Open ProvincesNova Scotia
Nova Scotia is a Canadian province. Capital: Halifax. Find key facts below and follow the link to the official government site for current services, taxes and programs.
Key figures
- Population
- 1,103,419 2026-07 · 0.8% / 12 m
- Unemployment rate
- 6.2% 2026-10
- Inflation (12 months)
- 5.6% 2026-09
- Average weekly earnings
- $1,221 2026-08
Source: Statistics Canada. Updated automatically. Compare all provinces →
Guides for this province
- Renting in Nova Scotia: rights, rent increases and average rents
- Working in Nova Scotia: minimum wage, standards and wages
- Moving to Nova Scotia: health card, driver's licence and taxes
- Cost of living in Nova Scotia: prices, rent, wages and taxes
- Buying a home in Nova Scotia: land transfer tax, rebates and first-time buyer help
- Health care in Nova Scotia: health card, drug plans and dental help
- Studying in Nova Scotia: tuition, student aid and grants
- Seniors in Nova Scotia: pensions, supplements and programs
- Taxes in Nova Scotia: income tax rates, sales tax and take-home pay (2026)
- Families in Nova Scotia: child benefits and family programs
- Immigrating to Nova Scotia: nominee program, steps and processing times
| Type | Province |
|---|---|
| Capital | Halifax |
| Joined Canada (or created) | 1867 |
| Languages | English (de facto) |
| Sales tax system | HST (harmonized sales tax, GST + provincial part) |
| Sales tax rates | HST 14% (Source: Canada Revenue Agency) |
| Public health plan | MSI (Medical Services Insurance) |
| Driver's licensing body | Registry of Motor Vehicles |
| Official government site | https://novascotia.ca/ |
Rates and amounts change. Each figure on this site shows its official source and the date it was read; confirm on the official page before making a decision.
Programs in this province or territory
Families and children
- Nova Scotia Child BenefitMonthly amount for low- and modest-income families, paid with the CCB.
Official source ↗ · read on 2026-11-13Amounts — July 2026 to June 2027 Per child under 18 $127.08 / month Partial benefit if adjusted family net income is between $26,000 and $34,000
Work and income
- Nova Scotia Affordable Living Tax CreditQuarterly payment for low- and modest-income households, paid with the federal credit.
Official source ↗ · read on 2026-11-13Amounts — July 2026 to June 2027 Individual or couple $255 / year Per child $60 / year Reduced above adjusted family net income of $30,000 - Income AssistanceHelp with basic needs and employment supports.
Read the full guide →Amounts — from January 1, 2026 Standard Household Rate, single person living in a home $738 / month Enhanced rate (disability, age 55 or over, age 16 to 18, fleeing abuse) $1,022 / month Essentials rate (temporarily in a shelter, hospital or treatment) $410 / month Official source ↗ · read on 2026-11-13Conditions and rules
- One combined rate replaces the old shelter and personal allowances, whatever your actual rent.
- Rates rose 1.6% in 2026 and are adjusted for inflation every year. Part of your earnings can be kept.
How to get it : Apply by phone or online to the Department of Opportunities and Social Development.
Health and drugs
- Family Pharmacare and Seniors' PharmacareDrug coverage with costs based on family income.
Amounts — program year April 1 to March 31 Seniors' Pharmacare: co-payment 30% of each prescription Seniors' Pharmacare: annual co-payment maximum $382 Seniors' Pharmacare: maximum annual premium $424 Official source ↗ · read on 2026-11-13Conditions and rules
- Family Pharmacare has no premium: each family gets its own deductible and co-payment maximum by letter, based on income and family size.
- Seniors' Pharmacare is for residents 65 and over without other drug coverage; lower-income seniors may pay no premium.
How to get it : Enrol with Nova Scotia Pharmacare online or by mail.
Housing
- Heating Assistance Rebate ProgramYearly rebate on home heating costs for lower-income households.
Official source ↗ · read on 2026-11-13Amounts — October 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027 Rebate per household $400 Net income limit, living alone $30,000 Net household income limit, with children or other adults $45,000
Students and training
- Nova Scotia Student AssistanceOne application for federal and Nova Scotia loans and grants.
Amounts — 2026-27 Nova Scotia student loan, maximum $200 / week of study Grant at a Nova Scotia school 40% of the Nova Scotia loan Loan forgiveness, non-professional undergraduate degree up to $20,400 Official source ↗ · read on 2026-11-13Conditions and rules
- Undergraduate loan forgiveness covers Nova Scotia loans issued since August 1, 2015, for graduates of Nova Scotia programs; graduates are reviewed automatically.
- Certificates and diplomas: up to $4,680 forgiven per 39-week study period (loans since August 1, 2020).
How to get it : Apply online to Nova Scotia Student Assistance.
Federal programs (all of Canada) →
Online accounts
- My NS Account and YourHealthNSOne login for provincial services, and an app for health records and booking.Official page ↗ · link checked
Guides
- Moving to another province: checklistA practical checklist for moving between Canadian provinces and territories: health card, driver's licence, vehicle, taxes and address changes.
- Sales tax systems across CanadaWhich provinces and territories charge GST only, GST plus a provincial tax, QST or HST — grouped, with links to official sources.
- Provincial health insurance plansThe name of the public health insurance plan in each Canadian province and territory, with a link to each government.
- Driver's licensing by provinceWhich body issues driver's licences in each Canadian province and territory, with a link to each government.
Tools
- Mortgage payment calculatorCanadian compounding, any province.
- Compound interest calculatorSavings growth with regular contributions.
- Tip & bill split calculatorTip amount and per-person share.
- Personal finance tracker (private, encrypted)Accounts, investments, goals and net worth — stored encrypted in your browser.
- Income tax calculator by province (2026)Federal and provincial tax, CPP and EI on a salary: pick your province.
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- Average rent by cityCMHC average rents for 180 Canadian cities, by number of bedrooms.
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- Air quality right now (AQHI)Live Air Quality Health Index for communities across Canada.
- Business grants, loans and programs finder1,600 federal, provincial and territorial programs for businesses and self-employed people.
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- EI: hours required and weeks payable by regionHow many insurable hours you need for Employment Insurance where you live.
- Benefit payment datesWhen the next CCB, OAS, CPP and other payments arrive.
- Rent increase calculator by provinceThe highest rent your landlord can ask for, where a cap exists.
- Land transfer tax calculator by provinceLand transfer tax or registration fees when you buy a home, with first-time buyer relief where it exists.
- Weather alerts in Canada, liveActive warnings, advisories and statements from Environment and Climate Change Canada, by province.
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- City comparer: rent, gas and minimum wagePut two Canadian cities side by side: average rents, gasoline, minimum wage, sales tax and the hours of work a 1-bedroom takes.
- Net-to-gross salary calculator by province (2026)The gross salary you need to take home a given amount, in any province or territory.
- RRSP tax refund calculator and RRSP vs TFSAHow much tax an RRSP contribution saves in your province, and whether an RRSP or a TFSA grows more.
- Canada Child Benefit calculator (July 2026 to June 2027)Estimate your Canada Child Benefit from your family income and the ages of your children.
- Housing starts and new-home prices by provinceMonthly housing starts (CMHC) and the new housing price index for 35 areas.
- Population growth and migration by provinceBirths, deaths, immigrants, emigration, interprovincial migration and temporary residents for the last five years.
- Employment Insurance beneficiaries by provinceHow many people receive regular EI benefits in each province and territory, and how that changed over a year.
- Canadian time zone converterOne time, every Canadian zone: Pacific to Newfoundland, with daylight saving handled for you.
- Invoice generator with GST/HST/PSTBuild an invoice with the right sales tax for your province, then print it or save it as a PDF.
- Paper sizes: Letter, Legal, A4 and moreDimensions of Canadian and international paper sizes in mm, inches, points and pixels.
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