Calgary

Overview

Calgary is a major city in Alberta, set where the Canadian Prairies meet the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. With a population of 1,306,784, it serves as one of Canada’s key urban economies in the interior West and is widely associated with the country’s modern energy sector, a strong corporate presence, and a distinctly outdoors-oriented identity. The city’s layout and growth have been shaped by rapid expansion, a downtown built around office towers, and easy access to mountain recreation corridors.

Economy & Business

Calgary is best known as a corporate centre for energy, with many firms connected to oil and gas and related professional services historically clustering in the downtown core. Beyond energy, the city supports a broad base of engineering, construction, finance, and business services, alongside a growing set of technology and innovation activities tied to universities, startups, and applied research.

For investors and employers, Calgary tends to function as a headquarters and decision-making hub for Western Canada, with business activity influenced by commodity cycles and infrastructure development. The city’s business environment is characterized by a strong professional-services ecosystem and regional connectivity across Alberta and into the broader Canadian market.

Lifestyle & Livability

Calgary offers a practical, commuter-friendly urban lifestyle with neighbourhoods ranging from inner-city districts near the core to newer suburban communities. Daily life is strongly shaped by proximity to the outdoors—weekend travel to the Rocky Mountains is a common part of local culture—and by a calendar that balances urban events with seasonal recreation.

On BestCityIndex scoring, Calgary posts Overall: 7.1, with a comparatively solid Safety score of 7.4. The Cost of living score of 6.6 suggests moderate affordability pressures relative to other cities on the index, with housing and transportation choices often depending on proximity to the core and employment centres.

Notable Features

A defining characteristic of Calgary is its role as a gateway between prairie city life and mountain access, supported by major transportation links and a downtown skyline that reflects its corporate history. The city is also closely associated with large-scale civic events and a strong local identity rooted in Western Canadian culture.