Q: My friends and I are planning on getting a 4 bedroom, 2 full bathroom house/townhouse. We are trying to find an approx. amount for utilities, groceries, transport, etc. If anyone knows a few good websites or has any idea about what these might cost please post them for us! thank you!
A: If you're looking for a 4 bedroom house expect to pay ~$2000/mo in rent (that's for an old bungalow with 2 bedrooms up and 2 down) - a 2 bedroom basement suite goes for around $1100/mo right now. To buy a 4 bedroom house you're looking at a starting price of $450,000 even if you go outside the city to okotoks or airdrie. Utilities will average out to ~$200/month for the year. Expect property taxes to be about $150-$200/month as well if you're buying. Insurance for a car in Alberta really varies from company to company depending on your age, marital status, type of car etc. I get a deal for being a UofC alumni so I pay about $800/yr for a 2000 model car, but I hear most people pay over $1500/yr - you need a car in this city if you want to get around, the city transportation system sucks. If you're a student, bus passes are included in you tuition, if you live close to a train station you can get around ok. Our budget for food - for the two of us, including meals out - is ~$400-$500/month. Most other costs (other than entertainment, that can get expensive here) are the same as any other city.