Your money
works harder
here.
Edmonton is where buyers from Ontario and BC discover that a 4-bedroom home with a double garage in a quality neighbourhood costs less than a condo did back home. No land transfer tax. No PST. More house, more land, more life.
Tax in Alberta
no PST
home, Edmonton
per year
Same money.
Different life.
The numbers that matter most when you’re making a move. These aren’t cherry-picked - they’re the same conversation I have with every client relocating from Ontario or BC.
| Edmonton | Toronto | Vancouver | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. detached home price | ~$600K | ~$1.4M+ | ~$1.9M+ |
| Land transfer tax on $700K home | $0 | ~$21,000+ | ~$12,000+ |
| Provincial sales tax | None (5% GST only) | 13% HST | 12% HST |
| What $700K buys you | 4-bed detached, dbl garage, new build | Studio or 1-bed condo | Small 1-bed condo |
| Avg. property tax (est.) | ~$4,500/yr on $600K | ~$5,500/yr on $600K | ~$4,800/yr on $600K |
| Sunny days per year | ~312 | ~2,066 hrs sun | ~1,938 hrs sun |
* Home prices and tax figures are approximate and subject to change. Land transfer tax amounts based on 2025 rates. Verify current figures with your lawyer before buying.
Six neighbourhoods
worth knowing first.
Most relocators from Ontario or BC start with one of these. Each has a different feel and price range - from family-first new builds in the southwest to character homes with river valley access in the west end.
Honest about
what you’re moving to.
I’m not going to oversell it. Edmonton has genuine strengths and real trade-offs. Here’s the honest version.
☀
Temperatures hit –20C and below from December through February. That’s not spin - it’s just true. But Edmonton is also the sunniest major city in Canada, with over 300 sunny days a year. The cold is dry. You adapt faster than you think, and the summers more than compensate.
🌳
The North Saskatchewan River Valley runs through the heart of Edmonton and is the largest urban park system in North America - over 7,400 hectares of trails, parks, and green space. In summer it’s genuinely stunning. For anyone coming from a city where nature costs a 90-minute drive, this is a significant quality-of-life upgrade.
🏠
The biggest thing I hear from people after their first year here: they didn’t realize how much the space would change how they feel. A garage. A yard. A basement. Room to have people over. A neighbourhood where you actually know your neighbours. Those things sound small until you’ve lived without them for five years in a condo.
What to do
and when.
The practical stuff that nobody tells you about until you’re mid-move and scrambling. Alberta has its own rules - here’s what actually needs to happen.
2–3 months out
- Connect with a local Edmonton REALTOR early - the market moves fast
- Get pre-approved with a Canadian mortgage broker familiar with interprovincial moves
- Book a trip to Edmonton to tour neighbourhoods and homes in person
- Research schools if you have kids - catchment areas matter
- Give notice on your current lease or list your home
- Get quotes from at least 2 interprovincial moving companies
On arrival
- Register for AHCIP (Alberta Health Care) at Alberta.ca - do this first
- Your Ontario OHIP or BC MSP covers you for up to 90 days during the switch
- Book your out-of-province vehicle inspection at an Alberta registry agent
- Update your address with Canada Post, CRA, and your bank
- Set up utilities: ATCO Gas, EPCOR or your chosen electricity provider
- Explore your neighbourhood - it takes a few weeks to feel like home
Settling in
- Get your Alberta driver’s licence within 90 days - your driving history transfers
- Register your vehicle in Alberta at any Alberta registry office
- Update your voter registration through Elections Canada
- File a change-of-address with your employer and update benefits
- Find a family doctor - Alberta Health Services has a find-a-doctor tool
- If you bought a home, confirm your lawyer filed the land title transfer
Things people
ask me all the time.
Most of these come up in the first conversation. I’d rather you have the answers upfront than find out mid-move.
Ask Me Directly →
Yes, especially if your main driver is housing affordability. Edmonton consistently has the lowest average detached home price of any major Canadian city. You can buy a 4-bedroom detached home with a double garage in a quality neighbourhood for what a condo costs in Toronto or Vancouver. On top of that, Alberta has no PST and no land transfer tax - which saves you real money both upfront and every time you make a purchase.
As of early 2026, the average detached home in Edmonton sits around $590,000 to $620,000. Depending on the neighbourhood, you can find solid 4-bedroom homes starting in the low $500s, while premium areas like Windermere, Glenora, and Laurier Heights range from $800,000 to well over $1 million. Compared to Toronto where a detached home averages over $1.4 million, Edmonton offers dramatically more space for the same or less money.
No. Alberta has no provincial land transfer tax. In Ontario, that tax alone can cost $15,000 to $30,000 on a comparable home - and Toronto buyers pay an additional municipal land transfer tax on top of that. When you buy in Edmonton, that money stays in your pocket or goes toward a larger down payment.
The main checklist: register for AHCIP (Alberta Health Care) as soon as you arrive - your Ontario OHIP or BC MSP typically covers you for up to 90 days during the transition. Get your Alberta driver’s licence within 90 days of establishing residency - your driving history transfers. If you’re bringing a vehicle from another province, you’ll need an out-of-province vehicle inspection before registering it in Alberta. Update your address with CRA, your bank, and your employer.
It depends on your budget and what you’re looking for. For families in the $550K–$750K range, Terwillegar, Glenridding, and Keswick in the southwest are excellent starting points - newer builds, good schools, and quick highway access. For premium homes with river valley access, Windermere runs from the $700s into the millions. Sherwood Park is consistently popular with families who want strong value and a quieter feel. St. Albert suits people who want a more self-contained small-city vibe.
The process is the same as buying locally, with a few extra steps. I do live video walkthroughs for all out-of-province clients so you can see the home in real time before flying out. Paperwork is handled digitally through DocuSign - no in-person signing required at any stage. I typically recommend one trip to Edmonton before making an offer - we can cover 8 to 12 homes in a day and a half if your criteria are clear. Possession is usually 30 to 60 days after conditions are waived, which gives you time to coordinate the move.
Winters are cold and real - temperatures drop to –20C and below from December through February. I’m not going to pretend otherwise. But Edmonton is also the sunniest major city in Canada. Summers are warm, dry, and the days are long. The river valley is genuinely world-class outdoor space. Most people who’ve been here a few years will tell you the winters are manageable once you have the right gear, a good community, and a warm garage to park in.
Ready to make
the move?
I work with relocators from Ontario and BC regularly. The first conversation is just that - a conversation. Tell me where you’re coming from, what you’re looking for, and when you’re thinking. I’ll give you an honest picture of what the Edmonton market looks like right now and what I’d be looking for on your behalf.
I’ll follow up within 24 hours. No spam, ever.
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I’ll be in touch within 24 hours. In the meantime, feel free to browse the neighbourhood guide above - it’ll give you a solid starting point for the conversation.