1. Regina
Saskatchewan capital’s wins with a score of six points, making it our No. 1 choice.
Regina ranks as the most affordable metro area in all Canada, with an average home price of $266,800, according to Zoocasa. Home prices in Regina have increased only about 1.6 per cent this year, as of March 2022.
Regina also ranked fifth in BMO’s labour market assessment, moving up eight spots from a year earlier.
2. Saskatoon
Another city from Saskatchewan made the list after winning 12 points.
Saskatchewan's largest city ranked first in BMO’s labour market report card, moving up 13 spots from a year earlier. Saskatoon is also the 11th cheapest city in Canada, with an average house price of $334,600, up by only 3.4 per cent in the last year.
3. Moncton
New Brunswick’s most populous city, Moncton, is the third choice after scoring 19 points.
Moncton is ninth in BMO’s labour performance report, up by 16 spots from last year. It is also the 10th most affordable city in Canada, according to Zoocasa, with average home prices of about $333,200. However, home prices were up by a whopping 36.6 per cent in the past 12 months.
4. Winnipeg
Manitoba’s capital wins fourth place, with 23 points.
Winnipeg ranks 10th in BMO’s labour performance report and is the 13th most affordable city, with an average price of $345,500. The average home price has increased 13.6 per cent in the past 12 months.
5. Edmonton
Yet another capital wins here. Alberta’s capital is fifth with 26 points.
Edmonton is the 14th most affordable city. Homes are around $363,900, with an increase of 9.3 per cent in the past year.
Edmonton also ranked 12th in BMO’s labour market report after moving up 11 spots.
Check out the full rankings of Canada’s most affordable cities, and best job markets, below:
Most affordable places:
- Regina — $266,800 — 1.6 (per cent change vs. in the last year)
- Saint John — $273,800 – 29.1
- Fredericton – $281,900 – 30.8
- Saskatchewan – $291,200 – 3.1
- St. John's — $294,400 – 9.2
- Sault Ste. Marie – $302,200 – 46.5
- New Brunswick — $302,300 – 33.2
- Quebec City — $327,700 — 15.8
- Newfoundland & Labrador – $332,200 — 12.3
- Greater Moncton — $333,200 — 36.6
- Saskatoon – $334,600 —-3.4
- Prince Edward Island — $338,700 — 26.3
- Winnipeg — $345,500 — 13.6
- Edmonton — $363,900 — 9.3
- Nova Scotia — $397,900 — 37.3
- North Bay — $450,200 — 42.8
- Halifax-Dartmouth — $499,000 — 36.9
- Calgary — $502,800 — 17.2
- Bancroft and Area — $532,300 – 40
Source: Zoocasa
Cities with the strongest labour markets
- Saskatoon, Sask. (up by 13 places in the past year)
- Guelph, Ont. (up by 19)
- St. Catharines, Ont. (up by 29)
- Peterborough, Ont. (up by 14)
- Regina, Sask. (up by eight)
- Oshawa, Ont. (up by 13)
- Victoria, B.C. ( up by one)
- Sudbury, Ont. (up by 23)
- Moncton, N.B. (up by 16)
- Winnipeg, Man. (up by 14)
- London, Ont. (down by four)
- Edmonton, Alta. (up by 11)
- Vancouver, B.C. (up by four)
- Toronto, Ont. (up by 14)
- Kitchener, Ont. ( down by one)
- Thunder Bay, Ont. (up by 13)
- Halifax, N.S. (down by 14)
- Sherbrooke, Que. (down by 9)
- Montreal, Que. (up by one)
- Quebec City, Que. (down by 15)
Source: BMO Economics