New Brunswick is Atlantic Canada’s most affordable province, offering low housing costs that offset below-average incomes. While the province ranks among the lowest for average income in Canada, its cost of living is among the lowest, particularly for housing.
Average and median income in New Brunswick
| Metric | Amount | vs. Canada |
|---|---|---|
| Average Individual Income | $46,800 | -$9,300 |
| Median Individual Income | $37,600 | -$6,600 |
| Average Household Income | $114,600 | -$32,000 |
| Average After-Tax HHI | $97,100 | -$23,500 |
| Median Household Income | $98,400 | -$22,600 |
| Median After-Tax HHI | $86,700 | -$18,100 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Canada Income Survey 2023.
New Brunswick has the lowest median household income among all provinces at $98,400. However, the province’s low cost of living helps maintain a reasonable standard of living. Use our salary calculator to see your New Brunswick after-tax take-home pay.
Key industries driving New Brunswick income
- Public sector — Federal and provincial government is the province’s largest employer, with Fredericton as the government hub
- Information technology — New Brunswick has invested heavily in tech, with companies like Mariner, Introhive, and Radian6 (acquired by Salesforce) originating in the province
- Forestry and forest products — Irving-owned operations and other forestry companies are major employers, particularly in northern New Brunswick
- Energy — The Point Lepreau nuclear station, NB Power, and Irving Oil’s refinery in Saint John (Canada’s largest)
- Agriculture and food processing — Potato farming (particularly in the Upper Saint John River Valley) and McCain Foods, a global company headquartered in Florenceville-Bristol
- Tourism — Growing sector leveraging the Bay of Fundy and Acadian culture
New Brunswick’s tax environment
- HST of 15% — Same as the other Atlantic provinces, tied for the highest in Canada
- Provincial income tax rates — 9.4% to 19.5%
- Low property taxes — Particularly outside of the three main cities (Moncton, Saint John, Fredericton)
New Brunswick’s combined tax burden, with high HST and moderate income taxes, reduces take-home pay. Calculate your exact take-home with our income tax calculator.
Income by city and region in New Brunswick
| Area | Approximate Median HHI | Economic Character |
|---|---|---|
| Fredericton | $105,000–$115,000 | Provincial capital, government, university |
| Moncton | $95,000–$110,000 | Bilingual services hub, transportation, call centres |
| Saint John | $90,000–$105,000 | Irving Oil refinery, port, industrial |
| Miramichi | $70,000–$85,000 | Forestry, fishing, military (CFB Gagetown nearby) |
| Bathurst/Campbellton | $55,000–$70,000 | Northern NB, mining, forestry, declining population |
| Rural Acadian communities | $50,000–$65,000 | Fishing, seasonal work, EI-dependent |
Estimates based on Census 2021 data.
The divide between southern (Moncton-Saint John-Fredericton triangle) and northern New Brunswick is one of the most significant intra-provincial income gaps in Canada. Northern communities face population decline and seasonal employment challenges.
Take-home pay: New Brunswick vs. other provinces
| Gross Salary | New Brunswick | Nova Scotia | Ontario | Alberta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $39,200 | $38,800 | $39,600 | $40,800 |
| $75,000 | $56,500 | $55,400 | $57,100 | $59,400 |
| $100,000 | $73,000 | $71,200 | $73,700 | $76,500 |
Estimates based on 2025 federal and provincial tax rates. Use our income tax calculator for your exact figure.
New Brunswick’s take-home pay is competitive with Ontario at lower income levels, but the gap widens at higher incomes. Alberta pays roughly $3,500 more in take-home at $100,000.
Income trends in New Brunswick
- 2015–2018 — Slow but steady growth, with Moncton emerging as a bilingual services and technology hub. Inflation remained low.
- 2019 — Irving Shipbuilding contracts (in Halifax) created spillover benefits for Saint John-area manufacturing and suppliers.
- 2020 — The Atlantic Bubble protected NB from the worst pandemic economic disruption. Government employment and essential industries (Irving Oil refinery) continued operating.
- 2021–2023 — Dramatic interprovincial migration from Ontario reshaped the housing market. Home prices in Moncton nearly doubled between 2019 and 2023, while Fredericton and Saint John also saw 40–60% increases. Incomes grew modestly but couldn’t keep pace.
- 2024–2025 — Housing prices stabilized. The tech and bilingual call centre sectors continued to grow in Moncton. Northern NB continued to face population decline and economic challenges.
Housing affordability across New Brunswick
| City | Average Home Price | Approx. Median HHI | Price-to-Income Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fredericton | ~$325,000 | $110,000 | 3.0× |
| Moncton | ~$315,000 | $102,000 | 3.1× |
| Saint John | ~$275,000 | $97,000 | 2.8× |
| Rural NB | ~$150,000–$200,000 | $60,000–$75,000 | 2.5–2.7× |
These are among the most affordable ratios in Canada. Saint John at 2.8× is comparable to Regina (2.8×), the most affordable of the 13 major cities tracked. Rural New Brunswick offers some of the lowest absolute home prices in the country.
The Irving factor
No discussion of New Brunswick’s economy is complete without the Irving family’s influence:
- Irving Oil — Saint John refinery is Canada’s largest, employing thousands directly and indirectly
- J.D. Irving — Forestry, shipbuilding (Halifax Shipyard), media (Brunswick News), construction, and food distribution
- Irving-owned businesses employ an estimated 8–10% of New Brunswick’s workforce
- The concentration of economic power in one family of companies is unique in Canada and creates both stability (major employer) and risk (dependence on one group’s investment decisions)
How New Brunswick compares to other provinces
| Province | Avg Individual Income | Median Individual Income | Avg HHI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nova Scotia | $48,200 | $38,100 | $120,800 |
| New Brunswick | $46,800 | $37,600 | $114,600 |
| PEI | $46,400 | $37,200 | $119,100 |
| Newfoundland | $50,500 | $38,600 | $125,100 |
| Canada | $56,100 | $44,200 | $146,600 |
New Brunswick ranks near the bottom nationally for income, but its extremely low housing costs create strong affordability for those who can work remotely or find employment in growing sectors like technology. Use our income percentile calculator to see how your income ranks.
Related tools and resources
- Income Percentile Calculator — See where your income ranks in Canada
- Salary Calculator — Calculate your New Brunswick after-tax pay
- Income Tax Calculator — Estimate your New Brunswick income tax
- New Brunswick Mortgage Rates — Find the best rates
- New Brunswick Housing Market — Current home prices and trends
- Mortgage Affordability Calculator — How much home can you afford