise the temperature. We are also very close to Banff National Park, which is great for outdoor activities.
The Calgary livability ranking likes that we have a mix of city and nature. I tell our tenants that living in Calgary means you do not have to choose between a job and outdoor fun. You can have both.
How the Ranking Affects Our Tenants
As a property management company in Calgary, we see the changes happening. More professionals are moving here from Toronto and Vancouver. They want space, affordability, and a slower pace of life. Families are renting houses because they can afford a yard. Young tech workers are choosing downtown condos with river views.
International students are staying after graduation because they find jobs and a community here. The rising Calgary livability ranking means more people want to live here, making our city a better place. We see it in how many people renew their leases. People sign a one-year lease. End up staying five years because they love living here.
Conclusion
Now you know why Calgary is becoming a place to live. Our diverse economy, affordable housing, great healthcare, improving transit, growing arts scene, and proximity to nature all make our city a better place. At Green Casa, we feel lucky to be in Calgary and to help others find their home here.
Whether you are moving across the city or across the country, you are choosing a city that is getting better and better. See for yourself why many people are falling in love with Calgary.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Calgary is now the most livable city in the world and the second most livable in North America.
Calgary does better than Edmonton in terms of safety, infrastructure, and culture. Edmonton does well in education and affordability. Overall, Calgary is better.
Calgary has a crime rate compared to other Canadian cities. Our crime severity index is below the average.
Yes, most analysts think Calgary will improve over the next five years thanks to our investments in transit, the arts, and the economy.
A higher livability score attracts more people to the area, increasing rental demand. Calgary is still much cheaper than Vancouver or Toronto.
Co-Founder & Director
Hafil Perincheeri is an engineer-turned-realtor, investor, and builder based in Calgary, Canada. As Co-Founder and Director of Greencasa, he specializes in home flips, property development, and investment strategies. Since 2019, he has guided clients in home buying, multifamily investing, and financing options like CMHC and MLI Select, ensuring transparent, informed decisions.