With its vibrant cultural scene and recreation opportunities, there are plenty of reasons to move to Saskatchewan. But the question is — where among the Saskatchewan cities should you settle to save money?
This article covers the cheapest places you can live in Saskatchewan, including their average cost of living, house prices, and unemployment rate.
Cheap Places to Live in Saskatchewan
1. Prince Albert
Besides being one of the cheapest places to live in Saskatchewan, Prince Albert has become popular among immigrants for being a family-focused community.
It serves as a retail and distribution center for the biggest industries of Northern Saskatchewan, which include agriculture, forestry, and mining.
| City | Prince Albert |
| Population | 36,768 |
| Average Cost of Living (one person, with rent) | $1,402 |
| Average Cost of Buying a Home | $246,500 |
| Average Cost of Renting a One-bedroom Apartment | $825 |
| Crime Rate (per 100,000 people) | 3,000 |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.5% |
2. Moose Jaw
Because of its economic stability and growth, Moose Jaw has several mega projects that offer jobs, services, facilities, and financial security to its residents. For instance, many shopping plazas are expected to open in the city, which will help elevate the resident’s lifestyles.
| City | Moose Jaw |
| Population | 32,813 |
| Average Cost of Living (one person, with rent) | $1,460 |
| Average Cost of Buying a Home | $276,641 |
| Average Cost of Renting a One-bedroom Apartment | $820 |
| Crime Rate (per 100,000 people) | 6,192 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5% |
3. Weyburn
Out of all the Saskatchewan cities, Weyburn is one of the best for many reasons — it offers a comfortable environment to its residents, its income opportunities are high, and the educational facilities are top-notch yet affordable.
Weyburn also has amazing hospitality and food facilities for its residents. Here, you can find restaurants and hotels known for their excellent services.
| City | Weyburn |
| Population | 10,883 |
| Average Cost of Buying a Home | $265,939 |
| Average Cost of Renting a One-bedroom Apartment | $921 |
| Crime Rate (per 100,000 people) | 6,543 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5% |
4. Saskatoon
Saskatoon is a great city to settle in as it’s rich in history and culture, has relatively low tax rates, and has a booming economy. The city is also located near major road networks, like Highways 16, 219, 684, and 762, making daily commutes a breeze.
Some of the best places to live in Saskatoon are River Heights, Mayfair, Silverspring, and the Riversdale Neighborhood. The City Park Neighborhood is also an excellent option as it’s a few minutes away from restaurants, shops, and essential services.
| City | Saskatoon |
| Population | 264,637 |
| Average Cost of Living (one person, without rent) | $1,377.20 |
| Average Cost of Buying a Home | $380,100 |
| Average Cost of Renting a One-bedroom Apartment | $1,125 |
| Crime Rate (per 100,000 people) | 8,436.98 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5% |
5. Estevan
Ranked as the 4th best place to live in the prairies, Estevan continues to attract immigrants due to its home affordability, health accessibility, and economy.
The city is also known for its communities, with organizations like the United Way and Habitat for Humanity consistently working for the common good.
| City | Estevan |
| Population | 10,629 |
| Average Cost of Living (one person, with rent) | $1,249 |
| Average Cost of Buying a Home | $242,000 |
| Average Cost of Renting a One-bedroom Apartment | $1,125 |
| Crime Rate (per 100,000 people) | 6,638 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.4% |
Related: Saskatchewan minimum wage.
6. Lloydminster
Our list of the best small towns to live in Saskatchewan will not be complete without Lloydminster. It offers countless cultural, natural, and recreational opportunities, allowing residents to find and explore their interests.
| City | Lloydminster |
| Population | 11,843 |
| Average Cost of Living (one person, with rent) | $1,392 |
| Average Cost of Buying a Home | $216,357 |
| Average Cost of Renting a One-bedroom Apartment | $1,015 |
| Crime Rate (per 100,000 people) | 5,545 |
| Unemployment Rate | 12.5% |
7. Swift Current
Swift Current is the most popular mid-sized city for immigrants in the province. It’s an affordable, culturally exciting, and business-friendly community that has become a haven for residents, new entrepreneurs, and established companies.
The city has many publicly funded Catholic and public schools from Pre-K to12 and post-secondary education. Its community services include culture, sports, and recreation programs for children, seniors, and adults all year long.
| City | Swift Current |
| Population | 16,304 |
| Average Cost of Living (one person, with rent) | $1,457 |
| Average Cost of Buying a Home | $320,957 |
| Average Cost of Renting a One-bedroom Apartment | $951 |
| Crime Rate (per 100,000 people) | 5,660 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.3% |
8. Yorkton
Yorkton is one of the cheapest places to live in Canada, as it’s affordable for both living and working. Housing prices in the city are low compared to other cities with the same population in the province. Affordable commercial and industrial lots are common in the city.
Besides having cheaper municipal taxes, Yorkton also has the lowest development charges than other major cities in Saskatchewan.
| City | Yorkton |
| Population | 15,969 |
| Average Cost of Living (one person, without rent) | $1,343 |
| Average Cost of Buying a Home | $259,887 |
| Average Cost of Renting a One-bedroom Apartment | $1,015 |
| Crime Rate (per 100,000 people) | 9,377 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5% |
9. North Battleford
The cost of living in North Battleford is 18% below the national average, so you can expect everything here to be affordable.
Fairview Heights and Killdeer, located on the northeast and northwest edges of the city, respectively, have become sought-after neighborhoods as they’re the perfect places to raise a family and are close to shopping centers and walking trails.
| City | North Battleford |
| Population | 13,649 |
| Average Cost of Buying a Home | $207,900 |
| Average Cost of Renting a One-bedroom Apartment | $948 |
| Crime Rate (per 100,000 people) | 28,513 |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.9% |
10. Regina
Regina is the second largest city in Saskatchewan and is a cheap place to live in. Its economy is one of the strongest in the country as more and more businesses open here.
The city is rich in arts and culture and has inexpensive public transport. The residents also get to enjoy many outdoor activities, like picnic sites, athletic fields, and public parks.
| City | Regina |
| Population | 224,996 |
| Average Cost of Living (one person, without rent) | $1,162 |
| Average Cost of Buying a Home | $316,100 |
| Average Cost of Renting a One-bedroom Apartment | $1,155 |
| Crime Rate (per 100,000 people) | 7,989.69 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1% |
Related: Saskatchewan tax brackets and rates.
How to Choose the Cheapest Place to Live in Saskatchewan
There are plenty of cheap places to live in Saskatchewan, making it difficult to choose one. Fortunately, you can narrow down your options by identifying what your priorities are.
Besides lower cost of living and affordable housing options, you should also take a look at the city’s employment opportunities.
For instance, if you want to build your career in Saskatchewan from scratch, consider moving to Swift Current or Moose Jaw. These cities have the lowest unemployment rate, meaning it offers sufficient jobs to their residents.
Moreover, if you’re considering moving to one of the Saskatchewan cities to raise a family, consider the city’s crime rate. If this is your intent in moving, Regina might be an excellent option as it has the lowest crime rate among the cities mentioned here.
Top 5 Cheapest Places To Live in Saskatchewan Compared
| City | Livability Score | Average Cost of Buying a Home | Average Cost of Renting a 1-Bedroom Apartment |
| Saskatoon | 72 | $393,600 | $1,210 |
| Estevan | 71 | $276,800 | $954 |
| Lloydminster | 70 | $283,200 | $815 |
| Regina | 68 | $361,600 | $1,018 |
| Prince Albert | 68 | $270,800 | $1,010 |
Ranking Methodology
Out of the ten Saskatchewan cities, we’ve ranked our top five using a livability store. The score comprises different factors, such as population, affordability, housing options, crime rates, and unemployment rates.
We also considered the availability of recreational facilities, access to public transportation, and the quality of education offered in these cities.
References
Choose Carefully
Start a new life in Saskatchewan by using this article as your guide when choosing a place to live. The more you know about these Saskatchewan cities, the easier it’ll be for you to identify one that meets your lifestyle, goals, and other preferences.
FAQs
Trois-Rivières, Québec is one of the least expensive places to live in Canada. The average cost of living for a single person living in the city (excluding rent) is only $670.
Quebec is the cheapest province to live in Canada as it has the lowest cost of living and its electricity prices are lower than the national average.
Montreal, Quebec, is considered a major center in Canada and offers the cheapest rate in the country. It’s also the city where rent has increased the least for years (only a 0.7% increase).
Since it’s located in the southern region of the country, Hamilton is one of the warmest and cheapest places to live in Canada. Summers in this city are warm, with average temperatures between 16 and 27 degrees Celsius. The winter months here are also bearable, with average temperatures between -6 and -1 degrees.
