Start Right in Canada
Start Right in Canada
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Canada is the second largest country in the world. How do you even begin choosing where to live in Canada?
To help you start making the big decision, we’ve gathered some information and resources to help you understand what each region offers.
Canada is made up of 10 provinces and three territories, spread over six time zones. You could further divide the regions by geography, from the Rockies and the west coast, to the prairies in the centre of the country, and the “Canadian Shield” marked with plateaus across most of central Canada, and finally the rolling Appalachian mountains that roll towards the Atlantic Ocean. To the North, you’ll find Arctic tundra and a lifestyle unlike that of most of the world. Before choosing a destination province or territory of Canada, it’s important to look at all your options.
Be sure to click on the links we’ve provided as resources which will help you understand how each province or territory approaches key aspects of living in that particular place.
With that picture in mind, here is a broad overview of each Canadian province and territory.
Canada's provinces and territories
British Columbia
If forests, mountains, and the great outdoors is your thing, then British Columbia might be the place for you.
Ski and snowboard slopes are abundant throughout B.C., as well as hiking trails into boreal forest.
The B.C. climate is relatively mild compared to the rest of Canada, especially in the Lower Mainland, which is home to most B.C. residents, and on Vancouver Island.
You’ll find palm trees on Vancouver Island, home to the province’s capital city of Victoria, as well as the city of Nanaimo. The city you might have heard of, Vancouver (which is not on Vancouver Island), sits along the coast of mainland Canada overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Moving inland toward B.C.’s Southern Interior, you’ll find the likes of Kelowna and the Okanagan Valley. Here you can expect arid to semi-arid weather, and even a small desert region in the town of Osoyoos.
B.C. is the third most populous province in Canada and the most populous in Western Canada.
When it comes to cost of living, B.C. can be one of the more expensive places to live. Housing costs are particularly high, especially in Vancouver. But, cost of living factors do not seem to stop newcomers from moving to B.C., as the province consistently ranks as one of the top landing locations for new permanent residents.
Population size: 5,399,118 as of 2023
Newcomers choosing B.C. in 2022: 247,885
- 61,230 permanent residents
- 103,500 temporary workers
- 110,155 international students
Average household income: $108,600, in 2020
Average home price: $960,067 in March 2023
Top universities: University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, University of Victoria
Top colleges: Camosun College, Douglas College, Langara College, Okanagan College
Main industries: Agriculture, construction, film, fisheries and aquacultures, forestry, high technology, manufacturing, mining, tourism
Largest Cities: Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna, Abbotsford, Nanaimo
Provincial immigration site: Immigrate to BC
Foreign qualifications: Foreign Qualifications Recognition
Alberta
The most popular Prairie Province for newcomers, Alberta is home to a diverse landscape of prairies and mountains.
While Alberta winters can be quite cold, those living in southern Alberta benefit from what are called “Chinooks.” Warm air from the Pacific blows through and melts the snow, giving people a break from winter in cities like Calgary, Lethbridge, and Medicine Hat. The seemingly quick and contrasting weather events that take place in the province has birthed the popular saying, “If you don’t like the weather in Alberta, wait 10 minutes.”
Alberta is known for its oil sands, with opportunities for oil and gas industry workers throughout the province, but especially in cities toward the north such as Fort McMurray.
Alberta’s capital, Edmonton, is home to the largest shopping mall in Canada and the second-largest in North America, the West Edmonton Mall.
There is no provincial sales tax in Alberta, nor do Albertans pay payroll taxes or a health premium. Overall, Albertans pay the lowest taxes in Canada.
Skiers and snowboarders also flock to the Rockies located along the western region of the province. You’ll find slopes in Banff, Jasper, and Pincher Creek, among other hot (well, cold) spots for winter sports
Population size: 4,647,178 as of 2023
Newcomers choosing Alberta in 2022: 122,475
- 49,460 permanent residents
- 44,475 temporary workers
- 28,540 international students
Average household income: $119,700 in 2020
Average home price: $446,263 in March 2023
Top universities: University of Alberta, University of Calgary
Top colleges: Bow Valley College, NAIT, Red Deer Polytechnic
Main industries: Oil, gas and mining, manufacturing, agriculture, finance, insurance and real estate, tourism, transportation and utilities, business and commercial services, education
Largest Cities: Edmonton, Calgary, Grande Prairie, Lethbridge, Red Deer
Provincial immigration site: Immigrate to Alberta
Foreign qualifications: Foreign Qualifications Recognition
Saskatchewan
If you make it to Saskatchewan, congratulations — you are now squarely in the Canadian prairies.
While that means you have sky for days and a sunset that can’t be beat, it also means the winters are cold and the summers are hot. Expect a big contrast in the seasons.
Saskatchewan is known as a farming province, but those not cultivating the country’s grain could very well be active in the province’s other popular industries: mining, manufacturing, and oil and gas.
Saskatchewan’s capital city, Regina, is toward the south of the province and sits along the Trans-Canada Highway, a road system that spans Canada.
The most populous city is Saskatoon, which has a bumping arts scene and is also the namesake of the scrumptious Saskatoon berry that grows throughout western Canada and northern regions in the US.
Ever visited the Dead Sea? Saskatchewan has a similar body of water — Little Lake Manitou — with such a high mineral content that you can’t sink.
Population: 1,186,308 as of 2022
Newcomers choosing Saskatchewan in 2022: 40,695
- 21,635 permanent residents
- 10,650 temporary workers
- 8,410 international students
Average household income: $99,800 in 2020
Average home price: $321,400 in March 2023
Top universities: University of Saskatchewan, University of Regina
Top colleges: Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Cumberland College, Southeast College
Main industries: Agriculture, energy, forestry, life sciences, manufacturing, mining, minerals, oil and gas
Largest cities: Regina, Saskatoon
Provincial immigration site: Immigrate to Saskatchewan
Foreign qualifications: Foreign Qualifications Recognition
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Prairie Province located in the centre of Canada.
The province is home to a number of large lakes with long, sandy freshwater beaches. And while the winters are long and cold, Manitobans have developed means to have fun in the winter: snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, curling, hockey, skating, tobogganing down Roger’s Hill—the list goes on. Wintertime festivities include the Festival du Voyageur, celebrating the province’s French Canadian heritage, and the rodeo in Brandon called the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair.
During the hot summertime, you can take advantage of the many festivals in Winnipeg and throughout the province. From Folklorama, where the ethnic groups of Winnipegs put on live entertainment and serve traditional food in pavilions throughout the city, to Canada’s second-largest powwow, Manito Ahbee Powwow, a celebration of Indigenous cultures.
You will also find the polar bear capital of the world in Manitoba, along the Hudson Bay in a town called Churchill. But, you can’t drive all the way there — you have to fly or settle in for a two-day-long train ride from Winnipeg. By the way, let’s take a moment to remind ourselves how big Canada is: it takes two days by train to get between two locations in Canada’s sixth-largest province.
Population size: 1,431,792 as of 2023
Newcomers choosing Manitoba in 2022: 56,660
- 21,645 permanent residents
- 20,310 temporary workers
- 14,705 international students
Average household income: $97,300 in 2020
Average home price: $338,022 in March 2023
Top universities: University of Manitoba, University of Winnipeg
Top colleges: Assiniboine Community College, Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology
Main industries: Agriculture, advanced manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, heavy-duty vehicles and equipment, mining, the creative industries
Largest cities: Winnipeg, Brandon, Steinbach
Provincial immigration site: Immigrate to Manitoba
Foreign qualifications: Foreign Qualifications Recognition
Ontario
Ontario remains by far the most popular destination province for newcomers to Canada, though while the number of newcomers choosing Ontario continues to grow in absolute terms, the proportional share has shrunk slightly over recent years.
Ontario is Canada’s most populated and the home of Canada’s capital city, Ottawa, and biggest city, Toronto.
Toronto is North America’s fourth-largest city and home to a number of corporate headquarters. Toronto is also the most diverse city in Canada. More than half of urban Torontonians are newcomers and more than 55 percent are visible minorities.
Beyond the bright lights and big cities of southern Ontario, newcomers to Canada have the ability to connect with other communities of people from around the world in smaller cities across the province. Municipalities like Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, North Bay, Timmins, and Thunder Bay all have their own immigration programs, providing newcomers a direct pathway to permanent residency.
Ontario is also the home to some of Canada’s top universities, including the University of Toronto and the University of Waterloo.
The winters are typically cold in Ontario, though milder in southwestern Ontario, and it snows often, whereas summers are hot and humid across most of Ontario.
As it is such a popular destination province, certain Ontario destinations come with a cost of living higher than the national average, though workers in such places may offset higher living costs with bigger pay cheques. This is particularly the case in the GTA, a sprawling region containing 25 urban, suburban, and rural municipalities around the City of Toronto.
Population: 15,386,407 as of 2023
Newcomers choosing Ontario in 2022: 696,885
- 184,725 permanent residents
- 222,540 temporary workers
- 289,620 international students in 2022
Average household income: $70,100 in 2020
Average home price: $881,946 in March 2023
Top universities: University of Toronto, Queens University, University of Waterloo, Western University, McMaster University
Top colleges: Humber College, Canadore College, Conestoga College
Main industries: Agriculture, mining, automotive, technology, aerospace, life sciences, financial, retail
Largest cities: Toronto, Ottawa, London, Burlington, Waterloo, Hamilton, Guelph, Oakville
Provincial immigration site: Immigrate to Ontario
Foreign qualifications: Foreign Qualifications Recognition
Quebec
Quebec is the hub of French Canadian culture. It is also Canada’s largest province by landmass, and second most populous.
About 94 percent of Quebec residents speak French, and 52 percent speak English. The largest city in Quebec is Montreal, while its capital is just up the St. Lawrence River in Quebec City.
Some not-to-be missed attractions in Quebec include the Gaspésie Peninsula, where you’ll find quintessentially Quebec architecture along the Atlantic Ocean. Try kayaking with whales in Tadoussac, where the St. Lawrence River meets the sea four hours northeast of Quebec City. Or go skiing at Mont-Tremblant, less than two hours northwest of Montreal.
Some popular Canadian foods come from Quebec, such as poutine, which if you don’t know is a plate of fries and cheese curds drizzled in gravy. The province is also the world’s largest producer of maple syrup. More than 70 percent of global syrup production takes place in Quebec.
Although Quebecers pay the most taxes of any province, the cost of living is generally less than other regions of Canada. Montreal is the most affordable of Canada’s major urban centres.
Population: 8,787,554 as of 2023
Newcomers choosing Quebec in 2022: 221,175
- 68,685 permanent residents
- 90,150 temporary workers
- 62,340 international students
Average household income: $92,000 in 2020
Average home price: $451,313 in March 2023
Top universities: University of Montreal, McGill University, Bishop’s University, Concordia University, Laval University
Top colleges: Dawson College, LaSalle College, Vanier College
Main industries: Technology, video games, electronics, food, life sciences, manufacturing, hydroelectricity, tourism, agriculture, forestry
Largest cities: Montreal, Quebec, Sherbrooke, Trois-Rivieres
Provincial immigration site: Immigrate to Quebec
Foreign qualifications: Foreign Qualifications Recognition
New Brunswick
The beauty of Canada’s only officially bilingual province, New Brunswick, is largely because of its views of the Atlantic Ocean and rich forests.Expect cold winters with heavy storms here. You’ll need a good pair of boots!
New Brunswickers depend on the forestry, mining, fishing, and tourism industries. Nature parks are abundant throughout the province. For fun, you can chill with your friends in a tube down the Miramichi River, or go snowshoeing in Mount Carleton Provincial Park.
The largest city in New Brunswick is Moncton, but the capital is Fredericton. The small town of Florenceville-Bristol is often called the French Fry Capital of the World. About a third of the world’s frozen french fries are made there, and they even have a museum dedicated to the beloved spud, the aptly named Potato World.
Population: 825,474 as of 2023
Newcomers choosing New Brunswick in 2022: 27,495
- 10,205 permanent residents
- 9,670 temporary workers
- 7,620 international students
Average household income: $56,900 in 2020
Average home price: $270,900 in March 2023
Top universities: University of New Brunswick, St. Thomas University, Mount Allison University
Top colleges: New Brunswick Community College, McKenzie College, Oulton College
Main industries: Forestry, mining, fishing, tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, services
Largest cities: Moncton, Saint John, Fredericton, Dieppe
Provincial immigration site: Immigrate to New Brunswick
Foreign qualifications: Foreign Qualifications Recognition
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada’s Atlantic provinces, so fisheries are traditionally a big industry, along with shipbuilding and manufacturing.
Because the province had a lot of Scottish immigrants — the clue is in the name, Latin for “New Scotland” — it has rich Gaelic and Celtic cultures.
To live in Nova Scotia is to be surrounded by the sea, rolling green hills, and farm land. The capital city is also the largest, Halifax. It is home to Dalhousie University, the largest university in Atlantic Canada.
Nova Scotia is also home to Peace by Chocolate, a chocolate company founded by a family of Syrian refugees that became so famous they made a movie out of it. You can find it in Antigonish, Nova Scotia.
Like to watch the tides come in? The Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia has the world’s highest tidal range. Every day, 160 billion tonnes of seawater move in and out of the bay. If you are lucky, you may even spot some whales there.
Population size: 1,007,049 as of 2022
Newcomers choosing Nova Scotia in 2022: 38,530
- 12,650 permanent residents
- 12,725 temporary workers
- 13,155 international students
Average household income: $87,900 in 2020
Average home price: $376,600 in March, 2023
Top universities: Dalhousie University, Saint Mary’s University, Acadia University
Top colleges: Nova Scotia Community College, College of Continuing Education
Main industries: Construction, manufacturing, real estate, fishing, agriculture, transportation, finance, film, natural resources
Largest cities: Halifax, Cape Breton, Sydney
Provincial immigration site: Immigrate to Nova Scotia
Foreign qualifications: Foreign Qualifications Recognition
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is one of the smaller provinces in terms of population, but still offers lots of opportunities and jobs in sectors like mining and manufacturing. The province is known for its regional culture, dialect, and great seafood.
Because of its stunning and unique landscapes, this Atlantic province has been the shooting location of a number of popular films such as Aquaman, as well as Peter Pan and Wendy.
The capital city is St. John’s, home to the Royal St. John’s Regatta, an annual event of boat racing. Some other notable sights in the province include the Gros Morne National Park, a UNESCO world heritage site known for its fjords. Also, if you get to Quidi Vidi Lake, be prepared to feel like you’re in a painting.
Population: 522,875 (as of 2022)
Newcomers choosing Newfoundland and Labrador in 2022: 11,695
- 3,490 permanent residents
- 4,340 temporary workers
- 3,865 international students
Average household income: $71,500 in 2020
Average home price: $272,600 in March 2023
Top universities: Memorial University
Top colleges: College of the North Atlantic, Western College, Eastern College
Main industries: Mining, manufacturing, fishing, forestry, hydroelectricity
Largest cities: St. John’s, Corner Brook, Grand Falls-Windsor
Provincial immigration site: Immigrate to Newfoundland and Labrador
Foreign qualifications: Foreign Qualifications Recognition
Prince Edward Island
Famous for its lobster rolls and the Anne of Green Gables book series, PEI is Canada’s smallest province. You can drive across the entire province in about three hours.
Prince Edward Island is known for its tourism and fisheries industries. Despite what its name suggests, it isn’t one island. The province actually includes 232 islands. With all those islands, PEI is also home to a large number of lighthouses. There are 63 lighthouses still standing, but only 35 are currently active.
One of the longest bridges in the world, the 8-kilometre long Confederation Bridge, attaches PEI to the mainland in New Brunswick.
The capital city is Charlottetown, also the island’s largest city. Stunning red beaches surround the city, and all around the province.
One downside to living in PEI is a potential lack of access to certain specialized forms of health care. Residents are sometimes flown to the mainland for certain procedures.
Population size: 173,954 as of 2023
Newcomers choosing PEI in 2022: 8,950
- 2,670 permanent residents
- 3,870 temporary workers
- 2,410 international students
Average household income: $87,900 in 2020
Average home price: $334,900 in June 2022
Top universities: University of Prince Edward Island
Top colleges: Holland College, Maritime Christian College
Main industries: Agriculture, fisheries, tourism, aerospace, bioscience, information technology, renewable energy
Largest cities: Charlottetown, Summerside, Stratford, Cornwall
Provincial immigration site: Immigrate to Prince Edward Island
Foreign qualifications: Foreign Qualifications Recognition
Yukon
Well known from tales of the gold rush that took place in the late 19th century, Yukon’s biggest industry today is still mining. However, tourism is also a big industry in the province’s capital city, Whitehorse, and other areas. Visitors come from all over the world to see the Northern Lights and go dogsledding.
The Yukon has a significant Indigenous population and a rich cultural history. Like with all territories of Canada, it has a relatively high cost of living. Most necessities have to be flown in during the winter, making for a hefty grocery bill. It also makes it hard to build new housing, which pushes up the price of homes. However, there is no territorial sales tax in Yukon or any other Canadian territory.
Yukon is home to the highest mountain in Canada, Mount Logan, which is also the second highest mountain in North America.
Population size: 44,238 as of 2023
Newcomers choosing Yukon in 2022: 1,320
- 450 permanent residents
- 705 temporary workers
- 165 international students
Average household income: $118,900 in 2020
Average home price: $519,190 in March 2023
Top universities: Yukon University
Top colleges: Yukon College
Main industries: Mining, tourism, manufacturing, telecommunication, service
Largest cities: Whitehorse, Dawson, Watson Lake
Territorial immigration site: Immigrate to the Yukon
Foreign qualifications: Foreign Qualifications Recognition
Northwest Territories
The sparsely-populated Northwest Territories is beautiful, but expensive. Much of it doesn’t have access to high speed internet.s. However, it has a rich tourism and mining industry and can have good opportunities for newcomers due to a lack of skilled workers and professionals.
Just like all the territories, the Northwest Territories has a large Indigenous population.
Like in Yukon and Nunavut, it can be tricky to get supplies north, especially during the long, bitterly cold winter. This results in a relatively high cost of living, though many people living up here earn more than enough to mitigate those additional costs. In addition to its reputation for cold weather, the territory is also known as the Diamond Capital of North America. A number of diamond mines are located across the Northwest Territories.
Population size: 45,493 as of 2023
Newcomers choosing Northwest Territories in 2022: 535
- 235 permanent residents
- 265 temporary workers
- 35 international students
Average household income: $144,800 in 2020
Average home price: $422,787 in March 2023
Top universities: N/A
Top colleges: Aurora College
Main industries: Energy, fisheries, construction, mining, oil and gas, tourism, fur, manufacturing
Largest cities: Yellowknife, Fort Smith, Hay River, Inuvik
Territorial immigration site: Immigrate to the Northwestern Territories
Nunavut
The northernmost territory and largest region in Canada, Nunavut has beautiful Arctic wildlife and scenery and is populated primarily by the Inuit people. The territory faces significant resource and development issues, as well as an extremely high cost of living due to the difficulties of getting necessary food and building materials into the territory.
The capital city is Iqaluit, where you can try dog sledding, cross country skiing, and snowmobiling. Because the province is so far north, in the summer you get two months of continuous daylight. Then in the winter, weeks on end of complete darkness.
Ever dream of going to Mars? Turns out Nunavut’s climate is so similar to what Mars’ climate is believed to be that the Haughton-Mars Project trains astronauts there for future Mars missions.
Population size: 40,692 as of 2023
Newcomers choosing Nunavut in 2022: 94
- 34 permanent residents
- 60 temporary workers
Average household income: $144,800 in 2020
Average home price: No data available
Top universities: N/A
Top colleges: Nunavut Artic College
Main industries: Mining, fishing, hunting trapping, construction, arts
Largest cities: Iqaluit, Baker Lake, Cambridge Bay
Provincial immigration site: Immigrate to Nunavut
Foreign qualifications: Foreign Qualifications Recognition
Quick links from this article
Provincial immigration sites
Immigrate to BC
Immigrate to Alberta
Immigrate to Saskatchewan
Immigrate to Manitoba
Immigrate to Ontario
Immigrate to Quebec
Immigrate to New Brunswick
Immigrate to Nova Scotia
Immigrate to Newfoundland and Labrador
Immigrate to Prince Edward Island
Immigrate to the Yukon
Immigrate to the Northwest Territories
Immigrate to Nunavut
Foreign qualifications
Foreign Qualifications Recognition for BC
Foreign Qualifications Recognition for Alberta
Foreign Qualifications Recognition for Saskatchewan
Foreign Qualifications Recognition for Manitoba
Foreign Qualifications Recognition for Ontario
Foreign Qualifications Recognition for Quebec
Foreign Qualifications Recognition for New Brunswick
Foreign Qualifications Recognition for Nova Scotia
Foreign Qualifications Recognition for Newfoundland
Foreign Qualifications Recognition for PEI
Foreign Qualifications Recognition for the Yukon
Foreign Qualifications Recognition for Northwest Territories
Foreign Qualifications Recognition (nationally)
Sources:
Population stats: Population estimates, quarterly (statcan.gc.ca)
Immigrants: Permanent residents — Monthly IRCC Updates
Average income of Provinces: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population
Average income of Territories: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population
Home prices: CREA | National Price Map
Getting started in Canada may not always be easy, but figuring out your finances and navigating the Canadian banking system should be. Scotiabank is committed to easing the financial challenges newcomers face when they move to Canada. We do that by providing solutions and advice to help newcomers achieve their financial goals in the first days and weeks in Canada.
We offer advisors who speak your language, to credit products that don’t exclude you just because you don’t have a credit score yet, and we help you navigate the challenges that are unique to your situation. While we can’t lower the price of moving, we can help you to be able to afford it.
Ready to get your finances on track for your future? Come in and speak to a Scotiabank advisor.
Legal Disclaimer
This article is provided for information purposes only. It is not to be relied upon as financial, tax or investment advice or guarantees about the future, nor should it be considered a recommendation to buy or sell. Information contained in this article, including information relating to interest rates, market conditions, tax rules, and other investment factors are subject to change without notice and The Bank of Nova Scotia is not responsible to update this information. All third party sources are believed to be accurate and reliable as of the date of publication and The Bank of Nova Scotia does not guarantee its accuracy or reliability. Readers should consult their own professional advisor for specific financial, investment and/or tax advice tailored to their needs to ensure that individual circumstances are considered properly and action is taken based on the latest available information.
