Canadians are leaving Ontario and moving to these Alberta cities thanks to the cost of living
People are packing up and heading West! Alberta was just named the leading growth province in the country for the second year in a row, and two of its cities are the most popular choices for Canadians.
Calgary and Edmonton were just crowned the top two Canadian cities for growth in 2024 by U-Haul’s Growth Index. The province has yet again welcomed the most one-way U-Haul movers, likely drawn in by the cheaper housing and cost of living options. Ontario, on the other hand, came in at the bottom of the ranking for growth provinces in 2024.
Calgary held onto its number-one spot as the top growth city, with Edmonton right behind, ranking second in the country. Basically, Alberta is where it’s at if you’re looking for opportunities and a more affordable way of life.
According to U-Haul Area Vice President Naga Chennamsetty, this boom in migration isn’t just about stunning views of the Rockies (though, let’s be real, they’re a big perk). It’s also about Alberta’s investments in its communities, its lower cost of living compared to other provinces, and all the outdoor adventures you could ever want.
"The cost of living is not as bad as compared to some other provinces. You have the Canadian Rockies and lots of recreational activities. It’s all of these factors. And it’s not really international migration that brings people to Alberta — it’s interprovincial migration," Chennamsetty said.
British Columbia was also a popular choice for movers, ranked as the second-most popular province for U-Haul customers. In Ontario though 50.7% of one-way U-Haul traffic was leaving the province. Ouch.
Although people are leaving Ontario as a whole, there were still 16 Ontario cities that made it on the ranking of Canada’s top 25 growth cities for 2024.
"What is interesting on our growth cities list is that all the top destinations in Ontario are smaller cities, and most are considered four-season recreational areas. The trend seems to be people are looking for more affordable housing in popular recreational areas with less hustle and bustle than the larger cities," the U-Haul Area District Vice President Jake Spelic said.
The U-Haul Growth Index is based on the net gains of one-way rentals and is tracked through over 2.5 million transactions annually.
If you’re looking for a new city to call home, Calgary and Edmonton might just be calling your name — because that seems to be the case for many Canadians out there!
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