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Top 10 Cheapest Place To Live in Canada (2023)

Jun 24, 2023 | 8 minutes
Top 10 Cheapest Place To Live in Canada (2023)

When finding the cheapest places to live in Canada, the best place for everyone to settle is where we are financially and socially secure. Plus, live comfortably on the retirement fund.

Below we’ve found the most affordable cities in the country. The top 10 cheapest living places are based on average rent, income, annual housing costs, and population.

Sherbrooke, QC

Sherbrooke-QC-whizz

If you are looking to immigrate to Canada, the cheapest place to live is Sherbrooke. Located in southern Quebec, the city’s utilities are less expensive than other cities such as Toronto and Montreal.

There are more than 200 parks and green spaces. The city is home to several bike paths and trails. You can spend your time as you like to pass. There is also a national park, theatre, and museum of murals. You can enjoy splendid bars, restaurants, and food stores that are all affordable.

Population: 172,950(2021 Canadian Census)

Average income: CD$46,880

Average rent: CD$1074

Cost of living: CD$601 without rent (1 person) & CD$1927 (family of 4)

Average house price: CD$246,412

Thetford Mines, QC

Thetford-Mines-QC-whizz

Thetford Mines is believed to be the cheapest city in Canada. The city is small but famous for exporting goods all over the world. Thetford Mines is a labour market with no shortage of great jobs.

This city of Québec is one of the top producers of maple syrup. If you love snowmobiling and skiing, it snows a lot in winter. The city has rivers and lakes where you can enjoy boating. During the summer season, residents look forward to outdoor concerts.

Population: 26,072(2021 Canadian Census)

Average income: CD$ 42,400

Average rent: CD$1606

Cost of living: CD$604 without rent (1 person) & CD$1955 (family of 4)

Average house price: CD$ 119,900

St. John’s, NL

St-Johns-NL-whizz

St. John’s is an affordable place to live if you want to settle in an antic city. It is one of the oldest cities in North America, and in 1901 Guglielmo Marconi received the first message via transatlantic wireless.

This city’s primary source of income depends on the oil and gas industry. Signal Hill is one of the most beautiful attractions here. The humid weather can bother you, although it rains and fogs throughout the year. St. John’s in Newfoundland and Labrador is one of the cheapest places to live, but it’s also home to the wealthiest Canadians.

Population: 212,579(2021 Canadian Census)

Average income: CD$75,000

Average rent: CD$1402

Cost of living: CD$686 without rent (1 person) & CD$2027 (family of 4)

Average house price: CD$335,700

New Brunswick

New-Brunswick-whizz

New Brunswick, Canada, is the cheapest place for families with children. Here your children are provided with the world-class education that they need. This city is small but has all the facilities of big cities.

The most popular attraction of New Brunswick is whale-watching adventures. You can see more rural life everywhere. Still, there is plenty of career growth jobs as it is home to many big companies. Enjoy craggy coastlines, great rivers, and lush forests. In this city, you never get bored and live a quality life.

Population: 775,610 (2021 Canadian Census)

Average income: CD$72,786

Average rent: CD$1501

Cost of living: CD$718 without rent (1 person) & CD$2252 (family of 4)

Average house price: CD$312,351

Lethbridge, AB

Lethbridge-AB-whizz

Lethbridge is an affordable city known for its many job opportunities. This city in Southern Alberta is where you can live a comfortable life even with your pension. If you are a parent, here is a comprehensive and robust education system for every child of yours.

Education, health care, hospitality, retail, and agriculture industries are options for your career development. In Lethbridge, 16% of the city is parkland with restaurants, parks, golf courses, shopping malls, and green parks. In addition, the world-famous attraction of the city is the Rocky Mountain range.

Population: 98,406 (2021 Canadian Census)

Average income: CD$82,000

Average rent: CD$1619

Cost of living: CD$775 without rent (1 person) & CD$2452 (family of 4)

Average house price: CD$332,250

Hamilton, ON

Hamilton-ON-whizz

Hamilton is the cheapest place for those who need help to afford the high living cost in Toronto. This city is just 70 km away from there. By staying in Hamilton, you can enjoy all the expensive things of Toronto for cheap.

Niagara Falls is very close to this city and easy to reach. The downside of Hamilton is its hot and humid weather. You may stay here for cheaper, but you have to pay higher air conditioning bills in summer.

Population: 569,353 (2021 Canadian Census)

Average income: CD$86,000

Average rent: CD$1925

Cost of living: CD$759 without rent (1 person) & CD$2350 (family of 4)

Average house price: CD$814,082

Abbotsford, BC

Abbotsford-BC-whizz

Abbotsford, British Columbia, is a beautiful city that offers its residents an excellent quality of life. It is a big city but also one of Canada’s cheapest places to live. The most attractive about this city is its friendly nature.

Many education options for your children suit their age and needs. Abbotsford has lush green parks for nature lovers. There are entertainment venues, restaurants and shopping malls for quality time spent.

Population: 153,524 (2021 Canadian Census)

Average income: CD$90,000

Average rent: CD$1482

Cost of living: CD$599 without rent (1 person) & CD$1837 (family of 4)

Average house price: CD$828,645

Shawinigan, QC

Shawinigan-QC

Shawinigan is also one of the most affordable places to live in Canada. This city is prestigious for hosting the world’s best marathon canoe race, Classique Internationale de Canots de la Mauricie.

Shawinigan’s climate is hotter in the summer and cooler in the winter than most other cities. Although this city is cheap, there are few employment opportunities.

However, there is the Laurentide paper company and a vast hydroelectric complex, which always requires workers. Shawinigan is trying to get its city smart to improve its economy. Recently, in 2021, the government has scrap aluminum smelting plants in this city, which has increased employment and per capita income.

Population: 49,349 (2016 Canadian Census)

Average income: CD$53,600

Average rent: CD$1681

Cost of living: CD$679 without rent (1 person) & CD$2154 (family of 4)

Average house price: CD$149,900

Nanaimo, BC

Nanaimo,-BC-whizz

Nanaimo, located on British Columbia’s Vancouver Island, is one of Canada’s cheapest places to live. The people’s income mainly depends on government sectors, coal and forestry.

You can go hiking, kayaking, biking or fishing here to enjoy. Nanaimo is known for its peaceful living away from the city’s noise. The weather here is the most temperate and delightful climate. The average temperature in winter is 8 degrees; even if there is snow, it melts quickly. May to September is summer with a maximum temperature of 28°C. It rains from October to April.

Population: 99,863 (2021 Canadian Census)

Average income: CD$75,500

Average rent: CD$1921

Cost of living: CD$731 without rent (1 person) & CD$2256 (family of 4)

Average house price: CD$752,653

Charlottetown, PEI

Charlottetown-PEI-whizz

Charlottetown is one of the lowest cost-of-living cities in Canada. What makes this place the cheapest is the low bills and cheap products. Even the ordinary local farmer lives comfortably on minimum wages in this small town.

The primary income comes from the agricultural industry and the fishing sector. Because Charlottetown is the capital of Prince Edward Island, making it the safest city. Charlottetown is one of the best places for families to live and raise children.

The most popular job options are healthcare, social services, government roles, and the educational sector. This city imports goods during the winter, yet it is the cheapest city to live in.

Population: 38,809 (2021 Canadian Census)

Average income: CD$33,150

Average rent: CD$1648

Cost of living: CD$737 without rent (1 person) & CD$2380 (family of 4)

Average house price: CD$379,924

Helping Canadians who need extra cash for living…

Finding cheap places to live might be a challenging task for many Canadians. However, if you want cash to cover daily utility bills or other expenses, you may apply for no refusal payday loans from Whizz and get cash help. You can borrow up to $1,500 once your loan is approved.

The cheapest places to live in Canada: FAQ’s

Is Canada an expensive place to live?

The cost of living in Canada is more affordable than in the US. Globally, Canada ranks 25th in Numbeo’s Cost of Living Index for 2023. With almost 200 countries in the world, this ranking is quite impressive.

Which is the cheapest city in Canada?

Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, is the cheapest city in Canada. The analysis found that this city has relatively low grocery expenses, tax rates, and utility bills.

Are small towns in Canada more affordable than cities?

Small towns in Canada are more affordable to live in than cities. If you understand carefully, cities have more opportunities for jobs and economic development.

Are there job opportunities in affordable places in Canada?

Yes, there are good job opportunities available for affordable living in Canada. Canada is a vast country with many provinces and cities that offer different living opportunities.

Can I find affordable housing in Canada?

Yes, it is possible to find affordable housing in Canada. However, housing costs significantly depend on the location. You can explore rental apartments, non-profit housing, social housing, shared accommodation, and affordable homeownership programs for affordable housing options.

What is the cheapest place to live in Canada for students?

Montreal, Quebec, is considered one of the most affordable cities in Canada. Montreal is known as a university city because of the many colleges and universities. Around McGill University, also known as the McGill Ghetto, many students spend their university years on the cheap.