Data study · 2026
Canada Take-Home Pay Index
What the same salary actually leaves you after income tax, CPP, EI and rent in Canada’s biggest cities and every province, 2026.
Key findings
- Edmonton is the best big city to earn a $75,000 salary: after tax and an average rent of $1,522 a month, a single worker keeps $39,098 a year. In Vancouver the same salary leaves $24,819, $14,279 less.
- On $75,000, rent takes 57% of take-home pay in Vancouver and 54% in Toronto. All 7 cities are above the 30%-of-income guideline for a single earner.
- To keep an average rent under 30% of take-home pay you need a salary of about $154,000 in Vancouver and $147,000 in Toronto, but only $81,000 in Edmonton.
- Before rent, Nunavut leaves the most take-home pay on $75,000 ($58,819) and Nova Scotia the least ($53,423), a $5,396 gap. Among the 10 provinces only, British Columbia comes first.
Updated October 20, 2026 · Rents: September 2026 · Tax year 2026
Money left after tax and rent on a $75,000 salary
Yearly take-home pay minus 12 months of average asking rent. Ranked from most to least.
After-tax, after-rent ranking, 2026
Single worker earning $75,000. Rent: average asking rent, all apartment and condo units, September 2026.
| City | Avg rent / month | Take-home on $75,000 | Left after rent | Rent share | Salary for 30% rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Edmonton | $1,522 | $57,362 | $39,098 | 32% | $81,000 |
| 2. Calgary | $1,823 | $57,362 | $35,486 | 38% | $98,000 |
| 3. Ottawa | $2,164 | $56,926 | $30,958 | 46% | $119,000 |
| 4. Montreal | $1,959 | $53,965 | $30,457 | 44% | $114,000 |
| 5. Toronto | $2,554 | $56,926 | $26,278 | 54% | $147,000 |
| 6. Halifax | $2,319 | $53,423 | $25,595 | 52% | $141,000 |
| 7. Vancouver | $2,741 | $57,711 | $24,819 | 57% | $154,000 |
Take-home pay by province, 2026
After federal and provincial tax, CPP/QPP and EI. Ranked at $75,000. Select a figure for the full breakdown.
| Province | $50,000 | $75,000 | $100,000 | $150,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Nunavut | $41,363 | $58,819 | $76,654 | $110,408 |
| 2. Northwest Territories | $40,768 | $57,763 | $75,204 | $107,361 |
| 3. British Columbia | $40,574 | $57,711 | $75,373 | $107,377 |
| 4. Yukon | $40,611 | $57,655 | $74,998 | $107,893 |
| 5. Alberta | $40,541 | $57,362 | $74,459 | $107,458 |
| 6. Ontario | $40,145 | $56,926 | $74,206 | $104,320 |
| 7. Saskatchewan | $39,699 | $55,806 | $72,288 | $104,037 |
| 8. New Brunswick | $39,354 | $55,102 | $71,215 | $101,330 |
| 9. Manitoba | $39,075 | $55,024 | $71,445 | $100,797 |
| 10. Newfoundland and Labrador | $39,252 | $54,737 | $70,603 | $100,702 |
| 11. Prince Edward Island | $38,829 | $54,316 | $69,789 | $98,973 |
| 12. Quebec | $38,824 | $53,965 | $69,585 | $97,850 |
| 13. Nova Scotia | $38,260 | $53,423 | $68,867 | $98,117 |
Methodology
Take-home pay is for a single employee in 2026 with employment income only, claiming the basic personal amount and the Canada employment amount, with no other deductions or credits. It includes federal and provincial or territorial income tax (with Ontario’s surtax and health premium and Quebec’s federal abatement), CPP and CPP2 (QPP in Quebec) and EI premiums (plus QPIP in Quebec), from the same engine as our income tax calculator.
Rent is the average asking rent for all apartment and condo units in September 2026 from the Rentals.ca and Urbanation National Rent Report, October 2026 (September data) (Canada-wide average: $2,034). Asking rents are for units listed for rent, so long-term tenants often pay less.
“Salary for 30% rent” is the gross salary at which 12 months of average rent equals 30% of take-home pay, rounded up to the nearest $1,000. Figures exclude provincial low-income reductions, benefits and rent credits. Work out your own numbers with the tax refund calculator or the RRSP calculator.
For journalists and bloggers
The figures, charts and CSV are free to use under CC BY 4.0. Please credit MyTaxCalculator.ca with a link to this page. For other cities, salaries or a custom cut of the data, email amendtechnologie@gmail.com.
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Frequently asked questions
Which Canadian city leaves you the most money after tax and rent in 2026?
Of the seven cities we studied, Edmonton: on a $75,000 salary a single worker keeps $39,098 a year after tax, CPP/QPP, EI and an average rent of $1,522 a month.
What salary do you need to afford rent in Vancouver?
About $154,000 a year to keep Vancouver's average asking rent ($2,741 a month in September 2026) under 30% of take-home pay. In Toronto it's about $147,000.
Where do the rent figures come from?
Average asking rents for apartments and condos in September 2026, from the Rentals.ca and Urbanation National Rent Report, October 2026 (September data). Tax figures come from our own 2026 tax engine using CRA and Revenu Québec rates.
Can I use this data in an article?
Yes. The tables and CSV are free to use under CC BY 4.0. Please credit MyTaxCalculator.ca and link to this page.
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