21+ Pros and Cons of Living In Newfoundland (Explained)

Newfoundland and Labrador is a province in Canada situated on the Easternmost side of the country, near the Atlantic region. The area consists of about 5,25,073 people, among which around 92% of the population resides on the island of Newfoundland.

As one of the safest and gladdest countries in the world, it comes as no surprise that the number of people moving to Canada for a better life, a higher education, or a fresh start, is increasing each year; the country is a vast landscape of endless beauty and notoriously friendly people.

There are ten provinces in Canada and three territories. In this article, we are going to focus on Newfoundland and Labrador, and the pros and cons of living in either place.

The largest city in the province is St.John’s, which is Canada’s 20th largest census metropolitan city. Let’s find out if this Canadian province is worth living in; below is the list of specific benefits and drawbacks of living in Newfoundland and labrador.

BENEFITS of Living in Newfoundland	DRAWBACKS of Living in Newfoundland
Fewer crime rates.	Poor health infrastructure.
Beautiful outdoor scenic beauty.	The transport system is not developed.
Low cost of living.	Lack of public transport.
Very friendly communicating.	Extremely harsh winter.
Varied culture.	Food and materials are not too varied and abundant.
Abundant entertainment facilities.	Less job employment.
An effective system of higher education.	Poor economy.
Progressive health facility	Challenging weather conditions in the winter
High quality of life	Hard to find necessity amenities in the winters
Delicious traditional meals	Comparatively lonelier to the other provinces

Advantages of Living in Newfoundland:

Fewer crime rates.

Over the past three years, the crime rate in this Canadian province is decreasing. In St John’s, which is the capital city, the crime rate has reduced by 9% each year, which is an astounding rate according to being a capital city.

Understandably, a big concern for anyone moving to a new place is whether or not they will be safe, Take the capital of the province, St John’s, for example. Over the last three years, crime has decreased more than nine percent, which is a remarkable amount considering this is the province’s main city.

In other areas, violent crime has also reduced, and compared to the country’s average, Newfoundland and Labrador consistently have below-average numbers when it comes to gun-related crimes and drug-related crimes.

Beautiful Scenic Destinations:

The province is covered with beautiful sceneries of mountains and vast forests, fresh lakes, etc. There are endless flowing rivers, and beautiful valleys around every city. It is a perfect place to escape from the city rush and to be close to nature, to be in real peace.

The province also has many historical sites, harbors, beaches, national parks, and smaller islands, where you can spend your leisure time, making it a tourist destination.

Low cost of living.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, you can expect the perfect blend of cheap housing and desirable salaries; which means you can enjoy comfortable and affordable living with fewer financial worries.

In any of the cities across the province, you can easily find family homes for less than $1000 per month to rent, which may be even cheaper outside of a city, and the average cost of buying a home in the province is around $155,000, or ten to fifteen thousand more if you want to live in the capital.

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Beautiful scenic outdoor.

The mountains seem endless, and the flowing rivers and streams are stunning. This province is a dreamland for anyone who loves to get outside and be with nature as there are countless trails and bays to explore, there are historical sites, beaches, harbors, an abundance of smaller islands to visit, and national parks, and the fjords will leave you speechless.

If you are an adventurer, or simply someone who loves to spend time outside with your family, there is no doubt that you will not find many places in Canada as beautiful and eye-catching as the sights you will enjoy in Newfoundland and Labrador.

A very friendly community.

Although there are always exclusions to every rule, most Canadians are warm and welcoming – even when they know you are a transplant or tourist. People will stop to have a chat with you in the grocery store, while you’re taking a walk, or even during a trip to Walmart.

There is a definite sense of community that you will learn in this country that is a refreshing modification of pace if you come from an environment that values independence above everything else.

Reasonable Housing Experience:

In Newfoundland and Labrador, the housing expenses are quite reasonable. You will be able to find a house in the city center or outskirts very efficiently and at a much budget-friendly price. Normally, the rent for one month for a one-bedroom house will only be $1000.

This value will further decrease if you choose to rent outside the city. Also, the average cost of purchasing a house with a two-bedroom may be around $155,000 or even $10-15,000, if you want to live in the capital city.

Varied culture.

Newfoundland and Labrador pride themselves on its rich antiquity and hard work that struggles to preserve the essence.

There are several cultural and entertainment activities in the province where you can spend and enjoy your leisure time. You can attend live music sessions with food, fish, open theater, crafts, workshops, walking tours, etc. The theatre scenes of the people are worth capturing.

Also, the Trails Tunes Festival in Gros Morne National Park also has a lot to give. Many famous celebrities such as Rants and Rors, Elliston’s Roots, etc. often visit and cheer the cities’ crowd.

Abundant entertainment facilities.

Newfoundland has a lot to offer, whether you want to live in a city or a small town, you have a lot to choose from. Has great nightlife, with lots of bars, restaurants, outdoor and indoor activities for people of all ages.

An effective system of higher education.

Newfoundland and Labrador have a small but effective system of higher education institutions.

Its system is also unique in Canada as it is the only system with one university and one college. Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) is categorized as a comprehensive, degree-granting university, and the College of the North Atlantic provides diverse technical and career-oriented certificates, apprenticeship, and diploma programs with university-level transfer courses.

The most famous institute for primary, secondary, and higher education is the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District, which represents all English-speaking students.

This school enrolls almost 65,300 students every year and has nearly 252 schools at six alternative places across the province.

About more than 8,000 employees work here and contribute to the future of the youth. The schools also have a safe, pleasant, caring, and learning environment for the kids, right from primary to higher education.

Newfoundland Labrador Have Lower Crime Rates

Disadvantages of Living in Newfoundland:

Poor health infrastructure.

Health care throughout the state is uncertain at best, and pitiful at worst. Access, affordability, and superiority of the state’s health care are all ranked last out of every state in the country. The state is working hard to bring affordable and suitable healthcare access to all of its many pastoral and impoverished citizens.

Underdeveloped transport system.

The government doesn’t properly implement rules in this province and hence many things are underdeveloped. The transport system is very disturbing here.

The High Cost Of Transportation:

Local transport, such as buses, is very reasonable but you will have to account for the cost of ferries, which are necessary if you live on the island of Newfoundland. Being on the island provides plenty of things to do and see but the only way to reach other areas is by ferry.

If you want to get to Labrador, or Nova Scotia or take any of the other ferry routes of the island, the cost can add up; particularly if you are traveling by car, which is likely.

The costs vary depending on where you depart and your final destination, but you can easily pay more than a hundred dollars for a short, one-way trip across to Nova Scotia if you are traveling as a family with a car. Traveling by ferry can be an expensive inconvenience if you are frequently leaving the island.

Extremely harsh winter.

It can get extremely snowy during the winter. During particularly bad snowstorms, roads may become unusable. It’s a good idea to have several days’ worth of non-perishable food stocked in your kitchen at all times during the winter.

Not so varied food availability.

One has to restrict the diet to save foody needs.

Increasing Unemployment Rate:

Newfoundland and Labrador’s unemployment rate is the 2nd highest unemployment rate in the country recorded in 2019. This Canadian province’s current unemployment rate is at 11.1%, whereas the country’s unemployment rate stands at 5.7%.

Although people of this province are known to be very friendly, if received any chance of a job opportunity, people look out for their own first because of the worsening conditions. Only a limited number of industries are settled here, and the major employment sectors are either fishing, manufacturing, or hydroelectricity.

However, like the other coastal provinces, the tourism business is on the move, but only in the summers, whereas the shops close down near the winters due to the weather conditions. Stability in job opportunities is an infrequent option here.

Poor economy.

It also faces problems with proper economic opportunities. With the lowermost median household pay in the country and its scarcity rate and food insecurity being the worst in the nation, Mississippi is a state in anxious need of economic transformation.

Population decline.

Due to the uncertainty in the employment field, many people have shifted to other provinces in search of better and more secure job opportunities. Many people left the section just to live in the suburbs near the city or in the town to experience city life as this place is much more silent than the city rush.

Many events have also been organized by the government to encourage and influence the native people to return back or move as if the population will decline at such a faster pace; it could lead to problems in the future.

Newfoundland and Labrador have been experiencing a population decline as people move to other provinces wherein, they may have an easier time finding a job within their field, earning more money, or simply because they want to live in a city.

Conclusion:

Newfoundland and Labrador could be described as quiet, relaxed, and easy-going. Even though there are pubs, events, and live music in various towns and cities across the province, it is extremely low-key compared to other larger cities in the country.

It is safe and cheap with great food and friendly people, but of course, you also have to consider the challenges you could encounter to ensure it is the best place for you to call your new home.