Halifax Housing and Transit Costs Equal Toronto’s

Recent analysis of data from Statistics Canada by CBC News reveals that households in Halifax spent a similar share of their income on housing and transportation as those in Toronto in 2024.

Approximately half of Halifax households were found to allocate around 31 percent or more of their pre-tax income towards housing and transportation expenses, closely mirroring Toronto’s 30 percent figure.

Chris Melnyk, a realtor in Halifax, commented that the rising housing costs in the city align with the data findings, dispelling the misconception that homes in Halifax are inexpensive.

Melnyk noted a significant increase in home prices in and around Halifax from 2019 to 2022, with prices nearly doubling in some cases. Despite a brief decline, overall housing prices have continued to climb, making the affordability of moving to Halifax less compelling than in previous years.

Rachel Sunter, a musician and music teacher formerly residing in Halifax, witnessed firsthand the escalating housing prices that made homeownership unattainable for her in just a couple of years. This led her to relocate to Montreal, where she found more affordable rental options.

Transportation costs were a significant factor in Sunter’s decision to move, as Halifax’s housing and transportation expenses were comparable to Toronto when combined. Statistics Canada’s new Housing and Transportation Cost Index, as of May 2024, aims to provide a comprehensive view of living costs in different areas by considering both housing and commuting expenses.

According to the data, Halifax ranked as the 22nd most expensive out of Canada’s 50 largest census subdivisions in terms of the share of income spent on housing and transportation. Nova Scotia was highlighted as one of the provinces where transportation costs were particularly high, pushing it to fourth place overall.

The data also revealed that while Toronto households spend a higher proportion of their income on housing compared to Halifax, the addition of transportation costs makes the two cities comparable in terms of overall expenses.

In terms of gasoline prices, Halifax has consistently had higher average prices for regular unleaded gas compared to Toronto since 2024. Additionally, Nova Scotia had the lowest wages in Canada last year, adding to the financial burden for residents.

Data says share of income spent on housing, transportation in Halifax comparable to Toronto

July 3|

Duration 2:28

Recent data from Statistics Canada revealed about half of Halifax households were estimated to spend about 31 percent or more of before-tax income on housing and transportation. In Toronto, the figure was 30 percent. Andrew Lam has more.