Newfoundland and Labrador · 2025
Cost of living in St. John's
Newfoundland's capital keeps rents low, but groceries and home heating run high — distance from suppliers and a cold, electric-heat climate both add up.
What it costs each month in St. John's
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.
Fighting St. John's’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 St. John's compares
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 from CMHC Fall 2024 one-bedroom averages (St. John's CMA); groceries from Canada's Food Price Report 2025, interpolated upward for NL's higher food prices; transit is the Metrobus adult monthly pass; utilities reflect Newfoundland Power electric heat plus CRTC internet pricing. Figures are typical city-level estimates for a one-person household, not a personal budget, and shift over time.