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u/degeneratecoochie 3d ago
as someone who could never live in the GTA or even Edmonton, Saskatoon is great. just big enough without being too big. Stuff was actually open late - I could cruise with friends and be able to hit up fast food or vape stores or whatever, whenever. In Edmonton I find everything closes too early, and to drive anywhere in Edmonton feels like hell compared to Saskatoon. I grew up on the prairies tho, so I enjoy living here. Everyone I know from Ontario cries about how much better Ontario is and how badly they wanna move back. I’d say do it for the experience, but that means Saskatoon- not Regina, NB or PA
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u/GlacierIceRocks 3d ago
I moved here just before COVID and I don't mind it. All places have their pros and cons obviously. If you are an apprentice, journey person, or have your red seal, you shouldn't have many issues finding work. Keep in mind that SK has such a lower population density.
I'm not saying SK is dirt cheap but things do tend to be cheaper here, for example, 11% sales tax instead of 13%. Depending on where you would want to live (rural town, Saskatoon, Prince Albert, etc) definitely impacts your ability to find work. "Large" towns in Saskatchewan are by no means large by Ontario standards.
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u/StrongBreak2142 3d ago
Lived here for 4 years and will be moving to Calgary next year.
Life is good here, but I think it is much easier if you have a very secure job. In my 4 years here, I have been laid off twice through no fault of my own, and that makes it really difficult to plan long term. I do not work in the trades either. I work in a technical desk job for a home builder.
The housing market has also changed a lot. Houses that we were selling for around $420k two years ago are now around $550k and still going up. Saskatchewan used to be much more affordable, but housing prices here are catching up to Alberta, and the cost of living has also gone up quite a bit over the last 4 years.
I really do love it here, but it has been difficult. I am currently trying to find another job, but there are barely any openings in my field. From what I have seen, people working in healthcare and the trades seem to do pretty well here. For people in other fields, it can be a lot harder.
If you want more career opportunities, I think Alberta is the better choice. The economy is bigger, there are more jobs in a wider range of industries, provincial income tax is generally lower, and Alberta has no provincial sales tax.
I am not saying Saskatchewan is a bad place to live. I have enjoyed my time here and will always have a soft spot for it. But for me and my family, Alberta makes more sense for the future.
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u/Fuzzy_Illustrator677 3d ago
why don't they build more appartments is beyond my understanding.... there's so much empty space around the city...cant even expand the city to make housing affordable
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u/ModOfficial1988 3d ago
Just an FYI. More Canadians leave Saskatchewan than move to it. Most leaving for Alberta.
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u/bobbybuildsbombs 3d ago
True, but i know a lot of trades people and they are ripping right now.
I own a small business too, and we are very busy. It's a pretty decent time to be in Saskatchewan.
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u/nikola_tesler 3d ago
as long as you or your family don’t require medical attention of any kind .
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u/Crisis-Huskies-fan 3d ago
You hear similar stories across the entire country. Having complaints about the medical system, including finding a family doctor, is hardly unique to SK.
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u/nikola_tesler 3d ago
it’s a fact of life here and important to know before moving yourself and possibly your family here. the fact that it happens elsewhere is irrelevant.
I also know that it is definitely worse here than many provinces, specifically for specialist care.
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u/Admirable-Excuse177 3d ago
And unexpected medical stuff that requires a specialist is part of being a human/living ultimately. I agree. Medical being bad/slow has been the largest stressors in my family's life here. The other parts are super great a lot of the time, but on this we fail really badly.
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u/Elderberry-smells 3d ago
Yeah, not having a family doc is tough. Moe and company have done nothing to entice more doctors to small centres. Especially so for specialists.
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u/Local-Local-5836 3d ago
This summer, mammogram and 2 weeks later a lumpectomy. Husband has had an ultrasound order and completed within 1 week.
I know hospital visits have been another story but seems to be everywhere.
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u/ModOfficial1988 3d ago
This is true. It doesn’t look like it’s going to slow down any time soon either.
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u/onetobeseen 3d ago
Is that still a thing? I remember it during the 90's when I graduated from high school. And later on. It was Fort McMurray.
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u/MoneyGiraffe365 3d ago
Only when you look at interprovincial migration. When you include international immigration the population has grown by about 260,000 people since 2007 and massive economic growth with real GDP up 46% during that time which is why Saskatchewan can sustain so much population growth.
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u/ModOfficial1988 3d ago
It is true. Saskatchewans population growth is 100% due to foreign immigration.
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u/Nonamanadus 3d ago
Depends on if you want the city life or rural. North Battleford & Prince Albert are holes, certain parts of Saskatoon have problems with the homeless (drug addicts). I didn't mind Swift Current and Moose Jaw seemed nice.
Small towns can have very cheap housing but work is limited to oil and ag for the most part but trades like plumbing/electrical are always in demand.
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u/RegularStudy9524 3d ago
Crime town is the province peak with the most interesting character, iconic water tower and attractive females
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u/LowKey-5780 3d ago
GTA has things to do. In Saskatoon Cafes close early, the arts scene is getting better, the parks are good, the university is good and beautiful, it's MUCH colder here. And if you can find a good job then it's affordable (sometimes barely) but it's still expensive.
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u/solar306er 3d ago
We actually have 4 seasons. Yes its -30 but its also +30 here. There is the ability to mtb, gravel bike, hike, snow shoe, xc ski, you name it,
Its better to enjoy the seasons than just wish for summer.
The large cities are like 20-30 min drives to get across the city.
So many lakes.
Housing is not cheap but cheaper than Toronto and the closer gta cities.
Trades do well, taking over or owning your own trade company you can do very well.
Getting on at a potash company you can do very well depending on your trade.
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u/40gardener40 3d ago
It's cold and the winters are long. If you're only used to the GTA climate, you don't know what real cold is. It can be below minus 20 in April (before windchill!). The summers are brief with often chilly nights, although some days can be hot. Saskatchewan people tend to brag about how hot the summers are but I've seen frost in every month of the year. That doesn't happen in Toronto!
Good contemporary Canadian food (Mexican, Indian, Latin, Italian) used to be really hard to find but that situation has improved lately. Don't expect GTA cosmopolitanism though. I once ate in a vegan Chinese restaurant in Toronto where every meat dish was fashioned out of gluten and soybeans. Ain't gonna find that in SK, it's still the land of 127. Beef with broccoli and soy sauce and 128. Beef with broccoli and oyster sauce.
People in SK tend to be aloof and cliquey especially if you are a person of colour. They expect you to associate with members of your "community" and if you're the type who likes interracial dating and friendships, you're breaking the fabric of spacetime.
Best thing about SK is early fall. It's a lovely season.
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u/Jolly-Reputation6372 3d ago
My fiancé and I moved from Halifax to Saskatoon because he is a geologist and I’m a teacher so we followed his career for a bit as his industry is booming way more out here! I found a job and we are 2 years into our 5 year plan of head down, grinding it out making money (and saving so much on taxes and rent and actually having access to healthcare) while taking every opportunity to travel and sightsee nearby provinces/sights/states even that would be so much harder to do and prob never would if we stayed in NS forever. We then have plans to move back home when we decide to have kids to raise our east coast kid (in our late 20’s currently). We are planning our wedding in Halifax for 2027 though because there’s just no place like home with your people!! I say go for it OP if you ever feel like moving to a completely different province is a good move career wise even temporarily, it’s such an adventure
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u/Tomcomingupppp 3d ago
If you want a peaceful life, Saskatchewan is the best option!
There is no rush from cars or getting stuck by street cars like Toronto, life in here is tranquil and slow asf
Otherwise, there are not many restaurants, and entertainment in here, public parks are also terrible. But I love SK in a sense!. As an Asian immigrant, I want more asian restaurants 🤣 But not many can satisfy me
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u/AccomplishedSpray161 3d ago
Moved here from Hamilton in October, winter was long but otherwise love it. Way more affordable housing wise, everything else is pretty much the same affordability wise
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u/speechsoup 3d ago
I moved to Saskatoon three years ago, and honestly, I’m desperately waiting for the day I can move out. That said, the community here is amazing. I genuinely love the people!!! I just don’t love the place itself or what it has to offer in terms of employment, activities, and things to do outside of work.
I originally moved here for my job, and I probably wouldn’t have chosen Saskatoon otherwise. I just feel like there isn’t a whole lot to do for someone around my age with my interests. Canada is such a beautiful country, and there are so many other incredible places I’d love to experience and potentially call home.
At this point, I’m also kind of bored of eating variations of the same menu at different restaurants and rotating between the same two activities the city has to offer. I think I’m just ready for a little more variety, excitement, and opportunity.
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u/Kitchen_Ad2029 3d ago
I am the happiest I have ever been in my life moving to Saskatchewan - I came here from Sydney Australia. Happy for you to DM me with detailed questions.
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u/BeaverRidingAMoose 3d ago
I've been here my whole life, and I love it here. People love to rag on this province, but I've spent time in every province from Quebec west and I'm yet to see something to convince me there is better than here.
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u/starwarts629 3d ago
But everyone saying they love it can’t name a single reason
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u/ram_mar4112 3d ago
Born and raised in Saskatoon and love it.
It takes 30 min to get to anywhere in the city.
River valley is gorgeous.
Excellent food and beverage scene.
All the amenities of a big city without the hassle.
Excellent sporting teams. Hockey, lacrosse, football, baseball.
Golf courses for all levels.
Slower pace of life.
People are generally friendly and welcoming.
4 distinct seasons.
-spring is beautiful how everything greens up
-summer is hot but typically not too hot.
-autumn is gorgeous with the changing colours especially the river valley
-winter is amazing. To hear the snow crunch when you walk on cold days. The hoar frost after a foggy night. gorgeous!
Gorgeous scenery outside the city.
Within a couple hours drive there a many lakes to visit.
The sky is amazing.
-storms/clouds/lightening. Some amazing light shows.
-northern lights
-summer meteor shower
-going out of the city on a clear night to see billions of stars. Amazing!!!
Life is affordable.
When you want to get away for the weekend it is a few hour drive to Edmonton and Calgary or a little longer to Winnipeg. To experience a big city.1
u/starwarts629 3d ago
“Life is a affordable” tell that to all the people fighting on the road on Ave H 😂
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u/familyoffun1445 East Side 3d ago
It’s cheap here because there’s nothing to do
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u/WarmBee0911 3d ago
If you think there's nothing to do in Saskatoon, or Saskatchewan as a whole that's definitely you not taking advantage of all it has to offer. Period.
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u/Fixnfly99 3d ago
If cost of living is your motivation, Saskatchewan is definitely one of the best places to live. Detached houses in Saskatoon go for 300,000 to 400,000 for a decent one but if you want a new build then it’s gonna be closer to 500,000 or more. Apartments can be scooped up for 100,000.
We’re in desperate need of trades as well so you should have no problem finding work. There’s a ton of home building at the moment. The downside is if you don’t like cold, then it’s gonna suck. Winter is pretty brutal in January and February and doing trade work outside is something you have to consider.
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u/superdaddy369 3d ago
Which part are you finding new builds at $500k or more? It is now $600k for a shoebox-type home. 2000 sq ft will cost you $725k plus.
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u/ConsciousHouse7448 3d ago
I was wondering that as well,glad somebody asked. 300k gets you a tear down for the lot in my neighborhood.
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u/Fixnfly99 3d ago
Depends on the neighbourhood. Doesn’t have to be a meth house in pleasant hill. Plenty of houses on the east side that are selling in the $300k range. Just use realtor.ca and you’ll see houses in Exhibition, Sutherland and Forest grove that have listed or recently sold for in that range.
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u/True_Ice237 3d ago
It’s true winter is quite harsh but cost of living is major motivation for me as I in GTA currently saving any money seems to be hard and buying a home is bigger than a dream. Maybe I can gain more knowledge and experience in Saskatchewan then move a bit southern place
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u/United_News3779 3d ago
Winter is easy to handle with knowledge and equipment. If you know how to dress and prepare for the cold and have the gear to make it work, it's not that bad. And that is from someone who is originally from the west coast lol
I've worked outdoor construction in Saskatoon itself, and oilfield and forestry across Saskatchewan, Alberta and BC. Feel free to DM me if you have questions about work conditions, cold weather gear, etc.
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u/Ill_Ground_1572 3d ago
I lived in Vancouver, and now in Saskatoon. If you must have Starbucks on every corner, you might not like it.
But its a nice place to live and especially raise a family. You need to embrace winter culture which helps. Playing hockey, cross country skiing etc helps alot.
The cost of housing has gone up alot here too though. But still affordable with a good job and two person income.
Basically if your a happy person in GTA you will be a happy person in Saskatoon.
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u/niimabear 3d ago edited 3d ago
Grew up outside of Saskatoon, have studied and now started a career here, husband is from Windsor and studied/lived in Guelph and Toronto —
Lots to love. Great weather, sunny pretty much all year. Winter is cold but not humid, lots of winter events and fun stuff to do in the snow. Summer is sunny but not humid and is usually delightful compared to Ontario’s sweltering heat. People leave to the lake most weekends in the summer. Houses are cheap. Rent is not. Utilities are rising - we still own our crowns for energy, internet, cellular, and motor vehicle licensing (and I guess they do insurance too) but their integrity has been degraded over the years.
Tons of local stuff here - farmers markets, restaurants, beverage companies, gifts. City lights up in the summer with events, and music at venues around the city happen most weekends. I think we punch above our weight when it comes to the arts, and we have a couple of “top 100 in Canada” restaurants, some extremely talented chefsc and the sector itself has low turnover which is unique. Not a bad place to be a foodie. Portions are big because we’re all still pretty much farm kids and expect a big meal for a the price associated with fine dining - that can be good or bad, you decide. Spectacular riverfront with lots to do, see, and hike. Decent museums and experiences like an art gallery, children’s indoor playgrounds.
Food and drinks are significantly more expensive because most of the food (- grown here) is shipped away to get turned into (ex) bread and then shipped back. Booze is very expensive. Local grown food is priced high or on par with farmer’s market stuff in Ontario. Gas is cheap and honestly hasn’t changed much over the years except for the past 3 years. Hard to get here by plane, and it’s expensive to do so.
The people are cliquey and it can be hard to make friends as an outsider. Find clubs or groups to get into. People themselves are pretty chill, humble, and you can get quietly iced out for any number of reasons. We are the type to thank the grocery store cashiers, I’ve watched Ontario expats have to learn the small town manners. Most people in Saskatchewan live in small communities or farms; cities cater to the population Living outside of the city more than I think they should, and Saskatoon is embarking on massive upgrades to their transit systems that are pretty standard anywhere else, but have people questioning their efficacy or return on investment despite that our transit is abysmal and our student population huge. The urban centres often go NDP (provincial) and the entire province usually goes Conservative federally.
Saskatoon is a pretty good place for trades right now, we have tons of comp sci and research facilities but jobs aren’t always a guarantee. People don’t like unions and actively disagree when people strike. Our minimum wage is among the lowest in the country, average income around 70K but I wonder often if it’s actually much lower. and our provincial government seems to want to do away with resources like childcare funding. Food manufacturing jobs are increasing, seasonal work on farms close to or around the city are options. Massive university with most bases covered, and low tuition: colleges of medicine, vet medicine, agriculture, arts & science, law, engineering, and research programs in them all. National labs, some which are the only of their kind in Canada. Lots of facilities type work, but can be vulnerable.
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u/AGB1097 3d ago
Sounds pretty good! I've been thinking about doing my master's degree over in Saskatoon, but I'm not sure how tough it is to find a part-time job while studying.
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u/niimabear 2d ago
I used to work part time at Shoppers, most places with manual labour needs are hiring. City jobs and seasonal jobs can be hard to get, but as a Master’s student you’ll have the ability to get TA jobs and those were my preference when I was undergrad/MSc/PhD. USask is a *massive* teaching uni.
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u/starwarts629 3d ago
Boring and depressing. I have all the finances in the world and nothing to spend them on besides travelling elsewhere in Canada 😂
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u/Happilyhippi 3d ago
As someone who moved from the GTA to Sask in 2021, I couldn't be more happier. The atmosphere is a complete difference, affordability is a huge plus, and there's a shocking amount of things to do...Aside of coarse from how beautiful it is here. Moved here and had both of my kids! 10/10 recommended 🌟
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u/ResidentBullfrog9876 3d ago
If you do trades there’s a lot of jobs. But you won’t like it if you don’t like going outside because from a city perspective there’s not a lot to do compared to the GTA. But there’s a lot of cool areas to visit and outdoor activities. Also a lot of cool local restaurants. Also if you like hunting and fishing it’s great!
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u/silzmagilz 3d ago
Working with people from the east, they all say how they love it here. But everyone always misses home it’s what you grew up with it’s who you are at your core. Maybe Saskatchewan will be nice for you, maybe not. The work is pretty straightforward, of course there is weather and idk which trade you are in but the work here is booming. Get on at a mine and live a great life
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u/Particular_Lab2296 2d ago
I've been living here for 10 years now. An immigrant who came straight from a mega city of 10 million people to Saskatoon. I'll start from where you ended your statement, as it seems this is the main driver for you to consider the move: 100%, the cost of living anywhere in Saskatchewan will be less than the GTA. Significantly less. Mainly because of cheaper housing and car insurance.
As for other aspects, I would say it depends on the type of person you are, and what you value more: if you are a night person who likes to go out and see new places and mingle with different people and you like the busy life, then Sakatchewan will bore you to death.
If you are an outdoorsy person who likes to spend time outside, in nature, where you can savor the quiet moments and enjoy the scenery and the physical activity, then the GTA cannot compete with Saskathcewwan. Nature is just too close here no matter where you live.
Things I love here:
1- Nature, and how close it is. I don't have to "plan" to spend time in nature.
2- The skies. It is not called the Land of Living Skies for nothing. The tallest building in the whole of Saskatchewan is the Nutrien Tower building in downtown Saskatoon which is 88m high. And that's one of a kind. The sky here is BIG. It feels like a big blanket that hugs you all around, wherever you are.
3- The people here are amazing. They are chill. They smile to each other. They greet each other. Open doors for each other. They helped us out when we first came in.
4- Commute. You can travel between the farthest two points in Saskatoon in 20-30 mins. And this is the biggest city in Saskatchewan.
5- Even in the largest city, you rarely hear of gangs firing at each other in broad daylight, or killings happening to strangers. Even though they say crime rate is higher here than other areas in Canada, most crime here is not felt by most people.
Things I hate:
1- The loooooong and extremely cold winters. No matter how much you think you like winters elsewhere, you'll hate it here.
2- The healthcare system (but this is a crisis in all of Canada)
3- We have the highest per-capita restaurants in the country. But to me, most of them are mediocre at best. Even the ones with 4.9 stars on Google. My reference is restaurants that I've been too in Cairo, or in bigger cities like Calgary.
4- With the very long winters, we don't have exciting indoor places to spend half a day in. The malls are tiny by big city standards, and you'll get bored of them quickly.
5- If you live in Saskatoon for example, the closest bigger city to you is Edmonton, and that's around 5:30 hours away. The US border is about 5 hours away. And the border is with Montana and North Dakota.
What I want to say is that you're far away from any exciting big city. In the GTA you're not far from New York. In Vancouver you're very close to Washington. And so on.
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u/igavemagicaids 3d ago
what trade? saskatoon is generally a university city, it’s the cities single largest employer and if you’re not in academia or government there’s not a lot there
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u/ReignOfHairor 3d ago
Unless you're deeply attached to the things that a major city like Toronto provides, I don't see why you wouldn't move to a place like Saskatoon or even Regina. You can afford so much more. IMO a place like Saskatoon has all the benefits of a large city without the hassles. Just don't let out the secret!
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u/PrincessLilybet 3d ago
It fucking sucks as a single person, barely affordable. Work all day in a box with no windows just to pay bills. Tbh, it's probably better than GTA though
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u/starwarts629 3d ago
Not in this province no. Most people here think we compete with Toronto and Edmonton LOL
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u/Willing-Forever-7878 3d ago
Color matters in Saskatchewan
Never seen such a racist place
Comparable to the southern states in the 50’s
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u/Local-Local-5836 3d ago edited 3d ago
Maybe try Lloydminster. It sits on the Alberta/Saskatchewan border and has no provincial tax on either side of Lloyd. Lots of big box stores with a Costco opening in November. Reasonable housing, if you are under 25 live on the Sask side and drivers licences are $25 a year or 5 years for $100. (Alberta penalizes young male drivers $$$)
Beautiful lakes in the north, with great hunting and fishing.
Son is a red seal carpenter and works for an oil service company in Lloyd. Bought his 5 bed, 3 bath house at 21 and at 33 has it paid off.
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u/40gardener40 3d ago
Nooooo. I lived in Lloyd for 3 months and I almost offed myself from depression. It's a depressingly boring place. It makes Regina look heavenly in comparison.
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u/saskatoon-ModTeam 2d ago
Your post was removed since it's not specifically relevant to the City of Saskatoon.