Here are some key pieces of information to get you started on your move.
If you haven’t already, visit our Discord to chat with locals, newly-landed healthcare workers, Nova Scotia healthcare hopefuls currently being processed, and other Nova Scotia-curious folks. (When you click the link, a new page will open, prompting you to create an account if you have not used Discord before)
https://liveinnovascotia.com/you-arrive-checklist
Healthcare in Canada is delivered through the provincial and territorial systems of publicly funded health care, informally called Medicare. It is guided by the provisions of the Canada Health Act of 1984, and is universal.
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The 2002 Royal Commission, known as the Romanow Report, revealed that Canadians consider universal access to publicly funded health services as a "fundamental value that ensures national health care insurance for everyone wherever they live in the country".
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Canadian Medicare provides coverage for approximately 70 percent of Canadians' healthcare needs, and the remaining 30 percent is paid for through the private sector.
In Nova Scotia, provincial government health insurance coverage comes along with having a work visa. It’s called “MSI” (Medical Services Insurance) and it’s the same coverage that everyone in Nova Scotia has. Learn more about MSI here
Your employer will also offer supplemental healthcare insurance, which helps pay for things not covered by MSI, like Rx, glasses, dental care, allied health/complimentary care (PT, massage, chiropractic, etc.).
In Nova Scotia, the average price for a home is CAD**$411,100**. That’s a 2.3% increase from last year. The average price for a home province-wide may differ from some of the individual centres across Nova Scotia. Consider the following areas in the province, along with their respective price tags for homes:
| Home Prices 2024 | Year-Over-Year % Change | |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | $696,166 | 6% |
| Nova Scotia* | $411,100 | 2.3% |
| Prince Edward Island | $375,600 | 1.6% |
| Newfoundland and Labrador* | $306,700 | 6.8% |
| British Columbia | $965,441 | -0.2% |
| Alberta | $498,448 | 10.3% |
| Saskatchewan* | $343,400 | 5.9% |
| Manitoba | $372,212 | 8.1% |
| Ontario | $878,620 | 3.1% |
| Quebec | $536,621 | 8.2% |
| New Brunswick* | $318,500 | 9.5% |
Source: CREA Price Map (as of January 2025)*based on MLS HPI benchmark prices