5 things about living in New Brunswick that'll make you want to move there

The cost of living

Starting out with the obvious, the cost here is a big plus. I moved back home from B.C. about two years ago, and it's made a big difference in terms of my budget.

The average monthly cost of living in the province is $2,341, which is the lowest in Canada, according to MovingWaldo. A 1-bedroom apartment here goes for around $1,274, and the average house price is $308,800.

There's a lower demand for housing here, which makes real estate more affordable compared to other spots in Canada. Many people who are drawn to the East Coast head for Nova Scotia, and Halifax in particular has become wildly expensive in the past few years because of it.

New Brunswick is an affordable happy medium that still has the beauty of the Maritimes.

Fundy National Park

Speaking of East Coast beauty, this is where you'll find it at its best.

New Brunswick isn't really known for the sandy beaches that Nova Scotia has to offer or the sprawling scenery of P.E.I., but one trip to Fundy National Park will show you that it does have its own stunning vistas.

Fundy is one of my favourite places in the world — a preserve of nature where you can watch the world-famous tides of the Bay of Fundy pull in and out. Rolling mountains hug the shoreline here, with rocky beaches and the vast ocean beyond them.

The park is full of trails that lead you to everything from beachside campgrounds to hidden waterfalls and deep canyons. Even at the height of summer, I've never seen the overcrowded lookouts or busy trails you often face on a B.C. hike.

It feels untouched in the best way, acting as an escape from everyday life.

Small town charm is always within reach

While Saint John isn't exactly a big city, sometimes it's nice to escape to one of the little towns around New Brunswick.

St. Andrews by-the-Sea is a small community about an hour's drive away from Saint John, that comes alive in the summer. The quaint seaside town has little shops on picturesque streets, a long pier to walk out on and take in the view from, and a vibe reminiscent of a Nancy Meyers flick.

Saint Martins is another nearby town to soak in the ocean breeze, with breathtaking beaches along the Bay of Fundy, sea caves to explore, and a wild coastal aesthetic.

There are similar spots all over the place, which have that classic Maritime vibe that feels refreshing and nostalgic all at once. I love being able to drive out to these more slow-paced and tight-knit communities while still living in a city that has access to more amenities.

You've got just enough

I do my fair share of complaining when it comes to things we lack here, but in reality, it's mostly talk. I actually love not being in a big city, especially after living in Vancouver.

It's nice not to deal with traffic, long lines, dinner reservations booked out months in advance, weekends full of spending money, and hordes of people. While it can sometimes be annoying that we don't have big stores and some of the conveniences of big city life, it's a worthwhile trade-off.

It's easier to save money here just by having less around, which might sound a bit sad at first, but really, it just makes me think more before spending and puts more of an emphasis on free activities. Without a big mall it's also easier to support the small businesses we have, visiting cute local boutiques over chains.

Living in a mid-sized city like Saint John, I never go without something I need, but we don't have the same overwhelming choices I experienced in Vancouver. Here, we're forced to wait for an out-of-city trip to go on a major shopping spree or spend a ton on eating out, which makes it feel more special. Coming home has always been a welcomed change of pace.

The summers are unmatched

There is something about an East Coast summer that just doesn't compare to anywhere else I've lived. People live here for the summers, and it shows.

Honestly, I don't even think our winters are that bad. Living in Vancouver, with the seemingly endless cloud cover and rainy days, gave me a newfound appreciation for how often we have blue skies in New Brunswick. I'll admit, though, that winter can be long.

The snow tends to stick around here, but once it melts, people are out and taking advantage of the too-short summer months. Those small towns I mentioned earlier go from sleepy to vibrant hubs of summer fun.

Afternoons at the beach in the salty air, campfires, floating down lazy rivers in Fredericton, swimming in lakes, hiking the Fundy Footpath, road-tripping to P.E.I – that's just the start of things to do in the warmer months. You can almost taste the excitement in the air come springtime, making you want to explore.

Having fun when the weather is nice isn't unique, but being right next to East Coast beaches, the abundant nature, and seaside communities during these months makes me particularly grateful to be far away from a heat-drenched city.