Moving from Calgary to Victoria

We're Harrison Siemens and Corey Lister, REALTORS® with Caliber Property Group and Coldwell Banker Oceanside Real Estate. We both made our own moves to Victoria, and now we help people relocate here from across Canada. Before real estate, Harrison spent six years as a property appraiser.

Calgarians tend to come here for the same few reasons: winters without shovelling, the ocean on your doorstep, and a slower, more walkable way of life.

We've helped Calgary clients downsize here, and years later they still tell us the same things: how fresh the air is, how nice and mild it stays all year, and how much they love having the ocean right on their doorstep.

Yes, Victoria costs more than Calgary, especially for housing. But for many of our clients it's worth it, both for the lifestyle and as a long-term investment. This guide shows you how the prices compare, why Victoria homes hold their value, what changes when you move from Alberta to BC, and how to make your budget work here.

Home prices: more expensive, and worth it

Victoria is a premium market. A typical detached house in Victoria's core costs about $540,000 more than one in Calgary, based on each city's real estate board for September 2026, and condos cost roughly $256,000 more.

Benchmark (MLS® HPI) prices, September 2026. Sources: Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB®) and Victoria Real Estate Board.

Why Victoria homes hold their value

Over the long run, Victoria home values have a strong track record of appreciation, and the reasons behind it haven't changed:

• Victoria can't grow outward. The city is surrounded by ocean on three sides, with the Malahat and protected farmland limiting expansion to the north and west. There's only so much land to build on.
• Calgary can. Calgary sits on open prairie and keeps adding new suburban communities at its edges, so new supply can keep pace with demand.
• Demand keeps coming. People move to Victoria from across Canada every year for the climate, the lifestyle and retirement, and many of them arrive with equity from bigger markets.

Limited land plus steady demand is why we expect Victoria prices to keep rising over the long term. No one can promise where the market goes in any single year, but constrained supply has historically worked in Victoria owners' favour.

How Calgarians make it work:

• Look west of the city. Langford, Colwood and Sooke offer newer homes and more space for the money, with a 20 to 40 minute drive to downtown.
• Consider a townhouse or a home with a suite. Many Victoria houses have legal suites that help with the mortgage.
• Buy based on value, not list price. Harrison is a former property appraiser, so we can show you how any home's price compares to recent sales before you make an offer, so you don't overpay in a pricier market.

Cost of living: what changes from Alberta to BC

Beyond housing, a few costs go up when you cross the Rockies. Knowing them up front makes the move much smoother.

• Property transfer tax. Alberta has no land transfer tax, but BC does: 1% on the first $200,000 and 2% on the portion up to $2 million. On a $1,280,000 Victoria house that's about $23,600, due on closing. First-time buyers can save up to $8,000 on homes under $835,000. (Zealty)
• Rent while you look. A two-bedroom apartment averages $2,640 a month in asking rent in Victoria, versus $1,890 in Calgary, about $750 a month more. (Statistics Canada, Q2 2026)
• Income tax. Provincial rates differ, and which province is cheaper depends on your income. It's worth a quick call with your accountant before you move.

What you save: no snow tires, no block heater, much lower winter heating bills, and less time and gas spent driving.

Your Alberta-to-BC moving checklist

1. Health coverage (MSP). Apply for BC's Medical Services Plan once you've moved. Coverage starts after a wait of the rest of the month you arrive plus two months, so keep your Alberta coverage in place until then. (BC Government)
2. Driver's licence. You have 90 days to switch your Alberta licence to a BC licence at an ICBC driver licensing office. (ICBC)
3. Vehicle insurance and registration. BC car insurance comes through ICBC rather than private insurers, so plan to register and insure your vehicle in BC.
4. Find a family doctor. Register with BC's Health Connect Registry soon after you arrive. Waits can be long, so start early.
5. Budget for property transfer tax on your purchase (see above).
6. Book the ferry or flight. If you're driving, reserve your BC Ferries crossing to Swartz Bay, especially for a moving truck.

Climate: trade snow for mild winters

The biggest change is winter. Victoria averages about 33 cm of snow a year on roughly 7 days, compared with Calgary's 129 cm over 54 days. January highs sit around 9°C instead of −1°C.

Environment Canada climate normals, 1981–2010, via Current Results.

And if you've heard the West Coast is rainy, Victoria isn't Vancouver. It sits in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains and gets about half of Vancouver's yearly precipitation: 705 mm versus 1,457 mm, with 20 fewer wet days a year. Daily Hive, citing Environment Canada data, puts Victoria's sunshine at the equivalent of about 308 sunny days a year. (Current Results, Daily Hive)

You'll be walking the seawall in a light jacket while Calgary is plugging in the car, and spring comes early here, with daffodils and cherry blossoms out weeks before Alberta thaws.

Getting around and staying close to Calgary

Victoria had the shortest average commute of the eight cities in Statistics Canada's latest commuting study: 20.5 minutes, versus 25.3 minutes in Calgary (May 2024). The city is compact, so downtown, the University of Victoria and the beaches are all within about 20 minutes of most neighbourhoods. (Statistics Canada)

Getting back to Calgary is easy too. Victoria International Airport has direct flights to Calgary, so visiting family or heading to the mountains for a ski weekend is a short trip rather than a two-day drive.

Lifestyle and outdoors: the ocean instead of the mountains

You trade Kananaskis and Banff for the Pacific, but the outdoor life doesn't slow down, and it runs all year.

• Year-round activity. Golf, cycling and hiking continue through winter instead of pausing for five months.
• Lakes and trails close by. Thetis Lake, Elk and Beaver Lake and Mount Douglas are 15 to 20 minutes from downtown; Goldstream Provincial Park and Mount Work are about 25.
• The ocean. Kayaking from the Inner Harbour, whale watching, beach walks on Dallas Road and tide-pooling at East Sooke Park.
• Mountains when you want them. Mount Washington, the Island's ski hill, is a few hours' drive north, and Calgary's Rockies are a short flight away.

What surprises people moving from Calgary

• Housing prices. The jump in price per square foot is the biggest adjustment, and lots tend to be smaller. Most clients find the location, climate and long-term value make up for it.
• Older homes. Much of Victoria's housing was built from the 1950s to the 1980s, so inspections and an eye for value matter more. Harrison's appraisal background helps here.
• The pace. Things are calmer, and many shops close earlier. Most people come to love it.
• The ferry. Trips to the mainland take a reservation and some planning, especially on long weekends.

Which Victoria neighbourhood matches your Calgary one

Frequently asked questions

Is Victoria more expensive than Calgary?

Yes, especially for housing. In September 2026 a benchmark detached house cost $1,280,100 in Victoria's core versus $739,400 in Calgary. Victoria's limited land, surrounded by ocean on three sides, and steady demand from people moving here from across Canada have long supported its home values.

Does Victoria get snow?

Very little. Victoria averages about 33 cm of snow a year on roughly 7 days, compared with 129 cm over 54 days in Calgary, and January highs average around 9°C.

Do I pay property transfer tax when I buy in Victoria?

Yes. Unlike Alberta, BC charges property transfer tax: 1% on the first $200,000 and 2% up to $2 million, or about $23,600 on a $1,280,000 home. Eligible first-time buyers can save up to $8,000.

How long do I have to switch my Alberta driver's licence?

You have 90 days after moving to BC to exchange it for a BC licence through ICBC.

When does BC health coverage start?

MSP coverage begins after the rest of the month you arrive plus two months. Keep your Alberta coverage during that wait.

Where can Calgarians get the most home for their money in Victoria?

Langford, Colwood and Sooke offer newer homes and more space at lower prices than the core, with a 20 to 40 minute drive to downtown.

Can I buy a Victoria home before I move?

Yes. You can start remotely: we can send video walkthroughs and recent comparable sales for homes you like, then you visit for a focused weekend of showings.

Thinking about the move?

Moving provinces is a bigger step than moving cities, and we'd be glad to help you plan it. Call or text Harrison at 778-966-1078 or Corey at 250-709-3753, or email harrison@caliberpropertygroup.ca, and we'll talk through neighbourhoods, budget and timing, even before you visit.

Prices and rents last updated October 2026. Photos via Unsplash: Vlad D, Mahesh Gupta, M M.