In recent years, more and more Canadians prefer small towns and provinces to big cities, so the question for many is: What are the cheapest places to live in Canada? The country is considered the second cheapest country in the world in terms of living conditions. At the same time it is not the most expensive – it ranks 26th out of 109 countries in terms of average cost of living.
Each state is different in terms of wages, prices of buying and renting real estate, taxes, security, etc. For example, the overall cost of living in major cities, will be much higher than in outlying regions. This is mainly due to the cost of housing. Today we present you a list of the cheapest and safest places to live in Canada.
How to rank the 15 cheapest and best places to live in Canada
To compile the list, it was necessary to study the statistics data Numbeo. We took into account the main indicators that are most important for each Canadian – the monthly cost of living for one person and the average cost of renting a one-bedroom apartment in the city center. It is believed that these two indicators can be used to determine where the cheapest places to live in Canada are.
1 – Sherbrooke (Quebec)
Leading our ranking is the city of Sherbrooke, with a population of just over 160,000. Here you can rent the cheapest apartment in Canada. The average cost of renting a one-bedroom apartment in the city center is only 506 U.S. dollars.
Sherbrooke is very well located and connected to major rail and road routes in the country. The city is home to Sherbrooke University, which is the largest employer in the region. Despite the cheap cost of living ($884 per person), Sherbrooke is quite safe.
2 – Quebec City (Quebec)
Quebec is the capital of the state of the same name. The old part of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is currently home to more than 530,000 people. Quebec is considered one of the safest places to live in Canada. The average monthly cost per person is $1,022.
Renting a one-bedroom apartment in the city center costs about $775 a month. The main areas of employment are services, tourism, defense, public administration. Manufacturing occupies only 10% of the jobs.
3 – Windsor (Ontario)
Windsor is one of the cheapest cities to rent in Ontario. The average cost of a one-bedroom apartment is $923. The city is quite large, but the population density is not that high – there are 217,000 people.
The region is famous for its automobile and distillery industries, as well as numerous parks (about 180). In addition to these industries, Windsor has a well-developed tourism and education sector. The average monthly cost of living per person is $1,087.
4 – Laval (Quebec)
Laval is the 13th largest city in Canada. It is located near Montreal. Today, the city has more than 420,000 residents. One of the distinctive features of Laval is 4 large industrial parks with a separate set of enterprises, which are involved in different spheres of economy.
It is also home to the nationally renowned University of Montreal. Renting an apartment downtown costs an average of $1,087 and the average monthly cost of living per person is $988.
5 – Winnipeg (Manitoba)
Winnipeg is the provincial capital and the seventh largest city in the country. It is home to more than 705,000 people. The region is famous for having the longest ice rink on the entire continent and an unusual climate.
The city is covered with snow for most of the year, but it can also be hot in the summer. It costs just over $1,000 a month to rent an apartment here. More than half the population works in commerce, health care, and education. The average monthly cost of living is $1,076.
6 – Lethbridge (Alberta)
On the list of the cheapest and best places to live in Alberta is Lethbridge. This city is famous for the abundance of beautiful natural parks (about 130), and is also home to the longest trestle bridge on the continent. Agriculture is the main sector of the economy, but hospitality, health care, and retail trade are also well developed.
The city has a population of about 100,000 people. The cost of renting an apartment is quite low – $882 per month. But the average monthly cost of living is quite high – $1,215.
7 – London (Ontario)
Though very different from the capital of Great Britain, London is still considered a major city in Canada. It has more than 330,000 inhabitants. That’s not to say that it has the lowest rents in Ontario, averaging $1,163.
At the same time, London has a fairly low cost of living – only $1,022 per person. The city’s largest employers are Western University and TD Canada Trust. The main economic driver in the region is IT research and health care.
8 – Niagara Falls (Ontario)
Niagara Falls is considered not only the most beautiful attraction on the planet, but also one of the cheapest places to live in Ontario, Canada. It’s not hard to guess that the economy is based on hospitality and gambling, including services.
The city itself is relatively small, with 418,000 residents. The cost of renting an apartment and living is quite small compared to Toronto. You can rent a home for $1,058 and the minimum cost per person per month is $1,216.
9 – St. John (Brunswick)
St. John is home to about 800,000 people, indicating its large size. The city has a slightly higher standard of living than Toronto, with a per-person cost of $1,237. However, rents here are 60% lower, making St. John one of the cheapest places to live in Brunswick.
The average home price is quite low at $253,000 and the average annual income is about $80,000. The city itself is located in one of the most beautiful places on the continent, the Bay of Fundy, which has the fastest tidal change in the world.
10 – St. Catharines (Ontario)
The Niagara region, where St. Catharines is located, is the sixth largest area in the state of Ontario. It has more than 420,000 residents. At the same time, the population is multicultural and growing quite fast.
Accordingly, real estate prices are increasing every year. Today, the average cost of a home is $730,000. However, St. Catharines is still among the places with the cheapest rent in Ontario.
11 – Edmonton (Alberta)
Edmonton is the state capital and the second largest city in the province. It is home to about 1 million people. The region is famous for its University and rich cultural heritage. In addition, the city has large oil and gas reserves. Accordingly, the petrochemical industry is one of the most developed sectors of the economy.
Edmonton is also considered the largest financial center of the region. Despite the large population, living here is quite cheap. The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $1,183. It costs about $1,200 per month per adult.
12 – Nanaimo (British Columbia)
Nanaimo is a small but fairly well-known port city located on the coast of Vancouver Island. Almost 10% of the population is indigenous. Thanks to the main campus of the University of Vancouver Island, the city is attractive to international students.
The region has a well-developed coal industry and forestry. The average cost of renting an apartment and living is about the same, at about $1,150 per month.
13 – Kingston (Ontario)
There are more than 120,000 people in the city. Kingston is located on the shores of Lake Ontario and features beautiful recreational areas. Key sectors of the economy include tourism, health care, and public administration. The city also has a rich military history.
It cannot be said that the standard of living in Kingston is too cheap. For example, utilities here are relatively expensive. However, the cost of leisure and transportation is quite low. You would have to pay $1,224 per month to rent an apartment, and the costs are $1,123 per person. This puts Kingston among the most affordable cities in Ontario.
14 – Kelowna (British Columbia)
Kelowna is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful cities in Canada. It is named after a local natural landmark, the grizzly bear. The population here is growing rapidly because of the fairly low cost of living. The cost per person per month is approximately $1,100.
The main employer in the region is the service industry. Thousands of tourists visit the city in the summer for boating and golfing, and in the winter, many ski resorts open in the area. Average wages are on par with metropolitan cities, but the cost of renting a home is comparatively lower. Despite the good quality of life, the crime rate in Kelowna is quite high.
15 – Prince George (British Columbia)
Prince George is a relatively small city with a population of a little over 80,000 people. It is located between the country’s two largest rivers, the Fraser and Nechako. The area is very attractive to tourists – you can see mesmerizing whirlpools, visit unusual nature parks and many different museums.
Also Prince George is considered one of the cheapest places to live in Canada for international students. It is home to the popular University of Northern British Columbia, where thousands of international students study. The average cost of living per person does not exceed $1,100 per month.
The Final Advice
When choosing the cheapest place to live in Canada, you should consider not only the price of rent and upcoming expenses. Beforehand, consider the city’s infrastructure, work or study opportunities, safety, and access to medical care. If you are completely satisfied with the combination of all parameters, start preparing to move. Perhaps in the new place you will really feel more comfortable and happier than in an expensive metropolis!