Just because you want to live somewhere affordable, does not mean you have to move to the middle of nowhere. In fact, you don’t even need to leave the province to strike the perfect balance between a high quality of life and a low cost of living.
Two cities in Quebec were recently named among “Canada’s best affordable places to live” by Maclean’s Magazine. Not only do these cities have home prices below the national average of $700,000, but, as Maclean’s puts it, they also “aren’t boring backwaters.”
Each community on the list offers cultural attractions, innovative businesses, great food scenes and “buzzing” economies.
In Quebec, the best affordable places to live, according to Maclean’s, are Quebec City and Sherbrooke.
Writer Caitlin Stall-Paquet describes Quebec City as a “historic, cobblestoned town [that] has undergone a modern makeover, with startups and video game studios galore.”
Thanks to a median price of $380,000 for a single-family home, you can find yourself a renovated historical gem from the 19th century (think: exposed brick and wood beams) or a riverside house-turned-condo unit, which go for between $165,000 and $275,000, the article says.
Plus, with Quebec City’s population of 549,459, there are enough people around to keep your social calendar nice and full.
Meanwhile, Maclean’s points out that in addition to being “smack in the centre of Quebec’s idyllic Eastern Townships,” Sherbrooke is also a hub for the quantum computing industry, leading to lots of jobs opportunities.
In Sherbrooke, the benchmark housing price for a single-family home is $392,000 — just over half the national average. And in certain neighbourhoods, that includes properties with finished basements, swimming pools, backyards, exceptional views and the like.
What’s more, both Sherbrooke and Quebec City have also ranked among the safest places in the country as well as the best party cities.
Who says you can’t have it all?
You can find the full list here.