Best City To Live In: Manitoba, Canada

The Canadian province of Manitoba is a land of natural beauty with friendly, clean, and safe cities and towns. It has one of the strongest and most diversified economies in Canada. The cost of living in Manitoba is relatively low and there are plenty of opportunities for education, starting a business, and enjoying a quality career. People of many cultures live together in Manitoba with over 200 languages spoken in the province. The province is also known for the high quality of free public healthcare and educational system. Here are the ten best cities to live in Manitoba in 2018 according to MoneySense.

10. St. Andrews, MB

The rural municipality of St. Andrews was named after the Parish of St. Andrews which was established in the early 1800s. It is situated on the West Red River with its southern border approximately 8 km from Winnipeg. Apart from the St. Andrews Church, the municipality has several historical and significant buildings including St. John’s Cathedral Boys School and St. Andrews Lock and Dam. Residents of the municipality enjoy quality life and clean environment. Household earnings averages $120,389 from which $1,130 is spent on rent for a two-bedroom house.

9. Thompson, MB

For nature lovers, Thomson is the place to make a home. Located along the Burntwood River, “the Hub of the North” as it is commonly referred, has a population of approximately 13,000 residents. The city is one of the economically stable cities in Manitoba. The major industry in the area deals with the mining and processing of nickel. Other major employers in the city include Vale Ltd, Calm Air, and Manitoba Hydro. Thomson has a lot of recreational facilities and activities including a visit to the Heritage North Museum and the Pisew Falls. It is quite cheap to rent a house in Thomson with two-bedroom apartment costing less than $1,000 per month.

8. Taché, MB

The rural community of Taché was named after Bishop Taché who was among the first bishops in Manitoba. It stretches from Red River Floodway in the west to the start of the Canadian Shield in the east. Taché has a population of approximately 11,500 people with most inhabitants being of European descent. The town is among the best places to live in Manitoba due to its proximity to major cities such as Winnipeg. The quality of life is also high with a median household income of over $100,000. With $1,130, one is able to rent a two-bedroom apartment. Although there have been incidences, crime is still manageable at a rate of 7,400 per 100,000 people.

7. Hanover, MB

The Rural Municipality of Hanover is located southeastern Manitoba, adjacent to the cities of Steinbach and Niverville. Its population has grown steadily over the years to become the most populated rural municipality in the province of Manitoba with approximately 15,000 residents. The growth has been attributed to better living standards, business opportunities, and safety. Households enjoy an average income of $92,870 and the unemployment rate stands at 5.4%. The crime rate is at 3,917 per 100,000 people. The low property tax rate of 2% of one’s income makes owning a property in the community affordable.

6. Winnipeg, MB

Winnipeg is the capital city of Manitoba. The city’s top feature that makes it one of the popular destinations in Canada include its strong economy, stable health care system, and transit-friendliness. With a population of over 700,000 residents, Winnipeg is a world-class city that offers a lot of employment opportunities as well as education options. House prices in the city are among the lowest in Canada. Winnipeg also has the highest number of live music performance per capita in the country, making it a great spot for music lovers.

5. Selkirk, MB

The city of Selkirk is located on the Red River, approximately 14 miles northeast of Manitoba’s capital Winnipeg. It is a relatively small city with about 11,000 residents. The economy of Selkirk is based on tourism, a psychiatric hospital, and a steel mill. The city offers several amenities to it residents in an effort to provide a quality life. Selkirk is undergoing an upsurge of revitalization and growth with notable improvement on the parks and waterfront to enhance the city’s natural beauty. The city offers promising careers especially in the steel industry, keeping the unemployment rate below 6%.

4. Winkler, MB

The city of Winkler is situated in southern Manitoba and is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Stanley. With a population of approximately 14,000 people, it is Pembina Valley’s largest city and the 6th largest in Manitoba. Winkler is southern Manitoba’s economic hub with a retail trading center serving over 17,000 households. The major employment sectors are industries, health, and education. The three sectors have maintained the unemployment rate of 4%. Winkler is full of fun with the Harvest Festival and Exhibition every August.

3. Steinbach, MB

Steinbach is a small city of approximately 16,000 residents. It is one of the fastest growing cities in Manitoba with several vibrant businesses coming up and locally generated economy. The city is the economic hub of the southeastern Manitoba and a regional shopping center. Steinbach is a cheap city to invest in with favorable tax rates and easy access to markets. The job market is thriving due to the strong local economy with jobs available in agriculture, processing, and manufacturing sector. The unemployment rate is only 5.5%. There are countless recreational facilities in the city from sports to art and lifestyle activities, there is at least something for everyone.

2. Springfield, MB

Springfield is the oldest and the largest rural municipality in Manitoba. Developed in 1873, it encompasses both the urban development and rural residential. Farming is a major economic activity and main employer in Springfield. However, some of the residents are employed in Winnipeg. Anyone planning to settle in Springfield must be prepared to embrace the quiet rural life. Springfield is a fairly cheap place to live, with a two-bedroom apartment costing an average of $1,130 per month. It is also a relatively safe place to settle in with a crime rate of 4,827 per 100,000 people.

1. Brandon, MB

Brandon is the second-largest city in Manitoba after Winnipeg. It has a welcoming community of approximately 50,000 people and a service center of about 180,000 people. The city has been consistently named among the best places to live in Canada by MoneySense because of the low crime rate which stands at 9,731 per 100,000 people, diversified economy that has maintained unemployment rate below 5%, and stable and cheap housing with a two-bedroom house costing $853 in rent. The city also has abundant cultural and recreational opportunities, creating a quality life for its residents.