Living in Edmonton (how expensive)

driekus · Jan 6, 2007

I have been offered a postdoctoral position in edmonton for $33 000 plus benefits.
Is this enough to live a reasonable lifestyle? I dont drink, smoke and live a pretty
moderate lifestyle, prefer to live alone. Id only be looking for a small apartment. My only real essentials in life are highspeed internet.

Finally is edmonton a multicultural city, I come from Australia which is technically
in south east asia thus iam used to a lot of asian food. For example can you get japanese, thai, etc in edmonton?

I know this question probably gets asked a bit, but i searched previous posts and it did not appear to answer my question. Any input would be greatfully appreciated.
Peter

karrie · Jan 6, 2007

driekus said:
I have been offered a postdoctoral position in edmonton for $33 000 plus benefits.
Is this enough to live a reasonable lifestyle? I dont drink, smoke and live a pretty
moderate lifestyle, prefer to live alone. Id only be looking for a small apartment. My only real essentials in life are highspeed internet.

Finally is edmonton a multicultural city, I come from Australia which is technically
in south east asia thus iam used to a lot of asian food. For example can you get japanese, thai, etc in edmonton?

I know this question probably gets asked a bit, but i searched previous posts and it did not appear to answer my question. Any input would be greatfully appreciated.
Peter

I am currently in the process of moving to Edmonton. Crazy crazy. The cost of living isn't too bad if you're willing to rent (we're currently in, honest to goodness, a bidding war to buy a house). Groceries, utilities, clothing, all that's pretty reasonable. There is a large 'Chinatown' in Edmonton. You might not be able to find Thai restaurants in as high a numbers as you have at home, but you will be able to find them. There is a lot of choice in Ed. Best of luck!

sanctus · Jan 7, 2007

karrie said:
I am currently in the process of moving to Edmonton. Crazy crazy. The cost of living isn't too bad if you're willing to rent (we're currently in, honest to goodness, a bidding war to buy a house). Groceries, utilities, clothing, all that's pretty reasonable. There is a large 'Chinatown' in Edmonton. You might not be able to find Thai restaurants in as high a numbers as you have at home, but you will be able to find them. There is a lot of choice in Ed. Best of luck!

Is it easier to find a rental property than a house for sale? Or easier to get?

I have friends in Edmonton. Love the city, as a tourist. I did have the chance last year to transfer to Edmonton but didn't follow up on it. Did not relish the thought of an Albertan winter!

driekus · Jan 7, 2007

Definately will be renting, buying would be far out of my price range.
The weather is going to be a shock for me considering I have never seen snow or a temperature below 0C.

Toro · Jan 7, 2007

AHAHAHAHAHAHA!

I hope you like the cold!

Like, really, really cold!

I'm not kidding!

And mosquitos too.

That should answer your question.

karrie · Jan 7, 2007

sanctus said:
Is it easier to find a rental property than a house for sale? Or easier to get?

I have friends in Edmonton. Love the city, as a tourist. I did have the chance last year to transfer to Edmonton but didn't follow up on it. Did not relish the thought of an Albertan winter!

It is easier to find a rental yes. There are so many young families moving that right now that, unless you can drop upwards of 400 000 on a fixer upper, your pickings for houses are slim to none. Like I said, we're in a bidding war on a house, and it is in need of at least 50 000 in repairs right off the jump. If you were to build in Edmonton right now, your wait time for the construction of your new house is at least 18 months. We are having a hellish time finding a suitable place to live.

As for the winters.... since this move will be the furthest SOUTH in alberta I've ever lived, I find it quite amusing. I've seen winters elsewhere, and I guess perhaps it's what you're used to, but alberta winters are not damp like at the coasts, and so you can dress warm and stay warm. They're also so darn sunny, I'd take -40 in alberta over -10 on a damp dreary coast line.

But, like I said, it's probably a matter of what you're used to.

karrie · Jan 7, 2007

driekus said:
Definately will be renting, buying would be far out of my price range.
The weather is going to be a shock for me considering I have never seen snow or a temperature below 0C.

Well, I can tell you you'll enjoy the winter..... if...... you make sure to buy good winter clothes, good boots, and make sure not to experience the winter only from the vantage point of salted city roads. There are tons of opportunities for skiing, snowboarding, etc. If you look for ways to enjoy the snow, you'll love it. I've seen guys from florida arrive in Canada during a -40 snap, never having seen snow before, and even they adapted. You'll have the bonus of likely not showing up in the middle of the worst like that.

Kreskin · Jan 7, 2007

33k seems a little low for the cost of living.

karrie · Jan 7, 2007

Kreskin said:
33k seems a little low for the cost of living.

i have a couple friends attending U of A. they each rent their own apartment in the university area, and manage to live on roughly 20K. So long as you aren't expecting to be able to eat out all the time, or drink heavily, it's doable.

driekus · Jan 8, 2007

Yeah $33k isnt a lot of money but postdoctoral positions are notoriously underpaid, particularly considering the level of training required. But its for only one or two years and then you can start earning real money.

RomSpaceKnight · Jan 8, 2007

33k will suffice. Especially if you don't drink or smoke. All of Canada is multi-cultural. Winter is going to be a shock for you. Edmonton is damn cold in winter. You are only a hop skip and a jump from Lake Louise and Banff for world class skiing. A winter is the off season in Banff. You are only a hop skip and a jump from the Northwest Territories for world class fishing. The Rockies are just west of you. Alberta is screaming out for workers so part time job should be easy to get.

hermanntrude · Jan 9, 2007

i just started a postdoc. i'll be on 40,000 and i'm worried about the cost of living. although i have a wife and a baby to support. I suspect with 33,000 and no dependants you could manage fine if u were thrifty.

It's a cool city

karrie · Jan 9, 2007

hermanntrude said:
i just started a postdoc. i'll be on 40,000 and i'm worried about the cost of living. although i have a wife and a baby to support. I suspect with 33,000 and no dependants you could manage fine if u were thrifty.

It's a cool city

Yeah, a family of three on that kind of money is much harder. I hope I don't offend you, I offer this bit of advice out of habit.... right now all through Alberta, working families are SCREAMING for childcare. Dayhome operators are in short supply against the demand. It's an easy, flexible way for your wife to make some extra money if it's needed. And if you have a baby of your own, you're already totally set up to run one.

peruvian_girl · Jan 14, 2007

U of A

karrie said:
i have a couple friends attending U of A. they each rent their own apartment in the university area, and manage to live on roughly 20K. So long as you aren't expecting to be able to eat out all the time, or drink heavily, it's doable.

Hi I read you said you have friends attending the university of Alberta. Well Im not sure Im going to that university but I would like to find out how expensive it would be to be a student and you know things like that.

Does anybody know what I can not send private messages? (Im new in this forum)
thanks

Les · Jan 29, 2007

Housing

1 bedroom apartment will cost you about $725 + $35 for power per mo and up in better areas. Thats approx $9120 per year for housing. The rest of your expenses are up to you. NO PROVINCIAL SALES TAX is nice. If you find a place close to your work you wont need a car. Vacancy rate in Edmonton is around 1% very low. You may find some rentals at these sites to compare costs:

www.rentexhomes.com
www.buysellrentads.com

Curiosity · Mar 15, 2007

Driekas

Welcome - I am appalled at $33K for POST doc???? I hope it's for one year only and you can negotiate a better deal when you put in some time.... it doesn't seem right and I hope they are not taking advantage of their "outsourcing" trying to undercut a higher salary they would have to pay Canadians.

Perhaps you can look around once you arrive and sort things out for something more lucrative.

Maybe they base it on a shorter work week/annual hours....still ....dunno...Oh - are you working on a fellowship award? If so - are they allowing you time to write and publish your work?

That money sounds more like a post graduate salary - not post doc.... especially in flourishing Alberta where the wages should be on a more affluent level.

Sorry I am being too nosy.

hermanntrude · Mar 15, 2007

Curiosity said:
Driekas

Welcome - I am appalled at $33K for POST doc???? I hope it's for one year only and you can negotiate a better deal when you put in some time.... it doesn't seem right and I hope they are not taking advantage of their "outsourcing" trying to undercut a higher salary they would have to pay Canadians.

Perhaps you can look around once you arrive and sort things out for something more lucrative.

Maybe they base it on a shorter work week/annual hours....still ....dunno...

That money sounds more like a post graduate salary - not post doc.... especially in flourishing Alberta where the wages should be on a more affluent level.

postdocs are notoriously badly paid in this country. When I left england i was on the equivalent of about $54000, when i got here i was offered $40,000 i asked if it was negotiable and they said it would be except they're not allowed to give me any more. I'm on pretty much the maximum for a postdoc. Although there is unsunstantiated talk of getting a tax break this year.

hermanntrude · Mar 15, 2007

peruvian_girl said:
Hi I read you said you have friends attending the university of Alberta. Well Im not sure Im going to that university but I would like to find out how expensive it would be to be a student and you know things like that.

Does anybody know what I can not send private messages? (Im new in this forum)
thanks

welcome peruvian girl (and les too). You can probably get cheaper than what les is suggesting as well if u stay in residences, but i dont know. I do know that one-bedroom apartments can be down to about $600 if you're not too choosy and don't mind living away from the uni.

the no sales tax thing isnt that good... the prices are that much higher here than in the other provinces that it all evens out in the end.

Curiosity · Mar 15, 2007

Hermann

Looks like higher education is still tied into the "apprenticeship mentality"... whereas no matter the degree one still has to get some work experience.... unless there are side benefits such as working for a prestigious outfit and actually having an opportunity to be added to their list of "achievers" or
"researchers"....

Still I think that is a crime - even at $40,000 after putting in all those hours..... damned insulting!

hermanntrude · Mar 15, 2007

it IS a little insulting but even an industrial job won't usually take someone on without experience, so we all end up doing postdocs to get the experience. I take it as a fact of life, and since i've been in considerable debt since i left home $40,000 is a nice amount for me. I'm honestly very happy with it. But i do know i will need more in the future if I am to support a family.

I'm reliably informed that a guy like me in this area can get a job reasonably easily. I just got to get down and find the jobs and start applying. Also probly gonna need a driving license :0)

Living in Edmonton (how expensive)

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