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Alberta vs Ontario: Where Do You Keep More?

A detailed comparison of take-home pay between Alberta and Ontario for various salary levels.

6 min2026-01-20

The Big Picture

Alberta and Ontario are Canada's two largest economies, but they have very different tax structures. Alberta is consistently ranked as the lowest-tax province for most income levels, while Ontario adds layers like the Ontario Health Premium and a surtax on higher earners.

Key Differences

FactorAlbertaOntario
Lowest provincial rate8.0%5.05%
Highest provincial rate15.0%13.16%
Basic Personal Amount$22,769$11,865
Provincial Sales TaxNone8% (HST)
Health PremiumNoneUp to $900/year
SurtaxNoneYes (20% + 36%)

Take-Home Pay Comparison

Here's how much more you keep in Alberta at various salary levels:

SalaryAlberta NetOntario NetAlberta Advantage
$50,000~$41,200~$39,800~$1,400 more
$75,000~$58,900~$56,500~$2,400 more
$100,000~$75,800~$72,200~$3,600 more
$150,000~$107,700~$102,100~$5,600 more

Why Alberta Wins

    • No provincial sales tax. You save 8% on virtually everything you buy.
    • Higher BPA. Alberta's $22,769 basic personal amount is nearly double Ontario's $11,865 — meaning more income is completely tax-free.
    • Flat 8% rate up to $151,234. Most Albertans only ever pay the lowest provincial rate.
    • No health premium or surtax. Ontario layers additional charges on top of income tax.

But Consider Cost of Living

While Alberta's tax advantage is clear, Ontario — especially Toronto — often has higher salaries for the same role. Housing costs vary dramatically by city. Use the PayCalc comparison tool to run your specific numbers.

This calculator provides estimates based on 2026 CRA tax tables. Actual deductions may vary.