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Top 20 Most Affordable Cities In Canada

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  • 2 min
  • 4 February 2025

Study well, spend less: Canada's most affordable cities!

Canada is noted for its high standard of living, diverse landscapes, and thriving cities. However, living in major cities such as Toronto and Vancouver can be a little expensive for many people. Smaller communities and areas across Canada offer the ideal blend of price and lifestyle. For Indian students who want to study abroad, controlling the cost of education might be difficult.

Canada, known for its high academic standards and welcoming climate, has various cities that provide an ideal balance of excellent education and affordability. Montreal, for example, is ranked 75th in the QS World University Rankings 2024, owing to its low cost of living as well as its excellent academic institutions. Here is a detailed look at Canada's 20 most inexpensive cities, taking into account housing, transportation, and daily expenses.

Factors influencing affordability

Before exploring the list of affordable cities, it's essential to first understand the key factors that influence a city's affordability. These factors include:

  • House Costs

  • Cost of Food and Meals

  • Transportation and Travel Expenses

  • Earning Potential

  • Healthcare and Utilities

  • Taxes

List of 20 most affordable cities in Canada

The following is a list of Canada's 20 most affordable cities, ranked by housing, food costs, earning potential, transportation, and overall cost of life. To help you understand the cost of living, we've included anticipated yearly expenses for each city.

S.No.

City

Yearly Expenses (Cad)

Housing (Rent)

Food & Meals

Transport

Average Income

1

Quebec City, QB

$33,000

$12,000

$4800

$1200

$50,000

2

Moncton, NB

$32,000

$10,500

$4000

$1000

$45,000

3

St. John’s, NL

$34,500

$13,200

$4200

$1200

$52000

4

Winnipeg, MB

$36,000

$14,400

$4500

$1400

$55,000

5

Halifax, NS

$37,500

$15,000

$4800

$1500

$57,000

6

London, ON

$38,000

$16,200

$5000

$1600

$60,000

7

Edmonton, AB

$39,000

$17,400

$5200

$1700

$65,000

8

Saskatoon, SK

$40,500

$16,800

$5300

$1800

$62,000

9

Regina, SK

$41,000

$17,000

$5400

$1900

$63,000

10

Charlottetown, PE

$35,000

$12,000

$4300

$1100

$48,000

11

Trois-Rivières, QC

$32,500

$11,400

$4100

$1000

$46,000

12

Fredericton, NB

$33,500

$12,500

$4200

$1100

$47,000

13

Owen Sound, ON

$34,500

$14,000

$4400

$1300

$49,000

14

Thunder Bay, ON

$36,000

$15,000

$4500

$1400

$50,000

15

Barrie, ON

$40,000

$18,000

$5200

$1800

$60,000

16

Cornwall, ON

$33,000

$14,000

$4100

$1000

$47,000

17

Airdrie, AB

$41,000

$18,000

$5200

$1600

$62,000

18

Kelowna, BC

$45,000

$20,000

$5200

$1800

$70,000

19

Chatham-Kent, ON

$30,500

$10,000

$3800

$1000

$44,000

20

Brandon, MB

$31,500

$11,000

$3900

$1100

$46,000

*Source: immigrationnewscanada.ca and savvynewcanadians.com

Analysis of the most affordable cities

Breaking down the most budget-friendly cities in Canada for students:

  1. Quebec City, QC: Quebec City is not only historically significant but also affordable. With a yearly cost of living of approximately $33,000, housing costs are notably cheap, making it an appealing option for people seeking a budget without sacrificing quality. Residents can enjoy stunning architecture, delectable cuisine, and proximity to nature.

  2. Moncton, NB: Moncton distinguishes out in the Atlantic region for its low-cost living and booming job sector. With an annual cost of around $32,000, it provides affordable housing as well as reduced grocery and transit expenditures than other Canadian cities.

  3. St. John's, NL: The capital of Newfoundland and Labrador combines affordability and a vibrant cultural scene. At around $34,500 per year, it boasts comparatively reasonable housing expenses and a vibrant downtown centre with several businesses and leisure alternatives.

  4. Winnipeg, MB: Winnipeg is one of the most affordable cities in central Canada, with an average yearly cost of living of $36,000. Housing is quite inexpensive, and with a reliable public transit system, you may easily manage your living expenses.

  5. Halifax, NS: Halifax is one of the largest cities in the Atlantic area, and the annual cost of living is approximately $37,500. The city's recent growth has resulted in more job prospects, yet housing costs remain manageable.

  6. London, ON: London, located in southwestern Ontario, provides cheap accommodation with an annual cost of living of approximately $38,000. Despite not being as inexpensive as some of the smaller cities on this list, it nevertheless offers a relatively low-cost lifestyle with adequate access to education and healthcare.

  7. Edmonton, AB: Although Edmonton has a somewhat higher cost of living ($39,000), the oil and gas business provides tremendous earnings possibilities. Housing remains reasonably affordable, and residents benefit from a solid job market.

As mentioned earlier, several cities in Canada have a high cost of living, which is influenced by factors such as housing, transportation, and lifestyle expenses. Top on the list is Vancouver, British Columbia, which is known for its breathtaking natural beauty but also its exorbitant property prices. Toronto, Ontario, the country's largest city and financial hub, keeps up with its thriving cultural scene and competitive real estate market. On Vancouver Island, Victoria, BC, stands out for its charm and rising home demand. Markham, Ontario, a diversified and tech-oriented city, and Nanaimo, BC, another Vancouver Island city on the rise, are also among the most expensive. Mississauga, Ontario, known for its suburban attractiveness and proximity to Toronto, is another expensive location.

Moving west, Calgary, Alberta, blends urban expansion with a high standard of living, making it an expensive but desirable area to live in. Surrey, BC, a fast-growing city, is characterised by rising housing costs. Meanwhile, London, Ontario, and Ottawa, Ontario, the nation's capital, complete the list with a good mix of facilities, career prospects, and rising living prices. Each of these places has its own set of benefits, but those wishing to live there must be careful with their finances.

Living in Canada does not have to entail sacrificing your quality of life owing to high living expenses. Cities such as Quebec metropolis, Moncton, and Winnipeg provide economic options for people wishing to reside in a thriving Canadian metropolis while keeping costs low. You may locate the ideal city for your budget and lifestyle by taking into account factors such as housing, food, transportation, and income. Whether you’re a student, a newcomer to Canada, or a family looking for a fresh start, these cities prove that affordability and quality of life can go hand in hand.

If you're planning to study in Canada, connect with the international education experts at IDP. They will you with the end-to-end admission process.

Harmit Kaur

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Harmit is a skilled counsellor at IDP, who has a rich experience in helping students. She has guided many people to find the right job and to fulfil their dream of studying in Canada. In her current role, she helps students choose their right career paths and assists them with the end-to-end admission process. Her goal is to make a student’s study abroad journey smooth and hassle-free.

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