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Cost of Living in Saskatoon 2026

Updated

Monthly Cost Summary

Expense Single Person Couple Family of 4
Rent (1-bed / 2-bed / 3-bed) $1,300 $1,650 $2,000
Groceries $375 $600 $925
Transportation $125 $225 $375
Utilities $175 $210 $250
Internet + Phone $125 $175 $195
Insurance (tenant/car) $150 $275 $400
Entertainment/dining $150 $250 $275
Childcare — — $1,000
Total $2,400 $3,385 $5,420

Housing Costs

Rent

Unit Type Average Rent Range
Bachelor/Studio $900-$1,100 $700-$1,300
1-bedroom $1,200-$1,400 $950-$1,600
2-bedroom $1,500-$1,800 $1,200-$2,100
3-bedroom $1,800-$2,200 $1,500-$2,600

Rent by Neighbourhood

Area 1-Bedroom Character
Downtown $1,300-$1,500 Urban, walkable along river
Broadway/Nutana $1,300-$1,600 Trendy, shops, cafes
Stonebridge $1,400-$1,700 Newer suburban
Willowgrove $1,400-$1,700 New development, family
Riversdale $1,100-$1,300 Up-and-coming, artsy
Sutherland $1,100-$1,300 Near U of S, affordable
Silverspring $1,200-$1,400 Suburban, family
Confederation $1,000-$1,200 Older, most affordable

Home Prices

Property Type Average Price Range
Detached house $375,000-$475,000 $250,000-$800,000+
Townhouse $275,000-$350,000 $200,000-$500,000
Condo $200,000-$275,000 $140,000-$400,000

Monthly Mortgage Costs

Home Price Down Payment (20%) Mortgage Monthly Payment (5%)
$300,000 $60,000 $240,000 $1,395
$400,000 $80,000 $320,000 $1,860
$500,000 $100,000 $400,000 $2,325

Groceries

Item Saskatoon Price
Milk (4L) $6.50-$7.50
Bread (loaf) $3.50-$4.50
Eggs (dozen) $4.50-$5.50
Chicken breast (1 kg) $14-$17
Ground beef (1 kg) $10-$14
Rice (2 kg) $5-$7
Apples (1 kg) $4-$5
Gasoline (1 litre) $1.40-$1.60
Monthly Grocery Budget Amount
Budget-conscious single $275-$325
Average single $375-$425
Couple $550-$650
Family of 4 $850-$1,000

Transportation

Mode Monthly Cost
Saskatoon Transit bus pass (adult) $86
Saskatoon Transit bus pass (student) $64
Car insurance (SGI, basic) $100-$150
Gas (avg commuter) $120-$160
Parking (downtown) $75-$125

Saskatchewan has public auto insurance (SGI), similar to BC and Manitoba, keeping insurance costs lower than Ontario.

Taxes (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan)

Tax Rate
Federal + SK income tax ($60K) ~$11,800
Federal + SK income tax ($80K) ~$17,700
Federal + SK income tax ($100K) ~$23,500
GST (federal, no provincial on most goods) 6% PST + 5% GST = 11%
PST exemptions No PST on restaurant meals, children’s clothing
Property tax rate ~1.0-1.4%
Property tax ($400K home) ~$4,000-$5,600/year

Saskatoon vs Regina vs Calgary vs Winnipeg

Expense Saskatoon Regina Calgary Winnipeg
1-bed rent $1,300 $1,200 $1,700 $1,200
Detached home $425K $350K $650K $375K
Groceries (single/month) $375 $375 $375 $375
Transit pass $86 $83 $112 $107
Car insurance (annual) $1,400 $1,400 $1,600 $1,500
Income tax ($80K) $17,700 $17,700 $15,700 $17,400
Sales tax 11% 11% 5% 12%

Income Needed to Live Comfortably

Household Renting Owning
Single person $35,000-$45,000 $55,000-$70,000
Couple (no kids) $55,000-$65,000 $80,000-$95,000
Family of 4 $75,000-$95,000 $100,000-$130,000

Economy and Jobs

Sector Details
Mining/resources Potash, uranium capital of the world
Agriculture/ag-tech Major ag innovation hub
Technology Growing tech sector (Innovation Place)
Healthcare Royal University Hospital, St. Paul’s
Education University of Saskatchewan
Government City + provincial services
Trades/construction Strong demand
Employment Stat Saskatoon
Unemployment rate ~5-6%
Median household income ~$78,000-$85,000
Key industries Resources, agriculture, healthcare, tech
Growth rate Among fastest-growing cities in SK

Pros and Cons

Pros Cons
Very affordable housing Very cold winters (-30°C+)
Low unemployment Far from other major cities
Growing tech/ag-tech Limited public transit
South Saskatchewan River valley Short days in winter
Strong community feel Fewer amenities than larger cities
Low car insurance Some neighbourhoods in decline
Good schools, U of S Mosquitoes in summer
No PST on many items Flat terrain (not for everyone)

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