Home to just over 1 million people, Saskatchewan is Canada’s fifth-largest province. Most residents live in its southern half, while its northern half is heavily forested and sparsely populated.
Saskatchewan is best known for its grain production, but it also has vibrant arts and culture scenes, two scenic provincial parks, and many opportunities for outdoor sports and recreational activities. Although it’s commonly associated with prairie landscapes, Saskatchewan is home to many beautiful vistas.
With a lower-than-average cost of living and free access to robust medical care programs, Saskatchewan is an attractive place to live.
This guide will cover the best places to live in Saskatchewan, including its cheapest cities, its safest areas, and its other attractions.
Best Places To Live in Saskatchewan – Top 5 Comparison
Here is a table summary for the best 5 places to live in Saskatchewan.
| Cost of living (monthly) | Average cost of buying a home | Cost of rent (monthly) | Annual household income | Average temperature | Population | Crime Severity Index | |
| Saskatoon | $1,982 | $381,900 | $1,100 | $102,341 | 3.1° C | 337,000 | 126.21 |
| Regina | $1,695 | $330,600 | $1,145 | $102,354 | 3.8° C | 263,000 | 110.95 |
| Moose Jaw | $1,462 | $239,900 | $850 | $89,686 | 4.4° C | 34,000 | 120.98 |
| Estevan | $1,314 | $299,900 | $473 | $128,889 | 4.4° C | 13,000 | 79.54 |
| Weyburn | $1,410 | $232,400 | $580 | $126,439 | 4.3° C | 11,000 | 81.28 |
Best Cities to Live in Saskatchewan
1. Saskatoon
The largest city in the province, Saskatoon, is a city of 337,000 people. It’s home to the University of Saskatchewan and Wanuskewin Heritage Park, a National Historic Site of Canada.
Built on the banks of the South Saskatchewan River, Saskatoon houses several historic neighbourhoods and is a beautiful city in which to make a home.
Saskatoon has four seasons, with its warmest temperatures occurring in July and its coldest in January.
There are plenty of things to do and exciting places to visit in Saskatoon, and its manageable cost of living makes it a great place to move and raise a family.
- Average monthly cost of living: $1,733
- Average cost of buying a home: $373,000
- Average monthly cost of rent (one bedroom): $817
- Average annual household income: $102,341
- Average temperature in summer: 19° C
- Average temperature in winter: -13° C
2. Regina
Regina is the capital of Saskatchewan, as well as its second-largest city. It sits in the south-central section of the province, on the edge of Wascua Creek.
It has many transportation options and is served by the main Canadian railroads and multiple highways. It’s also home to Regina International Airport.
The University of Regina is located in Saskatchewan’s capital, and so are the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL.
With these attractions, Regina is a robust cultural hub with plenty of sightseeing opportunities and enjoyable places to visit.
- Average monthly cost of living: $1,657
- Average cost of buying a home: $330,600
- Average monthly cost of rent (one bedroom): $809
- Average annual household income: $103,354
- Average temperature in summer: 19° C
- Average temperature in winter: -12° C
3. Moose Jaw
The fourth largest city in Saskatchewan, Moose Jaw, lies on the Moose Jaw River, located in the south-central part of the province.
It’s known as “The Friendly City,” but it’s also known for being “notorious” due to its connections to the mobster Al Capone. Supposedly, Capone spent significant time hiding out in the Tunnels of Moose Jaw, one of many Capone-related attractions in the town.
Moose Jaw also received the honour of being included in Expedia’s list of the “10 Coolest Downtowns in Canada.” It’s full of restaurants and entertainment and has a vibrant culture.
Moose Jaw is also home to Mac the Moose, a 30-foot-tall moose sculpture that overlooks the Trans-Canada Highway.
- Average monthly cost of living: $1,462
- Average cost of buying a home: $239,900
- Average monthly cost of rent (one bedroom): $650
- Average annual household income: $89,686
- Average temperature in summer: 20° C
- Average temperature in winter: -11° C
Related: Best Places To Live in Canada.
4. Estevan
Only 16 kilometres north of the U.S.-Canada border, Estevan is Saskatchewan’s eighth-largest city. It’s home to about 13,000 people.
Estevan is also the location of Boundary Dam, the lake that never freezes and which is the only place in Saskatchewan to fish for largemouth bass.
Estevan is known as the “Sunshine Capital of Canada” and offers many options for leisure, sports, and culture. Throughout the summer months, there are many festivals and celebrations in Estevan that highlight its vibrant arts and culture scene.
- Average monthly cost of living: $1,314
- Average cost of buying a home: $299,900
- Average monthly cost of rent (one bedroom): $566
- Average annual household income: $128,889
- Average temperature in summer: 21° C
- Average temperature in winter: -12° C
5. Weyburn
Home to almost 11,000 people, Weyburn is a growing cultural center in southeast Saskatchewan.
Due to its vibrant economy, Weyburn has been nicknamed “Opportunity City.” It offers plenty of sports and leisure activities in the great outdoors and chances to explore its artistic centers within the city limits.
With plenty of beautiful parks, ever-growing infrastructure, and a competitive cost of living (7% lower than the Saskatchewan average), Weyburn is an attractive place to live, work, and raise a family.
- Average monthly cost of living: $1,410
- Average cost of buying a home: $232,400
- Average monthly cost of rent (one bedroom): $580
- Average annual household income: $126,439
- Average temperature in summer: 20° C
- Average temperature in winter: –11° C
Cheapest Places to Live in Saskatchewan
6. Lloydminster
Lloydminster has the unusual feature of straddling the border between the provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta. Therefore, it’s incorporated into both provinces.
It’s home to about 31,000 people and has a robust city community with many events staged year-round.
It has a thriving economy due to heavy oil production. Because of its unique geographical position on the very western edge of Saskatchewan, Lloydminster is known as the “Border City.” It’s the only inter-provincial city in Canada.
- Average monthly cost of living: $1,391
- Average cost of buying a home: $316,707
- Average monthly cost of rent (one bedroom): $617
- Average annual household income: $111,599
- Average temperature in summer: 18° C
- Average temperature in winter: -13° C
Related: Best Places To Live in Canada as an Immigrant.
7. Prince Albert
Perched on the bank of the North Saskatchewan River, Prince Albert is Saskatchewan’s third-largest city. As the gateway to the Prince Albert National Park, the city has many opportunities to see Canada’s unique natural wildlife.
It has various attractions, including golf courses, seasonal winter sports, the Prince Albert farmers market, and others. It also has four robust shopping districts to serve its 35,000 residents and the visitors that come to see the parks.
- Average monthly cost of living: $1,346
- Average cost of buying a home: $239,900
- Average monthly cost of rent (one bedroom): $590
- Average annual household income: $92,511
- Average temperature in summer: 15° C
- Average temperature in winter: -15° C
8. Swift Current
Situated along the Trans-Canada highway, Swift Current is the fifth-largest city in Saskatchewan. It is home to 16,000 people.
It has a thriving downtown with many thrift stores and boutique stores. One of its main attractions is Living Sky Casino.
With a robust history related to the Canadian railroad network, Swift Current is easily accessible and has plenty to do. There’s shopping, golfing, outdoor leisure activities, and plenty of events taking place all year.
- Average monthly cost of living: $1,317
- Average cost of buying a home: $295,000
- Average monthly cost of rent (one bedroom): $566
- Average annual household income: $93,805
- Average temperature in summer: 20° C
- Average temperature in winter: -9° C
Here are some of the warmest places to live in Canada.
9. North Battleford
Located in west-central Saskatchewan, North Battleford sits directly across the river from Battleford. Together, the two cities are known as “The Battlefords.” North Battleford is home to about 13,000 residents.
Battleford was briefly the capital of the Northwest Territories during the 1800s. Now, the Battlefords are home to many interesting historical sites worth visiting and plenty of places to enjoy the outdoors.
- Average monthly cost of living: $1,334
- Average cost of buying a home: $169,900
- Average monthly cost of rent (one bedroom): $523
- Average annual household income: $62, 391
- Average temperature in summer: 18° C
- Average temperature in winter: -13° C
10. Yorkton
Home to 16,000 residents, Yorkton is located about 300 kilometres southeast of Saskatoon. It’s easily accessible via the Trans-Canada Yellowhead Highway.
Yorkton is known as the hub of the parklands in east-central Saskatchewan, meaning that it has beautiful natural vistas.
Just outside the city lies Good Spirit Lake Provincial Park, which has beaches and dunes that are perfect for outdoor recreational activities. Yorkton has many cultural and historical attractions that make the city a vibrant social center.
- Average monthly cost of living: $1,313
- Average cost of buying a home: $224,900
- Average monthly cost of rent (one bedroom): $590
- Average annual household income: $87,186
- Average temperature in summer: 18° C
- Average temperature in winter: -15° C
How to Choose the Best Places to Live in Saskatchewan
When you’re deciding where to live in Saskatchewan, you’ll want to consider your budget as well as the type of environment you’re looking for.
Are you hoping for an urban environment with a robust arts and cultural scene? Saskatoon or Regina might be right for you. If you’re looking for beautiful natural vistas, you might consider Prince Albert or Estevan.
Each city in Saskatchewan has a unique personality, so you’ll want to find the place where your budget and your ideal environment match up.
We’ve created a table to help you easily analyze information about our top five cities and choose your new home.
You can also check the best places to live in Canada aside from Saskatchewan.
Ranking Methodology
To find the 10 best places to live in Saskatchewan, we reviewed many of its cities and towns, looking at their offerings in terms of entertainment, culture, and safety. We also analyzed the cost of living to see where homeowners (or renters) could get the most value. The references can be helpful additional resources for you as you narrow down your search.
Related: If you’re considering living in Saskatchewan, you should also learn more about their tax brackets and rates.
References
FAQs
The 10 cities we’ve covered are among the nicest places to live in Saskatchewan. The right city for you will depend on your priorities: budget, natural spaces, arts and culture, family-oriented neighbourhoods, or anything else you’re looking for.
Weyburn is generally considered one of the safest cities in Saskatchewan. With a crime rate 35% below the province’s average, it’s a good location to live and raise a family. Saskatchewan has the highest crime rates of any province, so this is an important factor to consider.
Maple Creek, a small town located about 130 kilometres west of Swift Current, is the warmest place in the province. This is because it receives warm air currents from the U.S.
With an average daily maximum temperature of just 9.2° C, Saskatoon is generally considered the coldest city in Saskatchewan. That said, there are parts of the province that are not as heavily settled that get even colder.
Saskatchewan is Canada’s third-cheapest province (after only Quebec and Newfoundland) – so in short, yes, it’s affordable. Plus, with a sales tax of 6%, Saskatchewan has the lowest provincial sales tax of any province that charges one.
