Nature and Outdoor Activities
- National Parks Nearby
- Kejimkujik National Park Seaside (2 hours drive)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Salt Marsh Trail (Cole Harbour); Chain of Lakes Trail
- Scenic Viewpoints
- The Dingle Tower at Sir Sandford Fleming Park
- Birdwatching Locations
- Sullivan's Pond (Dartmouth) for waterfowl
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated fire pits at Conrads Beach (seasonal restrictions apply)
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Point Pleasant Park (South End); Shubie Park (Dartmouth)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Canada Post, Purolator, FedEx
- Tech Repair Services
- Geebo Device Repair ($80-150 for screens, 2102 Windsor St)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Halifax Table Tennis Society (Saint Mary's University)
- Language Classes
- ISANS (Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Halifax Central Library (Free high-speed Wi-Fi & quiet zones)
- Community Centers
- Zatzman Sportsplex (Dartmouth)
- Gaming Lounges
- The Board Room Game Cafe ($8 admission, 1256 Barrington St)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Casino Nova Scotia (1983 Upper Water St)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $8,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $340,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $5,200 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $208,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $7,800 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $468,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $4,800 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $288,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $7,200 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $576,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $4,300 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $344,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 27% combined (11.5% Provincial + 15% Federal)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 25% (often reduced to 5-15% via tax treaties)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for Canadian residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 54% (Combined Federal and Nova Scotia Provincial)
- VAT
- 15% HST (Harmonized Sales Tax)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, FAPI (Foreign Accrual Property Income) rules apply
- Property Tax
- Yes, based on assessed value (approx. 1.2% per year)
- Property Transaction Tax
- 1.5% Deed Transfer Tax + 5% Non-resident Provincial Deed Transfer Tax
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad tax break; standard residency rules apply
Essentials
- City
- Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Population
- 480,000 (Halifax Regional Municipality)
- Internet Speed
- 95 Mbps average; FiberOP available up to 1.5 Gbps
- Currency & Banking
- 1 CAD ≈ 0.74 USD. Major banks: RBC, TD, Scotiabank, BMO
- Tap Water
- Safe and high quality (Drinkable)
- Power
- 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets
- SIM Card
- Telus, Bell, Rogers, and budget-friendly Public Mobile or Lucky Mobile
- Banking for Expats
- Simplii Financial or Tangerine for no-fee banking; Wise and Revolut widely accepted
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Kijiji, and Facebook Marketplace for rentals
- Cashless Friendly
- Highly cashless; Tap-to-pay accepted almost everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Premiere Suites (approx. $2,800/month), Moore Suites
- Budget Accommodation
- Halifax Heritage House Hostel ($40/night for dorms)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Downtown Halifax (near the Waterfront Boardwalk)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- North End (trendy, walkable, coffee shops) or South End (near universities)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Volt Halifax ($35/day, 1533 Barrington St); Volta (for tech startups, 1505 Barrington St)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Cabin Coffee (1554 Hollis St) or Central Library (5440 Spring Garden Rd)
- Networking Events
- Halifax Chamber of Commerce events; Digital Nova Scotia meetups
- Social Events for Expats
- Halifax Expats and International Friends (Meetup.com); North End Business Association events
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber, Lyft, and Casino Taxi app
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Hfx E-Scooters ($1.15 to unlock + $0.35/min); I Heart Bikes (Waterfront)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Lawrencetown Beach (Surfing, 30 mins drive) or Queensland Beach
- Top Regional Airline
- Air Canada Jazz, PAL Airlines
- Top International Airline
- Air Canada, WestJet, Condor (seasonal to Europe)
- Highway Access
- Hwy 102 (to Airport/Truro) and Hwy 103 (to South Shore)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- VIA Rail Station (1161 Hollis St) and Scotia Square Bus Terminal
- Public Transport Passes
- HFXGO app; Monthly pass $82.50; Single fare $2.75
- Regional Travel
- Maritime Bus (to Moncton/Charlottetown); Halifax-Dartmouth Ferry ($2.75)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- QEII Health Sciences Centre (1276 South Park St)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Shanti Hot Yoga ($20 drop-in, 5508 Spring Garden Rd)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- GoodLife Fitness (Park Lane Mall); YMCA Community Centre (Sackville St)
- Laundry Services
- Bluenose Laundromat (2194 Windsor St, $5-10 per load)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- SkipTheDishes, UberEats, DoorDash
- Best Local Dish to Try
- The Halifax Donair (try King of Donair on Quinpool Rd)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- EnVie - A Vegan Kitchen (5775 Charles St); Real Fake Meats
- Best Dessert Spots
- Black Sheep (for bread pudding); Cows Ice Cream (Waterfront)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Gateway Meat Market (Dartmouth); No Frills (Wyse Rd)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.ca, Indigo.ca, BestBuy.ca
- Grocery Delivery
- Instacart, Voila by Sobeys
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Argyle Street (The Carleton, The Loose Cannon)
- Local Brewery
- 2 Crows Brewing (1932 Brunswick St); Garrison Brewing (Seaport)
- Wine Bars
- Obladee, A Wine Bar (1601 Barrington St)
- Street Food Stalls
- Bud the Spud (Chip truck on Spring Garden Rd)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Cha Baa Thai (6111 Quinpool Rd); Antojo Tacos + Tequila
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Citadel Hill; Peggy's Cove Lighthouse (45 mins away)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Art Gallery of Nova Scotia (1723 Hollis St); Museum of Natural History
- Historical Sites
- Pier 21 National Historic Site (Immigration Museum)
- Religious Sites
- St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica; St. Paul's Anglican Church
- Annual Events
- Halifax Jazz Festival (July); Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo
- Cultural Districts
- Hydrostone District (Historic North End architecture)
- Theater Venues
- Neptune Theatre (1593 Argyle St)
- Local Markets
- Halifax Seaport Farmers' Market (Saturday mornings)
- Music Scene
- The Marquee Ballroom; Bearly's House of Blues
- Street Art
- Mural at Mulgrave Park; North End graffiti alleys
- Cooking Classes
- The Cookery (The Hydrostone, approx. $90/class)
- Art Galleries
- Argyle Fine Art; Studio 21 Fine Art
- Historic Buildings
- Province House (Oldest legislative building in Canada)
- Local Heritage
- Mi'kmaq heritage landmarks and the Bluenose II schooner