Open ProvincesAlberta
Alberta is a Canadian province. Capital: Edmonton. Find key facts below and follow the link to the official government site for current services, taxes and programs.
Key figures
- Population
- 5,101,050 2026-07 · 1.5% / 12 m
- Unemployment rate
- 7.3% 2026-10
- Inflation (12 months)
- 3.6% 2026-09
- Average weekly earnings
- $1,405 2026-08
Source: Statistics Canada. Updated automatically. Compare all provinces →
Guides for this province
- Renting in Alberta: rights, rent increases and average rents
- Working in Alberta: minimum wage, standards and wages
- Moving to Alberta: health card, driver's licence and taxes
- Cost of living in Alberta: prices, rent, wages and taxes
- Buying a home in Alberta: land transfer tax, rebates and first-time buyer help
- Health care in Alberta: health card, drug plans and dental help
- Studying in Alberta: tuition, student aid and grants
- Seniors in Alberta: pensions, supplements and programs
- Taxes in Alberta: income tax rates, sales tax and take-home pay (2026)
- Families in Alberta: child benefits and family programs
- Immigrating to Alberta: nominee program, steps and processing times
| Type | Province |
|---|---|
| Capital | Edmonton |
| Joined Canada (or created) | 1905 |
| Languages | English (de facto) |
| Sales tax system | GST only (no provincial sales tax) |
| Sales tax rates | GST 5% (Source: Canada Revenue Agency) |
| Public health plan | AHCIP (Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan) |
| Driver's licensing body | Alberta Registries (registry agents) |
| Official government site | https://www.alberta.ca/ |
Rates and amounts change. Each figure on this site shows its official source and the date it was read; confirm on the official page before making a decision.
Programs in this province or territory
Families and children
- Alberta Child and Family BenefitQuarterly payment for lower-income families with children.
Official source ↗ · read on 2026-11-13Amounts — July 2026 to June 2027 Base component, first child $1,529 / year ($127.41 / month) Base component, each of the 2nd to 4th child $764 / year ($63.66 / month) Working component, first child $782 / year ($65.16 / month) Base component reduced above family income of $28,116
Work and income
- Income SupportHelp with basic needs for people without enough resources.
Read the full guide →Amounts — effective July 2, 2026 Single adult, Expected to Work, private housing (maximum) $860 / month Single adult, Barriers to Full Employment, private housing (maximum) $1,000 / month Couple with 2 children, Expected to Work, private housing (maximum) $1,823 / month Earnings exemption, single, Expected to Work $230 / month plus 25% of the rest Official source ↗ · read on 2026-11-13Conditions and rules
- For Albertans 18 and older who cannot pay for food, clothing and shelter.
- Two streams: Expected to Work and Barriers to Full Employment (higher amounts, 50% of the rest of earnings exempt).
- Health benefits and one-time amounts (damage deposit, special diet, emergencies) are available.
How to get it : Apply online with an Alberta.ca Account, or at an Alberta Supports Centre; emergency line 1-866-644-5135.
Seniors and retirement
- Alberta Seniors BenefitMonthly top-up to federal pensions for low-income seniors.
Official source ↗ · read on 2026-11-13Amounts — from July 1, 2026 Income guideline, single senior $32,690 / year Income guideline, senior couple (combined) $53,800 / year
Disability
- AISHMonthly income and health benefits for adults with a permanent medical condition.
Read the full guide →Amounts — effective July 2, 2026 AISH monthly living allowance $1,940 / month ADAP monthly living allowance (new since July 2, 2026) $1,740 / month Non-exempt assets limit $100,000 Employment income exemption (AISH) $350 / month Official source ↗ · read on 2026-11-13Conditions and rules
- For adults 18 and older whose severe disability permanently prevents them from working (AISH) or substantially limits their ability to work (ADAP).
- The home, a vehicle and RDSP savings do not count as assets.
- Health benefits (drugs, dental, optical) are included for you and your family.
How to get it : Apply once, online, with a medical report from your doctor.
Health and drugs
- Alberta Adult and Child Health BenefitsCovers drugs, dental and eye care for low-income households.
Amounts — as published in November 2026 Adult Health Benefit income limit, single adult $16,580 / year Couple without children $23,212 / year Official source ↗ · read on 2026-11-13Conditions and rules
- Covers prescription drugs, dental care, eye care, essential diabetic supplies and emergency ambulance for low-income households.
- Any other health plan must be used first; eligibility is rechecked with the CRA every September.
How to get it : Apply to Alberta Health Benefits; you must file taxes every year.
Students and training
- Alberta Student AidOne application for federal and Alberta loans and grants.
Amounts — 2026-27 Alberta Student Grant for full-time students $425 / month, up to $5,100 / year Canada Student Grant for full-time students up to $525 / month Combined Canada + Alberta loan limit, standard programs: 1 / 2 / 3 semesters $8,500 / $17,000 / $25,500 Combined lifetime loan limit: 1-year programs / most degrees $51,000 / $85,000 Combined lifetime loan limit: medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, chiropractic, optometry $200,000 Official source ↗ · read on 2026-11-13Conditions and rules
- Maximum grant for a one-person family with income up to $38,474; no grant above $69,987.
- Full-time means at least 60% of a full course load at an approved institution, with at least $1 of assessed need.
How to get it : Apply online to Alberta Student Aid.
Federal programs (all of Canada) →
Online accounts
- Alberta.ca AccountVerified digital ID for Alberta services, also accepted for CRA sign-in.Official page ↗ · link checked
- MyHealth RecordsSee lab results, medications and immunizations.Official page ↗ · link checked
Guides
- Moving to another province: checklistA practical checklist for moving between Canadian provinces and territories: health card, driver's licence, vehicle, taxes and address changes.
- Sales tax systems across CanadaWhich provinces and territories charge GST only, GST plus a provincial tax, QST or HST — grouped, with links to official sources.
- Provincial health insurance plansThe name of the public health insurance plan in each Canadian province and territory, with a link to each government.
- Driver's licensing by provinceWhich body issues driver's licences in each Canadian province and territory, with a link to each government.
Tools
- Mortgage payment calculatorCanadian compounding, any province.
- Compound interest calculatorSavings growth with regular contributions.
- Tip & bill split calculatorTip amount and per-person share.
- Personal finance tracker (private, encrypted)Accounts, investments, goals and net worth — stored encrypted in your browser.
- Income tax calculator by province (2026)Federal and provincial tax, CPP and EI on a salary: pick your province.
- Sales tax calculator (GST/HST/PST by province)Add or remove sales tax for any province or territory.
- Average rent by cityCMHC average rents for 180 Canadian cities, by number of bedrooms.
- Gasoline prices by cityMonthly average pump price in 18 cities, and the change over a year.
- Wages by occupation and provinceLow, median and high wages for 500 occupations in every province.
- Vehicle fuel consumption ratingsOfficial L/100 km and CO2 ratings for current model-year vehicles.
- Recent recalls and safety alertsThe 100 latest food, product, vehicle and health recalls.
- Recent earthquakes in CanadaEarthquakes of the last 30 days in and near Canada.
- Immigration processing times by countryIRCC's current estimates for visitor visas, study and work permits.
- Air quality right now (AQHI)Live Air Quality Health Index for communities across Canada.
- Business grants, loans and programs finder1,600 federal, provincial and territorial programs for businesses and self-employed people.
- Statutory holidays by provincePublic holidays this year and next for each province and territory.
- EI: hours required and weeks payable by regionHow many insurable hours you need for Employment Insurance where you live.
- Benefit payment datesWhen the next CCB, OAS, CPP and other payments arrive.
- Rent increase calculator by provinceThe highest rent your landlord can ask for, where a cap exists.
- Land transfer tax calculator by provinceLand transfer tax or registration fees when you buy a home, with first-time buyer relief where it exists.
- Weather alerts in Canada, liveActive warnings, advisories and statements from Environment and Climate Change Canada, by province.
- River water levels, liveLatest level and flow of major rivers, with the change over 24 hours.
- City comparer: rent, gas and minimum wagePut two Canadian cities side by side: average rents, gasoline, minimum wage, sales tax and the hours of work a 1-bedroom takes.
- Net-to-gross salary calculator by province (2026)The gross salary you need to take home a given amount, in any province or territory.
- RRSP tax refund calculator and RRSP vs TFSAHow much tax an RRSP contribution saves in your province, and whether an RRSP or a TFSA grows more.
- Canada Child Benefit calculator (July 2026 to June 2027)Estimate your Canada Child Benefit from your family income and the ages of your children.
- Housing starts and new-home prices by provinceMonthly housing starts (CMHC) and the new housing price index for 35 areas.
- Population growth and migration by provinceBirths, deaths, immigrants, emigration, interprovincial migration and temporary residents for the last five years.
- Employment Insurance beneficiaries by provinceHow many people receive regular EI benefits in each province and territory, and how that changed over a year.
- Canadian time zone converterOne time, every Canadian zone: Pacific to Newfoundland, with daylight saving handled for you.
- Invoice generator with GST/HST/PSTBuild an invoice with the right sales tax for your province, then print it or save it as a PDF.
- Paper sizes: Letter, Legal, A4 and moreDimensions of Canadian and international paper sizes in mm, inches, points and pixels.
- Encrypt or decrypt a file in your browserProtect a file with a password using AES-256. Nothing leaves your device.
- Rent or buy calculator for CanadaCompare buying a home with renting and investing the difference, with your province's land transfer tax and every assumption editable.
- Minimum wage earnings calculatorWhat a minimum-wage job pays per week, month and year in each province.
- Inflation calculator (Canada)What an amount from any year since 1914 is worth today.
- Currency converter (Bank of Canada rates)Canadian dollar against 10 currencies, official daily rates.
- Grocery prices by provinceAverage price of 26 staples in each province, and the change over a year.
- Loan payment calculatorMonthly payment and total interest.
- Percentage calculatorPercent of, percent-of-total and percent change.
- Metric / imperial converterTemperature, length, weight and volume.
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