Compare taxes and see how much you save moving from Alberta to Saskatchewan
In the Prairie province tax battle, Alberta wins decisively on both fronts. At $100,000 income, Alberta residents pay $1,459 less in provincial income tax than Saskatchewan. More significantly, Alberta has no provincial sales tax at all, while Saskatchewan charges 6% PST on top of the federal 5% GST. On $40,000 of annual spending, that's roughly $2,400 in additional sales tax savings for Albertans. Combined, an Albertan earning $100,000 with typical spending saves over $3,800 per year compared to a Saskatchewan resident. The Calgary vs Saskatoon/Regina lifestyle trade-off, however, involves more than just taxes — oil patch wages, agricultural communities, and housing costs all factor in.
No Provincial Sales Tax
5 progressive brackets from 10% to 15%
Higher Income Tax + 6% PST
3 progressive brackets from 10.5% to 14.5%
At $100,000 income:
Alberta pays $1,459 less income tax than Saskatchewan at $100,000 — and has no PST, saving a further ~$2,400 on $40,000 of spending versus Saskatchewan's 6% PST.
| Income | AB Tax | SK Tax | Savings | 10-Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $5,000 | $5,250 | -$250 | -$2,500 |
| $75,000 | $7,500 | $8,334 | -$834 | -$8,340 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 | $11,459 | -$1,459 | -$14,590 |
| $150,000 | $15,035 | $17,735 | -$2,700 | -$27,000 |
| $250,000 | $27,883 | $32,235 | -$4,352 | -$43,520 |
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Send Money To/From Canada →Alberta is cheaper on both income tax AND sales tax — a rare double win for one province. At $100,000 income, Alberta saves $1,459 on provincial income tax. Adding in Alberta's 0% PST versus Saskatchewan's 6% PST, the total annual advantage is roughly $3,800–$4,000 for an earner spending $40,000/year.
Alberta's provincial brackets (2026): 10% to $148,269; 12% to $177,922; 13% to $237,230; 14% to $355,845; 15% over. Saskatchewan's brackets: 10.5% to $52,057; 12.5% to $148,734; 14.5% over. At most income levels, Alberta's rates are lower once you factor in Saskatchewan's 12.5% mid-bracket versus Alberta's 10% flat below $148K.
Saskatchewan charges 11% combined sales tax: 5% federal GST plus 6% provincial PST. This applies to most goods and some services. Alberta has no PST — residents pay only 5% GST — making Alberta about $2,400/year cheaper on $40,000 of typical consumer spending.
Saskatchewan cities (Saskatoon, Regina) generally have lower housing costs than Calgary. However, when factoring in Alberta's tax advantages (lower income tax + no PST), Calgary residents often keep more money overall despite higher housing prices. It depends on income level and spending patterns.
Alberta has historically relied on resource revenues (oil and gas royalties) to fund provincial programs, reducing the need for a broad-based sales tax. This is a key policy distinction that makes Alberta unique among Canadian provinces. Saskatchewan's PST has been in place since the 1930s as a major revenue source.
From a pure tax perspective, Alberta offers a clear advantage: lower income tax and no PST. The main reasons someone might choose Saskatchewan over Alberta include: more affordable housing, preference for smaller city living, family ties to the province, or specific career opportunities in Saskatchewan's agricultural or government sectors.
Alberta's energy sector pays substantially higher wages than comparable roles in Saskatchewan's agricultural economy. A trades worker in the Alberta oil patch often earns $30,000–$50,000 more than in Saskatchewan. Combined with lower taxes, this can make Alberta dramatically more financially attractive for skilled tradespeople willing to work in the energy sector.