Moving to New Brunswick from Ontario: Costs, Cities and What to Know
New Brunswick offers some of the lowest rents of any province people leave Toronto for. Here's how Moncton, Fredericton and Saint John compare, and the paperwork to sort out when you arrive.
When people picture leaving Toronto for the East Coast, they usually picture Halifax. But for a growing number of Ontarians, the more practical answer sits one province over. New Brunswick has three small cities, lower housing costs than Nova Scotia’s capital, and a pace of life that feels like a different decade.
Here’s what moving to New Brunswick from Ontario actually looks like, numbers first.
The rent gap is real
In CMHC’s October 2025 rental survey, the average two-bedroom apartment rented for about:
- Moncton: $1,453 a month
- Fredericton: $1,413 a month
- Saint John: $1,290 a month
- Toronto, for comparison: $2,056 a month
That’s a difference of roughly $600 to $770 a month, or $7,000 to $9,000 a year, before you even look at buying. Detached houses that would cost well over a million dollars in the GTA regularly sell for a fraction of that here, which is the real draw for families.
The three cities, honestly compared
Moncton is the fastest-growing and most bilingual of the three. It’s a regional transportation and logistics hub, with the province’s busiest airport and an easy drive to PEI and Nova Scotia. We wrote a whole piece on what nobody tells you about moving to Moncton, and the short version is that the affordability is real but the city is small.
Fredericton is the capital: government jobs, two universities, a walkable downtown on the Saint John River, and the steadiest economy of the three. It’s the closest thing in New Brunswick to a small university town in Ontario.
Saint John has the lowest rents of the three, a working harbour, older housing stock with real character, and an industrial economy anchored by energy and the port. It’s the best value on paper, and buyers who like century homes love it.
What costs more than you’d expect
Not everything is cheaper. New Brunswick’s HST is 15%, two points higher than Ontario’s 13%, so everyday purchases cost a little more. Heating an older house through a Maritime winter can be expensive, especially with electric heat. Wages are also generally lower than in Toronto, which is why this move works best with portable income: remote work, a pension, or a job lined up before you arrive.
The paperwork when you arrive
Health coverage (Medicare). New Brunswick Medicare starts on the first day of the third month after you establish residence. If you move on July 20, July counts as month one and your coverage starts October 1. Apply only after you’ve physically moved, online or at a Service New Brunswick office. Bring proof of citizenship or status, identity, and NB residency. Ontario’s OHIP generally covers you in the gap, so don’t cancel it early. Finding a family doctor can take time in the Maritimes, so register for the province’s patient list as soon as you’re eligible.
Driver’s licence. New Brunswick expects new residents to switch to an NB licence once they take up residence. There’s no long grace period to lean on. The good news: drivers from another Canadian province can exchange class for class at Service New Brunswick without a road test or a medical. Bring your Ontario licence (it must not expire within six months), proof of identity and proof of residency.
Vehicle registration. Register your car with Service New Brunswick and switch your insurance to a New Brunswick policy soon after arriving.
Language. New Brunswick is Canada’s only officially bilingual province. You can live entirely in English in most of Fredericton and Saint John. In Moncton and the north, French becomes a real advantage for jobs and day-to-day life.
Who New Brunswick suits
New Brunswick makes the most sense for remote workers, retirees and young families who want space and a low cost of living more than big-city amenities. If you want more urban life on the East Coast, compare it with Halifax, which costs more but offers more. Our Maritimes relocation guide walks through choosing between all of them.
The trade is simple: smaller cities, slower days and much more room for your money. For a lot of people leaving Toronto, that’s exactly the point.
