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Most Affordable Cities in Canada 2026

Updated

Top 10 Most Affordable Cities

Quick Ranking

Rank City Avg Home Price Monthly Rent (1-BR)
1 Saint John, NB $275,000 $1,100
2 Moncton, NB $325,000 $1,200
3 Regina, SK $325,000 $1,150
4 Winnipeg, MB $350,000 $1,250
5 Quebec City, QC $400,000 $1,150
6 Saskatoon, SK $375,000 $1,200
7 Edmonton, AB $425,000 $1,400
8 Thunder Bay, ON $350,000 $1,300
9 Calgary, AB $575,000 $1,700
10 Ottawa, ON $650,000 $2,000

For Comparison

Expensive Cities Avg Home Price
Vancouver $1,200,000
Toronto $1,100,000
Victoria $900,000

1. Saint John, New Brunswick

Cost Summary

Category Cost
Avg home price $275,000
1-BR rent $1,100/month
Single person budget $1,800/month
Family budget $4,000/month

Pros & Cons

Pros Cons
Lowest housing costs Limited job market
Ocean access Cold, snowy winters
Low cost of living Population decline
Historic charm Less diversity

Best For

Who
Remote workers Low cost + internet
Retirees Affordable, quiet
First-time buyers Easy entry

2. Moncton, New Brunswick

Cost Summary

Category Cost
Avg home price $325,000
1-BR rent $1,200/month
Single person budget $2,000/month
Family budget $4,500/month

Pros & Cons

Pros Cons
Very affordable Smaller job market
Growing city Higher taxes (NB)
Bilingual community Cold winters
Central location (Maritimes)

Job Market

Sectors
Call centres Major employer
Healthcare Growing
Retail/services Growing
Tech (small) Emerging

3. Regina, Saskatchewan

Cost Summary

Category Cost
Avg home price $325,000
1-BR rent $1,150/month
Single person budget $2,100/month
Family budget $4,800/month

Pros & Cons

Pros Cons
Very affordable housing Extreme winters
Good jobs (government) Flat landscape
Provincial capital Smaller city
Low crime Limited nightlife

Saskatchewan Advantage

Factor
Lower taxes Than ON, BC, NS
No PST on many items Savings
Stable economy Government, agriculture

4. Winnipeg, Manitoba

Cost Summary

Category Cost
Avg home price $350,000
1-BR rent $1,250/month
Single person budget $2,200/month
Family budget $5,200/month

Pros & Cons

Pros Cons
Affordable housing Very cold winters
Diverse economy Mosquitos (summer)
Cultural scene Some safety concerns
Good healthcare, education

Economy

Major Sectors
Manufacturing Strong
Healthcare Large hospitals
Finance Regional hub
Arts/culture Thriving

5. Quebec City, Quebec

Cost Summary

Category Cost
Avg home price $400,000
1-BR rent $1,150/month
Single person budget $2,100/month
Family budget $5,000/month

Pros & Cons

Pros Cons
Historic beauty French required
Government jobs Higher taxes
Very safe city Cold winters
Affordable (for size) Less diversity

Quebec Advantages

Factor
Childcare $10/day program
Healthcare Free
Education Low tuition

6. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Cost Summary

Category Cost
Avg home price $375,000
1-BR rent $1,200/month
Single person budget $2,200/month
Family budget $5,000/month

Pros & Cons

Pros Cons
Affordable Very cold
University city Smaller
Growing tech Limited transit
Friendly

7. Edmonton, Alberta

Cost Summary

Category Cost
Avg home price $425,000
1-BR rent $1,400/month
Single person budget $2,600/month
Family budget $5,700/month

Pros & Cons

Pros Cons
No PST Cold winters
Lower income tax Far from mountains
Good jobs Oil price dependency
University, healthcare

Why Edmonton Stands Out

Factor
Best value Jobs + affordability
Take-home pay Highest in Canada
Growing Population increasing

8. Thunder Bay, Ontario

Cost Summary

Category Cost
Avg home price $350,000
1-BR rent $1,300/month
Single person budget $2,300/month
Family budget $5,000/month

Pros & Cons

Pros Cons
Affordable (for Ontario) Remote location
Outdoor lifestyle Limited jobs
University town Cold, snowy winters
Nature access

9. Calgary, Alberta

Cost Summary

Category Cost
Avg home price $575,000
1-BR rent $1,700/month
Single person budget $2,900/month
Family budget $6,300/month

Pros & Cons

Pros Cons
Mountain access More expensive
High salaries Economic volatility
No PST Cold winters
Growing city Housing price increases

Value Proposition

Factor
Best income High salaries + low tax
Calgary advantage Affordable vs Toronto/Vancouver
Quality of life Mountains, sunshine

10. Ottawa, Ontario

Cost Summary

Category Cost
Avg home price $650,000
1-BR rent $2,000/month
Single person budget $3,200/month
Family budget $7,000/month

Pros & Cons

Pros Cons
Government job stability Higher housing (vs prairies)
Bilingual opportunities Cold winters
Safe, clean Less exciting
Good transit Ontario taxes

Budget Comparison

Monthly Budget (Single Person)

City Rent Other Total
Saint John $1,100 $700 $1,800
Winnipeg $1,250 $950 $2,200
Edmonton $1,400 $1,200 $2,600
Calgary $1,700 $1,200 $2,900
Toronto $2,400 $1,600 $4,000

Annual Savings Potential

Scenario $70K Salary
Saint John ~$25,000/year savings possible
Winnipeg ~$22,000/year
Edmonton ~$22,000/year (low tax)
Calgary ~$18,000/year
Toronto ~$8,000/year

Affordability by Factor

Best for Housing

City Why
Saint John Lowest prices
Moncton Very low
Regina Prairies value
Winnipeg Prairies value

Best for Jobs + Affordability

City Why
Edmonton Best balance
Calgary Higher income
Winnipeg Diverse economy
Ottawa Government stability

Best for Families

City Why
Quebec City Childcare, education
Edmonton Low tax, space
Calgary Income, lifestyle
Winnipeg Affordable homes

Best for Remote Workers

City Why
Saint John Lowest costs
Moncton Low cost, good internet
Saskatoon Affordable, quiet
Quebec City Quality of life

Provincial Tax Impact

Take-Home Pay Comparison ($80,000 Gross)

Province Net Pay
Alberta (Calgary, Edmonton) $61,200
Saskatchewan (Regina, Saskatoon) $59,600
Ontario (Thunder Bay, Ottawa) $59,500
Manitoba (Winnipeg) $58,200
Quebec (Quebec City) $57,100
New Brunswick (Saint John, Moncton) $57,800