Moving from Boston to Halifax
An ocean city with a friendly, small-town feel. Here's how life in Halifax compares with Boston, and what changes when you cross the border.
Halifax is roughly 3°C colder than Boston in January (about -1°C → -4°C), with about 30 cm more snow a year and around 20 fewer sunny days. A typical home costs roughly 47% less in Halifax (about US$760,000 vs C$550,000, compared at a sample exchange rate), and everyday costs in Halifax are close to the Canadian average. Income tax goes from a medium state income tax in Massachusetts to a high provincial income tax in Nova Scotia. For lifestyle, you gain lower cost and small town and leave behind big city and nightlife. (Approximate figures.)
- January average
- -1°C → -4°C (-3°)
- July average
- 23°C → 19°C (-4°)
- Sunny days a year
- 200 → 180
- Snow a year
- 120 → 150 cm
- Cost of living index
- 145 → 95
- Typical home
- US$760,000 → C$550,000
- Property tax rate
- 0.6% → 1.1%
- Provincial or state income tax
- Medium → High
- Health care in Halifax
- Public plan, no premium
- Airport
- 35 min
- Ski hill
- 1h
- Beach or lake
- 20 min
- Main industries
- Ocean tech, health, defence
Moving from the USA to Canada
- Can you buy?
- Extra taxes
- Status
- Mortgages
Climate, cost and risk figures are approximate and for comparison only. Prices are in each place's local currency.