Amherst, Nova Scotia Cost Of Living

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6%

Overall NAT. AVG.

5%

Groceries NAT. AVG.

37%

Housing NAT. AVG.

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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from Statistics Canada.

The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living score is 90, then the estimated cost of living is 10% lower than the national average. If the score is 110, then the estimated cost of living is 10% higher than average. The overall index is calculated using weighted estimates across major everyday expense categories, including housing (30%), groceries (16%), transportation (12%), healthcare (10%), utilities (8%), lifestyle and entertainment (8%), household expenses (8%), and education and childcare (8%). All values are AI-assisted city-level estimates designed for directional comparisons.
Index	Amherst	Nova Scotia	National
Cost of living	94	98	100
Groceries	105	109	100
Health care	96	95	100
Housing	63	64	100
Transportation	92	94	100
Utilities	140	140	100
Lifestyle & Entertainment	n/a	n/a	n/a
Household Items	n/a	n/a	n/a
Education & Childcare	n/a	n/a	n/a

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

The cost of living in Amherst is 4% lower than the Nova Scotia average
The cost of living in Amherst is 6% lower than the national average
Amherst housing is 37% lower than the national average
Nova Scotia general sales tax is 67% higher than the national average
Nova Scotia state income tax is 4% higher than the national average

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Price difference in compared to

Cost of living index
Groceries index
Health care index
Housing index
Transportation index
Utilities index
Lifestyle index
Household index
Educare index

Nova Scotia Sales Tax

State	General Sales Tax	With Max Surtax
Nova Scotia	10%	15%

Nova Scotia Income Tax

State	Income Tax (Low)	Income Tax (High)
Nova Scotia	8.79%	21%

Nearby cities with low cost of living

City	Population	Cost of Living Index	National Avg.
Cumberland, Subd. C, NS	5,206	94	6.0%
Fort Folly 1, NB	39	98	1.6%
Westmorland, NB	960	99	0.6%
Dorchester, NB	426	101	1.0%
Sackville, NB	1,186	101	1.2%
Amherst, NS	9,360	94	6.0%

Cities with similar population

City	Population	Cost of Living Index	National Avg.
Ogden, NC	9,359	n/a
Lincoln City, OR	9,358	n/a
Potsdam, NY	9,362	n/a
Laurentian Valley, ON	9,362	102	2.4%
Springfield, FL	9,363	n/a
Amherst, NS	9,360	94	6.0%

Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2020 and was released from Statistics Canada.