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Summary

These 3 Ontario cities were named among the 10 'best affordable places to live' in Canada

You can buy a home for under $700,000.

A person drinking wine. Right: A street with flowers and historic buildings.

A winery in Ontario. Right: A historic Ontario city.

Lead Writer, Travel

If housing prices have you sweating, you may want to consider moving to one of these Ontario cities. These communities were recently named among the 'best affordable places to live' in Canada and allow you to enjoy city life without a hefty price tag.

There's no need to move to the middle of nowhere in order to find some affordable real estate. These cities offer culture, attractions and more, with housing prices well below the national average.

While the typical house in Toronto costs over $1 million, homes in these Ontario cities can be purchased for under $700,000.

Recently, Maclean's revealed a list of 10 cities that are the "best affordable places to live" in the country. According to Maclean's, "in each of these cities, buyers can find good-sized, high-value, often adorable family homes without breaking the bank."

Here are the three Ontario cities that have been named among the 10 "best affordable places to live" in Canada.

The mid-sized city of St. Catharines is the place to go for affordable real estate. According to Maclean's, the "gorgeous Niagara city is coming back to life—and experiencing a reverse migration."

Here, the benchmark housing price is $598,800. You can find yourself a "button-cute workers' cottage" for under $400,000, or a side split with a backyard for a few hundred thousand more.

The city, dubbed "Garden City," is known for its beautiful green spaces and natural surroundings. The Main Street boasts restaurants and lively shops.

The university town of Kingston is another spot offering affordable housing, with a benchmark price of $559,000.

You can purchase "'50s- and '60s-era bungalows priced below $600,000" as well as "completely reno’d properties well under $500,000," according to Maclean's.

The lakeside city is known for its gorgeous downtown, rich history and plethora of events and attractions, from cruises to markets and trolley tours.


The last Ontario city to make the list was Windsor, Ontario, where the benchmark housing price is $595,100.

Maclean's dubs this spot a "truly desirable place to live" with houses as low as $300,000.

The city offers lots of delicious restaurants, as well as beautiful trails and riverfront strolls.

Other cities that made the list include Edmonton, Alberta and Halifax, Nova Scotia.

You can find the full list here.

Explore this list   👀

    • Lead Writer

      Madeline Forsyth is a Toronto-based Lead Writer for Narcity Media. After earning her B.A. (Hons) at Queen's University, she spent a year travelling much of the world as a flight attendant. Now, she uses her experience in the travel industry and passion for writing to share stories about buzzworthy events and adventures across Canada and the globe. Madeline has been published in PopSugar and has interviewed sports and entertainment personalities for Narcity. She has covered and photographed restaurant openings as well as event launches such as the world premiere of the Dr. Seuss Experience. Some of her favourite things to write about include charming small towns and anything to do with Harry Potter.

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