Halifax, NS
Renting Guide
Come home to Hali
While most Canadians known a bit about Halifax, they don’t realize just how much it has to offer. It’s the ultimate university town, boasting five schools in the city alone. At the same time, East Coasters know how to have fun. There’s a great nightlife in Halifax, as well as an awesome food scene. Donairs, anyone? The best thing about the city, though, is the family vibe. As soon as you arrive in town, you’re family. Locals will chat to you, help you, and – most certainly – buy you drinks. All this and you have the ocean right at your front door!
Housing Market
There’s a blend of homes and apartment buildings in the city, as well as a sprinkling of other housing types. Right now, Halifax is having an influx of people moving to the city, especially millennials. That’s making the demand for housing far outpace the supply, driving prices up. Even then though, the prices are still well below average for places like Ontario and BC. The challenge is that the city is becoming somewhat less affordable for students and low income locals.
Typical housing type:
Single-family homes and apartment buildings of all sizes.
Side note:
Halifax is on the rise. If you’re thinking about moving here, it’s a good time to do it. Because the city is only going to get more and more popular, making it increasingly challenging to find affordable housing.
Average Rent
Avg. rent by housing size:
Bach/studio: $854
1-bedroom: $824
2-bedroom: $1,416
3-bedroom: $1,200
Avg. rent compared to other Canadian cities
Halifax is 14% lower than the Canadian average
Apartment Hunting
Searching for a cheap rental? Like, really cheap? Say… under $1,000 per month? Then you’re in luck apartment hunting in Halifax!
You can find plenty of options for this price point (or less), especially if you’re looking for studios and 1-bedrooms. You can even find apartment buildings that give you your first month free, including for 2-bedrooms and 3-bedrooms. Amenities are available too (though not usually in the first month free buildings).
There are plenty of apartment and condo buildings that offer fitness facilities, pools, and onsite laundry. Most of these buildings also promote on rental websites that they’re pet-friendly… but they really just mean cat-friendly. Meow.
Residents
Halifax is filled with warm, welcoming East Coasters. There’s a real sense of community amongst locals, who all know each other. At the same time, Halifax isn’t the most diverse community, with the vast majority of residents identifying as Canadian or Western European. Religion is important to many locals. Most identify as Christian and actively go to church. Family and community are also highly prized, as is having fun.
Perfect for: Families and retirees looking for a peaceful environment and a strong community.
Not-so-perfect for: Go, go, go types and workaholics.
Life & Style
Locals value hard work, but they don’t make work their lives. Instead, they focus on people, enjoying spending time with family and friends – old and new. It’s common for locals to head down to the bar after work, chatting and hanging out until late into the night. Drinking is also a big part of the East Coast lifestyle, being seen as a part of being social. Just watch out that you don’t end up under the table if you didn’t grow up on the East Coast because Halifax locals can handle their liquor.
Neighbourhood
There are a number of local historical sites that are well worth a visit. In terms of school, there’s plenty of variety, as well as five different universities. Bar abound throughout the city. Restaurants offer a variety of local options including seafood and Halifax donairs. Head down to the ocean to find fresh fish and seafood hauls to cook at home. Halifax has a beautiful new library. Green businesses are common in the area. The waterfront is always beautiful if you’re looking for natural scenery, as are the area’s main gardens. Downtown is the perfect spot for a quaint shopping trip. For a shop til you drop day, pop over to the Halifax Shopping Centre.
Landmarks:
Citadel Hill
Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
Pier 21
Halifax Public Gardens
Province House
Harbourside Market
Old Town Clock
Halifax City Hall
HMCS Sackville
Halifax Citadel
Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk
St. Mary’s Basilica
Old Burying Ground
The Emigrant Statue
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