Operational Costs
In Lethbridge, we understand that business success is your bottom line.
Long-term business success in our city is directly linked to the competitive advantage of lower business costs in day-to-day operations. A lower cost of doing business in our city is evident in areas such as labour, supplies and services, transportation, utilities and telecommunications.
The latest edition of the Competitive Alternatives Study by KPMG found Lethbridge to have comparatively lower cost indices across several sectors including: manufacturing, research and development, software and corporate services.
What’s more, these indices were substantially lower in the research and development sectors of biomedical research, clinical trials and electronic systems development. Both Lethbridge College and the University of Lethbridge continue to play a key role in offering lowering cost alternatives for high-tech ventures.
Core industries operating in the Lethbridge area report that our lower cost of living allows them to offer more flexible salaries and benefit rates. Employees are more likely to stay in our city and contribute to our dynamic community because of the many exceptional quality of life factors that Lethbridge has to offer.
| International Detailed Cost Index (By Operation) |
|
 |
| International Detailed Cost Index (By Operation) |
|
| International Detailed Cost Index (By Operation) |
| |
North America |
Europe |
Asia Pacific |
| |
Lethbridge |
Canada |
United
States |
France |
Germany |
Italy |
Netherlands |
United
Kingdom |
Australia |
Japan |
| Aircraft Parts |
96.7 |
96.9 |
100.0 |
97.8 |
101.4 |
99.5 |
98.2 |
98.6 |
99.9 |
105.3 |
| Food Processing |
98.2 |
96.9 |
100.0 |
98.1 |
99.4 |
97.6 |
96.3 |
97.2 |
99.7 |
105.3 |
| Auto Parts |
97.6 |
97.1 |
100.0 |
97.7 |
100.7 |
98.8 |
97.4 |
99.4 |
99.9 |
107.1 |
| Specialty Chemicals |
96.0 |
96.5 |
100.0 |
98.9 |
101.2 |
99.6 |
97.7 |
98.1 |
97.7 |
103.6 |
| Electronic Assembly |
95.1 |
95.8 |
100.0 |
98.2 |
101.7 |
99.2 |
98.2 |
99.2 |
97.0 |
105.7 |
| Medical Devices |
94.4 |
95.2 |
100.0 |
97.6 |
102.7 |
98.6 |
97.7 |
98.4 |
97.5 |
108.4 |
| Metal Machining |
98.4 |
96.7 |
100.0 |
97.0 |
100.0 |
96.6 |
96.2 |
99.3 |
102.1 |
111.1 |
| Pharmaceuticals |
94.8 |
94.9 |
100.0 |
97.3 |
101.1 |
97.7 |
96.8 |
97.1 |
97.1 |
104.9 |
| Plastic Products |
100.5 |
97.7 |
100.0 |
96.1 |
99.5 |
96.7 |
95.7 |
99.3 |
105.6 |
111.6 |
| Precision Components |
98.0 |
96.9 |
100.0 |
97.9 |
100.1 |
98.5 |
97.4 |
98.2 |
99.7 |
102.9 |
| Telecom Equipment |
94.7 |
95.4 |
100.0 |
98.4 |
102.2 |
99.3 |
98.5 |
98.1 |
96.7 |
105.3 |
| Biomedical R&D |
79.4 |
90.9 |
100.0 |
101.4 |
111.3 |
107.2 |
89.0 |
101.7 |
87.9 |
121.4 |
| Clinical Trials Mgt. |
79.6 |
84.8 |
100.0 |
74.4 |
117.8 |
109.6 |
73.4 |
92.3 |
66.8 |
116.5 |
| Electronic Systems Dev. |
74.6 |
84.9 |
100.0 |
95.7 |
107.3 |
105.2 |
83.8 |
95.3 |
81.9 |
112.0 |
| Software Development |
85.0 |
87.9 |
100.0 |
104.4 |
109.2 |
109.4 |
97.9 |
97.7 |
98.7 |
107.0 |
| Content Development |
86.3 |
88.8 |
100.0 |
103.8 |
108.6 |
107.2 |
97.9 |
97.2 |
98.0 |
108.5 |
| Shared Services |
88.4 |
95.0 |
100.0 |
104.1 |
111.7 |
101.2 |
99.3 |
98.5 |
99.9 |
129.3 |
| Overall Result |
94.1 |
95.0 |
100.0 |
98.3 |
102.6 |
100.0 |
96.5 |
98.2 |
97.8 |
107.6 |
| Overall Rank |
1 |
2 |
8 |
6 |
9 |
7 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
10 |
|
Source: KPMG - Competitive Alternatives 2010 Edition, Summary of results by business operations
Note: Rating Index Assumes United States as a baseline of 100.0%
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| International Labour Cost Comparison |
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