Pros & Cons of Living in Lethbridge

There are many Pros & Cons of Living in Lethbridge; With a population of over 100,000 people, Lethbridge is the fourth-largest city in Alberta, which means it has plenty of opportunities for residents. However, as with any city, there are pros and cons to living here – which I am going to dive into for you

Pros of Living in Lethbridge:

Affordable Cost of Living:

One of the biggest advantages of living in Lethbridge is the low cost of living. Compared to other cities in Canada, and even Alberta, Lethbridge has lower housing prices, utility costs, and groceries, making it an attractive destination for people who want the freedom that comes with lowered costs of living.
There are several stats available from Economic Development Lethbridge that will help give you a better sense of the cost of living compared to other cities.View more here. 

Job Opportunities:

Lethbridge has a diverse economy with a range of industries, including agriculture, healthcare, education, and manufacturing. This means that residents have access to a variety of job opportunities and can easily find work in their field of expertise.

Greater Education:

Lethbridge is home to two post-secondary institutions, the University of Lethbridge and Lethbridge College. Both institutions are well-regarded and offer a wide range of programs, including arts, science, business, and technology. These institutions provide more to the community than just education. They offer drama productions, art exhibits, and fitness facilities that are open to the public.

Outdoor Activities:

Lethbridge has a lot to offer in terms of outdoor activities, with a large parks-per-capita ratio and proximity to World Class Provincial Parks it’s an ideal place for any outdoor enthusiasts. Lethbridge has over 200 km of well-maintained pathways through our city and in the river valley.

The Weather:

Lethbridge offers over 300 days of sunshine a year! Its Southern location in the province makes it one of the warmest climates, but to get these warm conditions we rely on the chinook winds…which we will talk about in the cons section.

Cons of Living in Lethbridge:

Weather Conditions:

Lethbridge has a semi-arid climate, which means that it can get nice and hot in the summer but cold in the winter. However the cold never seems to last long because of chinooks. Chinooks are warm winds that come and sweep the cold away. They are a blessing and curse and a big reason why Lethbridge gets the name of “windy city”

Driving:

Although our commute times are a fraction of what they would be in larger cities – even Calgary, Lethbridge is a spread out city which means you pretty much need to drive here. Lethbridge has a limited public transit system, which can be a disadvantage for people.

Limited Retail and Entertainment:

I once had a client say that Lethbridge’s slogan should be “it has everything you need” – I think it was meant in an also satirical way that there is everything you need but maybe not a whole lot more than that. Although we do have a shopping mall and great local retailers it’s no secret that Lethbridge doesn’t have the same level of variety when shopping that larger centers have.

Airport:

There is no international airport which means that most flights are only available out of Calgary which is 2 hours away. The City of Lethbridge has promised further development to our airport and available routes are expanding.

Conclusion:

With its reasonable cost of living, plentiful employment options, excellent educational prospects, and outdoor activities, Lethbridge, Alberta, is a wonderful place to call home. 

If you are considering making the move I have more resources available on my YouTube Channel or under the Moving to Lethbridge page of this site.