My Experience Moving to St. John's

St. John's is known for it's arts, culture, and unique landscape with beauty everywhere you go. Whether you're a history buff, an outdoorsy explorer, or prefer artisan markets with handcrafted goods, there is something for everyone. Some of our biggest pros are proximity to nature/hiking, housing that was affordable for us, and the safety of the community we live in. We also have extended family here, which was a determining factor in our move.

This is a place we lucked out. My husband, with years of Construction experience, was able to secure employment before we made the big move to Newfoundland. Some industries are not as in demand as others, but there are lots of options for those in healthcare, childcare, construction and technology. I would recommend connecting with local employers and networking before making the big move if there is a concern regarding employment.

We decided purchasing a cargo trailer and driving across Canada was the best decision for our family. We already owned a truck that could haul a trailer, and had a lot of items (tools, clothes, furniture) that would have been costly to replace when we arrived. We took just over 3 weeks to do the drive in May/June, which was a great time to explore Canada! For us, we used the trip as an excuse to have a mini vacation along the way. But it is worth crunching the numbers to see what makes the most sense for you! If you don't have a lot of belongings, flying with a few suitcases and mailing a couple of boxes could be the most economical way to go. There are also plenty of moving companies that will help with cross-country moves.

One of the biggest differences we've felt are the taxes. Coming from Alberta, the jump from 5% GST to 15% HST has been substantial. Employment taxes are also higher, which means smaller paychecks for the same work. That being said, we have saved in some areas too. Housing was a big savings, and we are spending less on utility costs overall. Gas costs more here. Food is about the same for the items we eat, but we've learned to shop the deals and local items more frequently as quality of certain items (produce) may not be the same as we are used to. 

I would have to say the food scene! St. John's has added many new options over the years, and has plenty of great restaurants to visit. But Calgary, having a much more diverse population, has options that just aren't found in St. John's. For those that enjoy multi-cultural foods, it is a big change here from larger cities in Canada. We have lucked out in the sushi department though - nothing beats fresh seafood!

As someone who enjoys travelling, not having access to a variety of International flights direct from St. John's has been a challenge. Many flight options involve backtracking to Toronto (or Halifax if you're lucky). And plenty of flights get cancelled or redirected due to the weather.

Things also move slower here. This can be a pro and a con, depending on your tolerance and needs. Home closings can often go past their closing date, due to many processes not being automated or online. Most stores will be closed on stat holidays (even Walmart!). Things aren't as rushed - which is a positive most times.

We did the trip in 2023, and decided to spend approx. 21 days on the road. We stayed with family/friends for a portion of it, and had 17 days of hotel expenses. We wanted to make it a bit of a vacation and not drive straight through. Here was our breakdown driving a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, towing a 16ft cargo trailer.

Fuel Costs: $2,600.98

Hotel Costs: $3,723.89

Meal Expenses: $1,681.59

Ferry Expenses: $400.00 (approx.)

We bought our cargo trailer for $13,250.00 in Alberta and sold it for $8,800.00 when we arrived. We were able to bring 75% of our belongings with us by using this method and only needed to purchase larger furniture (bedroom set, kitchen table, etc.).