Nova Scotia · Updated June 2026
Cost of living in Halifax
Atlantic Canada's biggest city has seen some of the steepest rent increases in the country, and Nova Scotia's electric-heat-heavy housing pushes utility bills high in winter.
What it costs each month in Halifax
Typical figures for a one-person household. Your own number depends on your housing, habits, and income — that’s what the Cost of Living Score assessment works out.
Rent is the CMHC average in-place one-bedroom rent (what current tenants pay), via Statistics Canada (2025-12). New-lease asking rents typically run higher.
Fighting Halifax’s rising costs?
HarmonyBudget shows you where your money actually goes each week — no bank login, no spreadsheet — so you can cut the waste local inflation hides. Join early access and get in first.
Free to join. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
How Halifax compares
Common questions about living in Halifax
How much does it cost to live in Halifax?
A typical single-person household in Halifax spends about $2,252 per month on the essentials: $1,540 rent, $410 groceries, $82 transit, and $220 utilities.
What is the average rent in Halifax?
The CMHC in-place average for a one-bedroom in Halifax is about $1,540 per month — what current tenants pay, via Statistics Canada. New-lease asking rents typically run higher.
How much are utilities in Halifax?
Hydro, heating, and internet for a one-bedroom in Halifax run about $220 per month.
Is Halifax an affordable place to live?
Halifax scores 43/100 on our Cost of Living Score, where higher means more affordable — that's "Around average". Its typical monthly essentials run about 6% above the average Canadian city we track.
How this score is calculated
The Cost of Living Score adds up a city’s typical monthly essentials — rent, groceries, transit, and utilities — and compares that total to the average across the Canadian cities we track. A city at the average scores around 50; cheaper cities score higher, pricier ones lower. Higher always means more affordable.
Sources: Rent is the CMHC Rental Market Survey 1-bedroom average (2025, via Statistics Canada); groceries from Canada's Food Price Report 2025; transit is the Halifax Transit adult monthly pass; utilities run high on Nova Scotia Power electric heat plus CRTC internet pricing — winter bills can exceed this blended figure. Figures are typical city-level estimates for a one-person household, not a personal budget, and shift over time. Last updated June 2026.