[squiggs96]

I think you'll have a few problems with this, but I wish you the best of luck. Yes, Vancouver costs more to live in than Calgary, but Calgary has higher wages unless you are in a select industry such as mining. For an audit manager at a Big 4 accounting firm, the Calgary office pays about $25,000 more per year. If you were in tax, it's larger. I know a guy who transferred from Vancouver to Calgary in tax and got a $40,000 raise. Calgary also has a lot of oil and gas money. The same is true for lawyers that I've known who have made the transfer. The upside of this is I find the hours in Vancouver are more relaxed, and not anywhere near as high as Calgary.

Supply and demand is a big factor in Vancouver. People from all over the world want to live there because of scenery, oceans, proximity to the States and Whistler, ease of flights to Asia, mild winters, warm (but not hot) summers, restaurants, etc.

The unemployment rate is higher in Vancouver, and with two major universities, and the desire of foreigners to move to Vancouver, there is also a vast supply of labour, unless you are specialized. The corporate tax rate is higher in BC than Alberta, leaving less money to pay wages.

I hope you get a raise, but I wouldn't count on it.