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Compare Provinces: Take-Home Pay

See what one salary takes home in every province and territory, ranked from most to least, after federal and provincial tax, CPP and EI.

$

A year, before tax

Take-home pay in Ontario

$53,786/yr

$1,639 a year less than Nunavut, ranked 6 of 13

Most: Nunavut
$55,426
Least: Nova Scotia
$50,496

What this means

On $70,000, the gap between the provinces and territories with the most and least take-home pay is $4,929 a year, or about $411 a month.

Next step

Every province, ranked

#ProvinceTake-homeTax rate
1Nunavut$55,42620.8%
2Northwest Territories$54,44422.2%
3Yukon$54,35522.4%
4British Columbia$54,34822.4%
5Alberta$54,10722.7%
6Ontario$53,78623.2%
7Saskatchewan$52,66924.8%
8New Brunswick$52,04225.7%
9Manitoba$51,89925.9%
10Newfoundland and Labrador$51,70326.1%
11Prince Edward Island$51,38426.6%
12Quebec$51,04527.1%
13Nova Scotia$50,49627.9%

Why it differs

  • Federal tax, CPP and EI are the same in every province except Quebec, which has its own pension plan (QPP) and parental insurance (QPIP).
  • The difference is provincial tax: each province sets its own brackets, rates and basic personal amount, and Ontario adds a surtax and a health premium.
  • Living costs, especially housing, often matter more than tax when you move.
Assumptions in this estimate
  • A salaried employee with no pension or other deductions.
  • Tax rate is all income tax and payroll taxes as a share of your salary.
Spotted a mistake? Tell us

How the calculator works

  1. Salary: your yearly pay before tax.
  2. Your province: the one to compare. The calculator works out take-home pay in every province and territory and ranks them.

Federal tax, CPP and EI are the same everywhere except Quebec, so the differences mostly come from provincial tax.

Example

On $70,000 a year:

Province Take-home a year
Nunavut (the highest) $55,426
British Columbia $54,348
Alberta $54,107
Ontario $53,786
Quebec $51,045
Nova Scotia (the lowest) $50,496

Learn more

See the 2026 tax brackets for each province’s rates, and the income tax calculator for your pay in full.

Last updated

Frequently asked questions

Which province has the lowest taxes?

It depends on your salary. On $70,000, take-home pay is highest in Nunavut (about $55,400), then the Northwest Territories, Yukon, British Columbia and Alberta. It’s lowest in Nova Scotia (about $50,500).

Why is Quebec different?

Quebec collects its own provincial income tax, and has its own pension plan (QPP) and parental insurance (QPIP) instead of CPP and part of EI. Quebec residents also get a federal tax abatement.

Should I move provinces to pay less tax?

Tax is only part of it. Housing, car insurance, childcare and other costs vary a lot between provinces, and often matter more than the tax difference.

Which province do I pay tax in?

The province where you lived on December 31 of the tax year, for the whole year.