Saint John, N.B., second most affordable city in Canada: Royal LePage report

An aerial view of the waterfront in Saint John, N.B.

When it comes to affordable Canadian cities, Saint John, N.B., tops the list in the Maritimes, according to a new report by Royal LePage.

The real estate company’s annual report on the top 15 most affordable Canadian cities put Saint John in second place, only behind Lethbridge, Alta. It noted the average Saint John resident would need to spend 19.6 per cent of their income on monthly mortgage payments, down from 25.1 per cent in 2025.

Fellow New Brunswick cities Fredericton and Moncton made the list at ninth and 14^th place, respectively. Charlottetown, P.E.I., squeaked onto the list at 15^th place.

No Nova Scotia cities made the cut.

“New Brunswick continues to offer some of the most affordable housing options in the country,” said Shannon Auffrey, broker of record with Royal LePage Atlantic, in a news release. “While home prices have increased over the past several years, they remain comparatively accessible when measured against larger urban centres.

“Along with the region’s strong sense of community, buyers are often drawn to New Brunswick’s cities for their natural beauty and convenient access to neighbouring provinces and the United States.”

The report found the New Brunswick median total household income is $73,000, which is the lowest among the provinces ranked on the list.

“Looking ahead, I believe New Brunswick will remain an affordable option for many Canadians, but affordability challenges are beginning to emerge for local buyers,” said Auffrey. “Home prices have risen faster than wages in recent years, making it more difficult for some first-time buyers to enter the market.

“Continued investment in housing supply, particularly entry-level homes, will be critical to ensuring the province remains accessible and affordable for future generations.”

Natalie Davison of eXp Realty in Moncton wasn’t surprised to hear four cities from the Maritimes made the list.

“We remain a very competitive market when it comes to the national landscape and while our real estate markets are relatively more healthy on the east coast than maybe in other parts of Canada, we haven’t seen such a rapid increase in prices that would price out of such a list,” said Davison.

Davison said the appeal of the Greater Moncton market is simple.

“There’s affordability for sure when it comes to housing prices, but there’s also the quick commute times, the access to nature and just a lifestyle that can’t really be replicated in a larger centre in Canada,” said Davison.

Nick Hartson Is originally from Fredericton, lives in Amherst, N.S., and works in Moncton.

He thinks Moncton is more affordable compared to Halifax.

“Halifax is quite expensive in terms of home affordability. I find it’s more affordable than there I would say,” said Hartson.

Molly Griffin finds New Brunswick more expensive than other places in the country.

“I used to live in Alberta and I find New Brunswick has really risen in cost,” said Griffin. “The taxes here are crazy. The energy bills are crazy.”

Lindsay Chandler doesn’t think Moncton is as affordable as it once was.

“Living isn’t affordable, groceries aren’t affordable and I’ve got a pretty good job too and I live by myself with no kids,” said Chandler.

With files from CTV News Atlantic’s Derek Haggett

For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.