best province in Canada best province in Canada

The Best Province In Canada – 10 Options For You!

Which is the best province in Canada? It’s a rather normal question to ask, and if you find yourself asking the same, then this piece of writing will help you find the answer to that question.

So I’ll let you choose the best province in Canada by laying out the pros and cons of all the ten provinces that make up the Great White North.

Choosing the Best Province in Canada

Now this is an interesting thing to do, choose the best province in Canada by analyzing the pros and cons.

1. Ontario

Pros of living in Ontario

  • Toronto is the biggest city in Ontario and is also recognized as the financial capital of Canada. Hence, it has plenty of job opportunities.
  • Ottawa, Toronto, Peterborough, and Barrie are some of the safest cities in the world due to their extremely low crime rate. This is a very strong point, as a lot of people value safety above all else.
  • The food culture is amazing and delivers some of the best native Canadian cuisines in the country. The French influence also adds to the vibe, and it is one of the best states to live in if you’re a foodie.
  • Ottawa is the capital of the nation and is one of the most beautiful cities in the country. The authorities give extra importance to cleanliness, so it makes for a very nice environment (far better than the rest) to live in.
  • Ontario has one of the best education opportunities. The University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University are two of the best examples of the great universities in the province. This makes Ontario the best province in Canada for students.

Cons of living in the Province of Ontario 

  • The cost of living can be high for those who do not have a very stable income.
  • The weather is very cold in this state, and if you’re going to have a very tough time adjusting to the harsh winter if you aren’t used to it.
  • The Greater Toronto Area is home to about six million of the fourteen million in the province. The traffic is hence, a big issue and transit take a fair amount of time.
  • Living can be stressful as a student if you do not have accommodation provided by the college.

Most people will choose Ontario as the best province in Canada because it’s the capital state, but there’s much more to the province than just politicians.

2. Alberta

Alberta is one of the most beautiful places in the country. This might automatically make it the best province in Canada for you if you’re looking for great local scenery.

Photo by Chris Henry on Unsplash

Pros Of Alberta

  • There are a lot of gorgeous places that showcase nature’s beauty, and living here makes them accessible.
  • Housing is affordable, and add that to the $15 minimum wage, and you have a lot less homeless people than in other places.
  • Held in July every single year, the Calgary Stampede is an all-out outdoor event that makes the already great Albertan summer even more special. It’s a must-see spectacle that makes living in Alberta during the summer worth it.
  • Basic services are extremely accessible, so you won’t have to make a lot of effort to fulfill necessities.
  • Thanks to the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan, you can have access to healthcare for a very small cost. In a lot of cases, it is free as well. This makes it the best province in Canada for those who have constant health issues.

Cons Of Alberta

  • The crime rates in Alberta are higher than the national average.
  • Alberta has some of the worst drivers in the country, and have been called out on multiple occasions.
  • Close to 50% of the highways and roads in the area have been tagged in need of repairs.
  • The winters can get extremely harsh, as the temperatures during the end of the year stay around the negatives.

3. Quebec

Quebec is the second most populated province in the country.

Pros of living in Quebec

  • Most affordable electricity rates across the entire country.
  • Quebec is not very expensive to live in and has been recognized as one of the cheapest cities to reside in.
  • You can enjoy four distinct seasons every year, a rarity in most parts of the world.
  • Three national parks for you to feast your eyes on.

Cons Of Living in Quebec

  • Heating during the winters can be a bit expensive due to the greater cost of natural gas in the province.
  • French is recognized as the official language, with 80% of the population speaking French as their first language. So, there’s a chance you might have trouble communicating.
  • Quebec is known for having the highest tax rates in the entire continent, and many residents have criticized the province for it.
  • Wine and other hard drinks must be purchased through an SAQ store, which is run by the government. Hence, it can be a little inconvenient.

With all that said, you can still consider Quebec to be the best province in Canada if you can live with the cons.

4. Manitoba

Manitoba has the nicest people in all of Canada.

Pros Of Manitoba

  • Low cost of living, which means that the basic day to day expenses are lower than most other provinces in the country.
  • Family housing is much cheaper and offers a great variety of choices as compared to the other big cities in Canada.
  • With an unemployment rate of 5.8%, there is a great chance that you’ll find some form of employment in Manitoba.
  • The province boasts of being home to about 100,000 lakes. So there is no shortage of places for you to chill out at!
  • Great cultural diversity, in terms of cuisine and ethnicity. The cities have a lot of attractions as well.

Cons of Manitoba 

  • The public transport system is quite messy, and transit can be a big problem if you travel a lot without a vehicle of your own.
  • Manitoba is known for its extremely cold climate, which is one of the coldest in the country during winters.
  • Polar bears might attack you when they migrate inland during the winters.
  • You might get bitten by mosquitoes a lot, depending on the area. Caterpillars might also decide to share the room.

If you’re not cool with those cons, it’s probably not the best province in Canada for you. But there’s more to come!

5. British Columbia 

A lot of students would choose British Columbia as the best province in Canada. Sharing borders with the scenic province of Alberta. here are the

Pros of living in British Columbia

  • Vancouver. I could just leave it at that. Vancouver has been named one of the best cities in the world and has a great feel to it.
  • Can’t choose between the beach and the mountains? Don’t have to. There are the Canadian Rockies on the East and the Pacific Ocean on the west.
  • The temperature is just perfect. The summers are around 20 degrees Celsius on average and it snows very little compared to the rest of the country during winter.
  • SkyTrain is one of the best forms of public transport in the world and offers a great view of the city.
  • For a lot of students, British Columbia is the best province in Canada because of the number of great universities and schools in the province.

All those pros might make it seem like an ideal land, but sadly it is not so. Here are the cons.

  • Along with the GST, British Columbia also charges a PST which can make living expensive.
  • The cost of housing is one of the highest in the country.
  • Despite the number of great schools, job opportunities are limited in the big cities.
  • British Columbia has been reported to have a natural disaster in the future which will bring about massive destruction.

A lot of people would choose British Columbia as the best province in Canada because of the gravity of the pros.

6. Newfoundland and Labrador

Here are the pros of the easternmost region of Canada

  • It is one of the safest provinces in Canada and has been predicted to become even more so in the future.
  • The cost of living is much less than most other parts of Canada.
  • The beach is close, a plus for the beach lovers.
  • The province is quiet and is a good place for peace lovers to reside.

Here are the cons

  • At 11.1%, the unemployment rate is the second-highest in the country.
  • A limited number of industries operate here, which adds to the shortage of jobs.
  • Although local transport is fairly priced, the cost of a ferry to reach the island or back can be a lot.
  • People have been moving out a lot, in search of jobs or other aspirations. The population is predicted to decline further in the future.

7. Saskatchewan

Photo by Dan Loran on Unsplash

I’ll make life easier for you. Sus-catch-a-one.

Here are the pros

  • The taxes are lesser than most other provinces.
  • The average house pricing is less and is going down further.
  • There’s a ton of natural beauty to see and Alberta’s nearby if you want more.
  • It isn’t overpopulated.

Here are the cons of living in Saskatchewan

  • The province can seem isolated a lot of the time, due to the sparse population distribution.
  • The province is landlocked, and that gives rise to hot, humid summers and harsh winters.
  • Crime rates are high, although the rates in the southern urban areas are relatively low.
  • The province can seem a little dull and boring because of the absence of a perennial source of entertainment.

Saskatchewan is probably not the best province in Canada for you if you’re a very lively person, but it’s a great choice if you’re the shy type.

8. Nova Scotia

Here are the pros of living in Nova Scotia

  • Housing is about 70% cheaper than that in Toronto.
  • The cuisine is something special. Fresh seafood, oatcakes, donair sauce, and fresh fruits, along with up and coming breweries are some of the great examples.
  • The music scene is great and is prominent in the bars.
  • Freeways with no traffic, a driver’s paradise.
  • Small communities that are welcoming and nice to each other.
  • Halifax has a great balance between city and natural life.

Moving on, let’s look at the cons

  • It’s tough to find a steady job that pays throughout the year.
  • The lowest minimum wage in the country at $11.
  • Adding to the low income, the taxes are high which means that balancing the finances is tough.
  • Public buses aren’t very reliable and can be frustrating at times.

Adding to the isolation, this isn’t the best province in Canada for extroverts. However, if you like the rural life and peace, Nova Scotia is the place for you.

9. New Brunswick

Photo by Nick Martin on Unsplash

New Brunswick is one of the smallest provinces in Canada but is home to about 800,000 people regardless.

Here are the pros of living in New Brunswick

  • The cost of living is on the cheaper side. It is the cheapest in the country.
  • The people are really friendly and make the process of adapting a lot easier.
  • If you enjoy spending time in the greens, then you’ll love New Brunswick. About 80% of the province has forest cover, which makes for a lot of camping and hiking opportunities.
  • Public transport is decent and makes commuting stress-free.

Let’s have a look at the cons of living here

  • The job scene is complicated, as most of the employment is due to fishing and agriculture.
  • The unemployment percentage is about 8.7%.
  • Being bilingual is a good idea because French is recognized as an official language.
  • Despite having plenty of sunshine, New Brunswick has a very cold winter.

If the pros outweigh the cons, then New Brunswick is the best province in Canada for you.

10. Prince Edward Island

The smallest province of the ten, Prince Edward island is one of most beautiful places to live in Canada.

Pros Of living in Prince Edward Island

  • The cost of living is very low, and cities can come under your budget as well. Eg: Charlottetown.
  • The rural areas aren’t far from the city so you can get away with paying even less.
  • There’s plenty of outdoor activities and wildlife to see. It’s a real treat if you’re someone who loves being outdoors.

As with all the other provinces, let’s look at the cons:

  • The unemployment percentage is 8.4% which is well above the national average.
  • Life is much quieter, and can even become isolated in the winters when businesses close due to the end of the tourist season.
  • Just like with New Brunswick, you’ll be much more socially adept if you can speak French and English.

Conclusion

That’s all the pros and cons of all the provinces in Canada. I hope it helped you choose the best province in Canada for you. Until next time, have a great day!

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Last Updated on by Sanjana

Author

  1. After reading about the best provinces in Canada, I learned a lot. Each place has its own special things like culture and views. I’m thinking about moving, and this guide helps me understand which province might be the best for me in Canada.

  2. A helpful article for those who are planning a visit for a holiday or for job opportunities in Canada. Thank you to the author for stating the pros and cons of all the ten provinces so I could look into the weather and the measures of entertainment in those provinces before planning a trip.

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