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10 Places To Live in Canada That Are So Cheap You Could Quit Your Job

March 13, 2024

4 min Read

Written by David Nadelle

Edited by Nicholas Morine

Bic, Rimouski, Bas-Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada.

Stephane Lizotte / Getty Images

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According to The Globe and Mail‘s most recent edition of Canada’s Most Livable Cities, a lot of familiar names grace the top 10, including Victoria, British Columbia; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Regina, Saskatchewan; and Calgary, Alberta.

To find the nation’s capital of Ottawa, the nerve center that is Toronto and French Canadian gem Montreal, you’re going to have to scroll down to numbers 24, 64 and 142, respectively.

However, when it comes to straight up affordability, you’ll need a map — and possibly a French-English dictionary — to find Canada’s cheapest cities. Six communities in the French-speaking province of Quebec and four in New Brunswick were regarded to be the most affordable Canadian cities for 2024.

Canada ranks fifth among the seven most popular countries where U.S. workers move to, behind Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates — and ahead of Germany and France, according to global hiring and HR platform Deel.

Regardless of where you decide to put down roots — north to Canada or to a warmer climate overseas or south — there are many factors to consider when looking for the perfect place to call home outside the U.S.

A robust economy, weather, transportation and access to amenities, education, safety and healthcare all have to be scrutinized. You have to know if the community you’ve chosen is a good fit for you, and perhaps most importantly, you’ll need to know if you can afford to live there.

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So, if you have a craving for change and want to quit your job and move to Canada, here are the 10 cheapest to live in the “Great White North” based on housing affordability, according to The Globe and Mail.

10. Rimouski, Quebec

Average home price: $282,364
Average household income: $88,205

Three hours east of Quebec City, Rimouski combines an exceptional natural setting with all the benefits of a mid-sized city.

9. Bathurst, New Brunswick

Average home price: $179,592
Average household income: $74,337

“On the edge of spectacular Chaleur Bay, this town has a friendly, community feel and plenty of scope for outdoor adventure,” noted Expedia.

8. Saint-Georges, Quebec

Average home price: $231,095
Average household income: $86,987

The largest city in Quebec’s Beauce region is an affordable and important manufacturing centre for those looking for work in this industry.

7. Miramichi, New Brunswick

Average home price: $193,621
Average household income: $85,720

Lying at the mouth of the river that bears its name, Miramichi is known for its Atlantic salmon fishing and Maritime friendliness.

6. Montmagny, Quebec

Average home price: $246,630
Average household income: 76,566

“The Snow Goose Capital” of Canada is located on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River, east of Quebec City. According to Nesto, Montmagny is a “hub for manufacturing and production facilities” and “is aptly situated for those who want to live in a small town with city amenities nearby.”

5. Sainte-Marie, Quebec

Average home price: $274,031
Average household income: $97,128

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Sainte-Marie is primarily French-speaking, so you’ll have to adjust to a different, but carefree, environment in this charming city.

4. Tracadie, New Brunswick

Average home price: $173,111
Average household income: $76,142

The only regional municipality in the province of New Brunswick, Tracadie has some of the most beautiful bays in the world.

3. Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec

Average home price: $276,874
Average household income: $88,059

Nestled in a natural amphitheater overlooking the beautiful St. Lawrence River, Rivière-du-Loup is a city that combines nature, culture and history magically. Right by the sea, it’s a great destination for whale watchers.