shaddy said:
amikety
please do you have an ideas of how much they rent two bed room at calgary and prospect of getting job.
It's between $700-$1400 in most places. To get a main floor unit, you will probably have to spend $1200 or more. We pay $900 for a two bedroom basement with one bathroom in a fantastic location.
What skills and training do you have? A lot of places need help, but to get a job that pays more than $10/hour, you need some type of skill. (This is everything from Forklift driver to doctor.) Places like Labor Ready are great, as they can provide you temporary work while you look for permanent work. A lot of the jobs aren't great (my husband's workplace uses them to unload deliveries at their warehouse) but it's better than no income. It also provides you the opportunity to meet people and make connections.
If you have skills and a degree as an engineer or geologist, those jobs are in demand with the Oil and Gas Industry. (But you may need to get some Canadian credentials to qualify.)
From what I see as an Outsider looking in, it's difficult for Immigrants to land skilled jobs that match their previous job experience/foreign degrees. "Blue collar" jobs are easier to get if you're qualified and service/retail jobs hire a lot of Immigrants. Retail
can be good if you work hard and get the experience necessary to move in Management (which is my intended career path once I get my PR as I have good experience managing). However, you'll never be "wealthy" working store level, so consider more training to move into corporate levels after a few years as management.
The average wage in Calgary is $25/hour or $50,000 before taxes. Single, you could afford a small condo or townhouse and potentially a single family residence in a very low income neighborhood. If you and your spouse made average wage for a combined pre-tax income of $100,000 you can expect to live in a middle class residential neighborhood, unless you have considerable savings - you can afford a large downpayment on a house in a upper-middle class neighborhood.
Average house price is listed at $380,000 and this includes the tiny one bedroom condos. To get a three bedroom house in a decent neighborhood, expect to spend $450,000 or more. Most of the homes in the $380,000 range and below are in neighborhoods I would NOT live in. (I have high standards.... haha!)
