Nina(27)

After five years as a cybersecurity analyst at a bank in Amsterdam, I wanted to go international. Dutch tech salaries are good, but compared to North America they lag behind — especially in specialized fields like cybersecurity. My CRS score of 487 was more than enough for Express Entry. Within four months I had my ITA and started researching where in Canada I wanted to live.

Everyone said Toronto or Vancouver, but I did my homework. Calgary's tech sector is growing faster than any city in Canada. The Calgary Innovation Coalition, Platform Calgary and the presence of major companies like Benevity, Attabotics and Neo Financial are creating an ecosystem that attracts more talent every year. And the best part: costs are a fraction of Toronto.

I landed in Calgary and within two weeks had a job at a cybersecurity firm specializing in protecting energy infrastructure. My salary: CAD 115,000 per year plus bonus. In Amsterdam I earned €65,000. With Alberta's lack of PST and lower income tax, I keep nearly double net. My one-bedroom apartment in Beltline costs CAD 1,400 per month — in Amsterdam I paid €1,800 for less space.

The tech community in Calgary is tight and accessible. Meetups, hackathons and conferences are smaller than Toronto but more personal. I know most cybersecurity professionals in the city by name. CyberAlberta, a provincial organization, hosts monthly events and there's a growing community of women in tech. In Amsterdam I was a number — here I'm a name.

Social life outside work is surprisingly good. Calgary is a young city with an active outdoor culture. On weekends I ski in Banff (ninety minutes' drive), in summer I hike in Kananaskis. The city itself has East Village which emerged as a hip neighborhood with restaurants, coffee shops and the stunning new library. Winters are cold but sunny — Calgary has more sunshine hours than any other major Canadian city.

After one year I have my PR card, a growing career and savings I never would have built in Amsterdam. I put money monthly into my TFSA and RRSP and am considering buying a condo. My advice to tech professionals: look beyond the obvious cities. Calgary offers the best of Canada without the absurd costs of coastal cities. And as a cybersecurity specialist you're wanted everywhere.