Manitoba is a Canadian central Prairie Province between Saskatchewan and Ontario that boasts safe and friendly cities and stunning attractions.
With a population of around 1.3 million, Manitoba is one of the most populous provinces in Canada.
It offers free public healthcare and education, employment opportunities, reasonable overall taxation, and low utility rates. Aside from having a relatively healthy housing market, Manitoba is also one of the more affordable provinces.
Key Takeaways
- The cheapest places to live in Manitoba include Selkirk, Morden, Minnedosa, Springfield, Niverville, and Winnipeg.
- If you want low-populated areas with a population under 10,000), consider Niverville, Morden, Neepawa, and Minnedosa.
- The cost of living in Manitoba is about $200 lower than Canada’s average ($1,708).
- Manitoba is excellent for people seeking a slower pace and a rewarding life for themselves or their families.
Table Comparison of cheapest places in Comparison
Below is a list of the top cheapest cities or municipalities in Manitoba ranked according to the average price of homes in their area.
| # | City/Municipality | Population | Average Cost of Buying a Home | Cost of Living (with rent) |
| 1 | Minnedosa | 2,741 | $227,600 | 3% less than the national average |
| 2 | Neepawa | 5,685 | $234,400 | 1% higher than the national average |
| 3 | Selkirk | 10,504 | $273,600 | No data currently available |
| 4 | Morden | 9,929 | $293,600 | $1,516 |
| 5 | Steinbach | 17,806 | $303,818 | No data currently available |
| 6 | Brandon | 51,313 | $306,535 | $1,407 |
| 7 | Winnipeg | 749,607 | $378,905 | $1,604 |
| 8 | Niverville | 5,947 | $429,900 | 1% higher than the national average |
| 9 | Springfield | 16,142 | $454,000 | No data currently available |
| 10 | East St. Paul | 9,725 | $614,000 | No data currently available |
Cheapest Places to Live in Manitoba
Below are the top ten cheapest and best places to live in Manitoba, ranked according to the average cost of a home in the area.
As a general reference, the cost of living for a single individual in Canada is $1,708 and $1,592 in Manitoba.
1. Minnedosa
- Population: 2,741
- Average price of a home: $227,600
- Average rent: No listings currently available
- Average cost of living: Less than the national average
Minnedosa is a town located in the southwestern area of Manitoba, north of Brandon and west of Winnipeg. The town has an employment rate of 59.7% and an unemployment rate of 6.2%. Its largest industry by business count is agriculture, while the smallest is utilities.
The top economic contributors in Minnedosa are agriculture, manufacturing, electricity, oil, tourism, and mining/forestry. The median household income is $61,216, and the median age is 46.0. The cost of living is also very low.
2. Neepawa
- Population: 5,685
- Average price of a home: $234,400
- Average rent: No listings currently available
- Average cost of living: 1% higher than the national average
Neepawa is a vibrant, growing community in Manitoba centrally located in western Manitoba, 45 minutes from Brandon and two hours west of Winnipeg.
This agricultural town has a diverse workforce and a robust retail sector with a regional economy that spans agriculture, manufacturing, wholesale trade, healthcare, and logistics.
The community provides numerous multicultural art programs, recreational opportunities and facilities for residents of all ages.
Neepawa has been experiencing the growth of new businesses and jobs, including housing. Its low cost of living and affordable housing market make it a cheap place to live in.
3. Selkirk
- Population: 10,504
- Average price of a home: $273,600
- Average rent (1-bedroom apartment): $1,498
- Average cost of living: 5% higher than the national average
Selkirk is a small city in the Interlake region of Manitoba, on the west bank of the Red River, north of Winnipeg. Selkirk features include an industrial park, a health centre, a shipyard, a marine museum, and premier bird-watching areas.
The primary players in the city’s economy are steel production, the service sector, light manufacturing, and government administration, helping to keep the unemployment rate below 6%.
Selkirk’s housing sector is also growing, with single and multi-family residential units under construction and more at the planning stage.
4. Morden
- Population: 9,929
- Average price of a home: $293,600
- Average rent (1-bedroom apartment in the city centre): $698
- Average cost of living: $1,516
Morden is the eighth largest city in Manitoba, located west of Winkler and southwest of Winnipeg. Its population increase in 2021 made Morden the fastest-growing city in the province.
Business industries in Morden include agriculture, real estate, construction, transportation, professional services, retail, manufacturing, finance, wholesale, and mining and oil.
Morden has an employment rate of 64.1% and an unemployment rate of 6.4%. It is one of the cheapest places to live in Manitoba, with a very affordable cost of living.
Related: How to apply for Manitoba Disability Income Support Program
5. Steinbach
- Population: 17,806
- Average price of a home: $303,818
- Average rent cost: No listings currently available
- Average cost of living: No data currently available
Steinbach is the third largest city in Manitoba, centrally located in Canada with proximity to the US border and in the southeast region of Winnipeg.
This rural jewel is famous in the province for its stunning classic architecture and its newfound position as an economic hub of southeastern Manitoba.
Steinbach today is a thriving market due to its stable and vibrant local economy and job opportunities in the agricultural, manufacturing, and processing industries.
Steinbach also offers affordable housing, accessibility to markets, and favourable tax rates, which are the second lowest in Manitoba.
6. Brandon
- Population: 51,313
- Average cost of a home: $306,535
- Average monthly rent (1-bedroom apartment): $1,298
- Average cost of living for a single person: $1,407
Brandon is the second largest city in Manitoba and is situated in the southwest corner of the province. It is an hour from the USA and Saskatchewan borders.
Referred to as the Wheat City, it was originally an agricultural town that developed and now has a diversified economy.
Brandon, Manitoba, features a stable housing market, abundant employment opportunities, a rich cultural and recreational hub, and a student-oriented educational system.
Located amid a large trading area, the city is attractive for many businesses looking to set up shop due to its affordable business costs and the lowest electricity rates in North America.
7. Winnipeg
- Population: 749,607
- Average cost of buying a home: $378,905
- Average monthly rent (1-bedroom apartment): $1,096
- Average cost of living for a single person (excluding rent): $972
Winnipeg, the capital and largest city of Manitoba, is Canada’s sixth most populous city. It is also one of the most affordable southern Manitoba towns.
Located at the “forks,” where the Red River and Assiniboine River meet, Winnipeg is less than 110 km north of the international border of Canada and the United States.
Nicknamed “Gateway to the West,” Winnipeg is a hub of transportation and has a significantly diversified economy, specifically in manufacturing and trade.
With its stable economy, Winnipeg offers employment opportunities, a sound healthcare structure, and a robust educational system. The cost of living here is also very low.
Related: Manitoba Child Benefit Payment Dates, Amounts, and Application
8. Niverville
- Population: 5,947
- Average price of a home: $429,900
- Average rent (3-bedroom apartment): $1,568
- Average cost of living: 1% higher than the national average
Niverville is a town in the Eastman Region, south of Winnipeg. Its recent population growth of 29% makes the commuter town the fastest-growing municipality in Manitoba.
The town’s proximity to Winnipeg is a draw for people, with many of its residential developments already sold out. The community is young, with 28.3% of its residents under the age of 15 and the average age being 33.
Niverville’s economy is based on agriculture and construction, with businesses including grain elevators, hatcheries, and feed mills.
9. Springfield
- Population: 16,142
- Average price of a home: $454,000
- Average rent: No listings currently available
- Average cost of living: No data currently available
The Rural Municipality of Springfield is a diverse community in Manitoba located east of Winnipeg. Its proximity to the urban centre of Winnipeg and its attractive tax structures make it one of the fastest-growing municipalities in the Capital Region.
The top three business industries are construction, agriculture, and real estate. The rates for employment and unemployment are 67.2% and 4.5%, respectively.
Single detached homes are the most popular housing type by structure, with three bedrooms as the most popular dwelling size.
10. East St. Paul
- Population: 9,725
- Average price of a home: $614,000
- Average rent (2-bedroom apartment): $1,480
- Average cost of living: No data currently available
The Rural Municipality of East St. Paul, which is in the Interlake and Winnipeg Metro regions, is located northeast of and adjacent to Winnipeg. The municipality was formed following the split of St. Paul into East St. Paul and West St. Paul, with the Red River marking the boundary.
Business industries in the area include construction, finance, retail, transportation, wholesale, manufacturing, and agriculture.
East St. Paul has a median household income of $130,534, with a median age of 46.8. Its employment rate is 65.0%, while the unemployment rate is 4.2%.
The cost of living in East St. Paul is cheap.
Related: Learn about Manitoba’s minimum wage
How to Choose the Cheapest Place to Live in Manitoba
While house prices in Canada are increasing, you can still find cities and municipalities with affordable prices and low living costs.
When finding cheap places to live in, there are other factors apart from the cost of a home and the cost of living. These include the average income, taxes, and amenities.
As a general reference, the cost of living for a single person in Canada is $1,708, and for Manitoba it is $1,592.
Ranking Methodology
The ranking for the top ten cheapest places to live in Manitoba was based on the latest available average house prices in the given areas, which were collected from Townfolio.co.
Townfolio.co, which cites Statistics Canada among its sources, is a municipal analytics platform that features over 5 million data points on over 38,000 municipalities across Canada and the United States.
References
Related: Discover these BEST PLACES to live in Manitoba.
Neepawa is not a cheap place to live, trust me
This list doesnt even include the City of Thompson or Flin Flon. Both of which are cheaper than all of these places.
@Ryan: It is not an exhaustive list, and some would argue that Thompson is more expensive than some other places on this list when you consider other costs outside of housing.