You’re not imagining it. Rent is ridiculous, housing prices are off the charts, traffic feels endless, and even grabbing groceries can feel like an Olympic sport. For many Canadians, the dream of ditching the big city isn’t just about saving money anymore, it’s about reclaiming time, space and sanity.
With remote work now a viable long-term option, more people are staring out their condo windows and wondering: What if I moved somewhere quieter? Cheaper? Slower? Somewhere with actual parking, maybe even a backyard, and where the loudest thing at night is a cricket, not a siren.
But is the grass really greener beyond the urban fringe?
What Redditors say: The reality of small-town life
Reddit is full of personal stories from Canadians who’ve taken the plunge and moved out of the city. While the appeal of small-town life is strong — lower housing costs, less congestion, maybe even a stronger sense of community — real experiences paint a more complicated picture.
As u/Rtrdinvestor gently described his desire to leave the pitfalls of urban living: “I wish. I’d love to sit at a traffic light and not get harassed by homeless fent addicts.”
It’s an extreme comment, but it captures a real sentiment: frustration with urban problems and a yearning for less daily friction.
Others offer more nuanced reflections. u/GordieGord, who made the move, urges caution: “Be 100% sure,” they warn — because once you sell in the city, getting back in isn’t easy. Social life operates differently in small towns. “You’ll easily make lots of acquaintances,” they write, “but the established social groups may be wary of new additions.” Gossip spreads fast, so they advise newcomers to “mind your Ps and Qs.”
Another Reddit user, u/kamomil, echoes that thought: In towns where everyone is someone’s cousin, being “new” can last for years.
The trade-offs: What you gain and what you might miss
Small-town life promises a lot — affordability, slower pace, space to breathe. But the shift isn’t all upside. As many who’ve made the move have learned, it’s a balancing act.
Housing is cheaper, often dramatically so. Take the family profiled in MoneySense back in 2021, who left Toronto during the pandemic and bought a detached home in Winnipeg for $378,000, which was less than half of what they’d have paid in the GTA. Sure, property taxes were higher, but overall costs went down, and their lifestyle improved.
Still, jobs may be scarcer or lower-paying, unless you’re bringing a remote position with you. As Reddit user u/GordieGord jokes about when mentioning that you may only be able to find work at “Tim’s Auto Wreckers and Personal Income Tax Services” — still, for some, it’s not far from the truth.
Everyday costs can also surprise newcomers. Groceries, fuel, heating and even reliable internet may be more expensive, especially in rural or seasonal communities. As u/WinkyPotato discovered, you might be driving 45 minutes just to get milk. And don’t expect 24/7 convenience; in many towns, stores close early and some shut down entirely on Sundays and Mondays.
Seasonal dynamics are another wild card. As u/yarn_slinger explains, tourist towns often become ghost towns in winter, with jobs and services drying up as the crowds vanish. Meanwhile, u/Substantial-Road-235 cautions that not all small towns are created equal — there’s a big difference between remote communities and satellite towns within commuting distance of major cities.
The upsides: Space, freedom and a different kind of community
Despite the quirks and compromises, many Redditors say they wouldn’t go back. After more than nine years in a small town, u/Dadoftwingirls says their family found a “larger social circle” and a “nicer lifestyle.” Their advice: choose a growing town, not one in decline. Even though loud mufflers and barking dogs aren’t exclusive to cities, they eventually found peace by moving “out in the bush,” with no neighbours at all.
For many, the appeal is less about what you leave behind and more about what you gain: space, calm, a break from the daily pressure cooker of urban life. And yes, that includes the absence of sidewalk encounters with “fent addicts,” as u/Rtrdinvestor bluntly noted — a raw but honest reflection of what some people are trying to escape.
Just know what you’re getting into. You’ll need to plan ahead for groceries, adjust to different social rhythms and rethink what "convenience" looks like. But in return, you might get what city living rarely offers: breathing room, physically, financially, and mentally.
Smaller towns, bigger satisfaction?
And it’s not just anecdotal. In a survey released by RE/MAX Canada and Leger, nearly one in four Canadians left major markets for smaller communities during the pandemic, and 85% of them are satisfied with their decision. Over half (52%) say their mental health improved after the move.
Small towns and mid-sized cities are increasingly seen as affordable, liveable and family-friendly alternatives to the big urban centres. But rising interest is already shifting dynamics: Local prices are climbing, and some fear that remote workers and real estate investors could erase the small-town charm they came for.
Still, expert research backs up many of the benefits: lower housing prices, cheaper car insurance, more space and often lower property taxes. But these perks can be offset by spotty internet, longer drives, and limited amenities, especially in more remote areas.
Is the move to small town life worth it?
For many, yes, but it depends on what you’re looking for.
Small-town life can absolutely work if you’re after affordability, access to nature and a slower pace. But there are trade-offs: fewer services, lower wage potential, longer drives and a slower path to feeling at home.
It comes down to priorities. Are you ready for solitude over convenience? Peace over nightlife? Slower rhythms over instant gratification?
If affordable housing, quiet nights and room to breathe matter more than access to sushi at midnight, your next move might just be the liberation you were looking for.
The downside of small town living
The idea of escaping city traffic, sky-high housing prices and constant noise might sound like a dream, but according to Reddit users, the shift to small-town life isn’t all peace and savings.
u/GordieGord, who made the move, warns prospective relocators to “be 100% sure,” before you call that moving truck. Once you sell your city home, getting back into the urban housing market can be near impossible. Social life, which is a cornerstone of why people enjoy urban living, operates on a different frequency in a small town: people are polite, but tight-knit circles may not open easily. “You’ll easily make lots of acquaintances,” they write, “but the established social groups may be wary of new additions.” And in small communities, gossip spreads fast, so they warn, “mind your Ps and Qs.”
Career expectations may also need a reset. As u/GordieGord puts it, you might end up working at “Tim’s Auto Wreckers and Personal Income Tax Services.” The quiet, too, can be jarring — “deafening” even, especially for those used to urban buzz.
Tourist towns bring a different flavour of frustration. u/yarn_slinger notes how rising popularity in their parents’ town has priced out locals: Starter homes are swallowed by short-term rentals, groceries are expensive year-round, and wages remain stagnant. Meanwhile, public transit is a non-starter and commuting is a daily slog.
Convenience, often taken for granted in cities, is another adjustment. u/WinkyPotato, a recent mover, says, “We aren’t about to drive 45 minutes just to get milk.” They also note many local shops close early, and some shut down entirely on Sundays and Mondays.
Not all small towns are the same, either. u/Substantial-Road-235 draws a clear line between tiny, remote communities and larger towns within commuting distance of major cities. Beach towns, for example, are lively for three months, and then turn into ghost towns. Fuel and groceries often cost more, and amenities can be far less comprehensive than in urban centres.
Social acceptance can also be slow. u/kamomil describes a place where everyone knows everyone, and most of them are related. “It can be difficult for locals to warm up to you,” they note, and being “new” can last for years.
The upsides of small town living: Freedom, space and a different kind of community
Still, for many Redditors, the move out of the city brought real rewards, including personal freedom, lifestyle upgrades and a sense of safety.
After ten years in a small town, u/Dadoftwingirls says their family has built a “larger social circle” and found a “nicer lifestyle.” Their advice? Choose a growing town rather than one in decline. While not every small town is serene — “you have the same loud exhaust issues as anywhere else” — they eventually found their peace living further out in the woods, surrounded by nature and no nearby neighbours.
And then there is u/Rtrdinvestor’s earlier mentioned preference to avoid being harrassed by "homeless fent addicts," something that resonates with urban escapees.
It’s a sentiment that reflects a broader desire to trade the friction of urban life for a quieter, more controlled environment.
Yes, you may need to plan ahead for groceries, get used to businesses closing early and navigate local social dynamics carefully. But you also get something city life rarely offers: breathing room, both physically and mentally.
As these Redditors make clear, small-town life isn’t perfect, but for the right person, it’s a trade-off that can pay off in quality of life, space and peace of mind.
What experts say on affordability and lifestyle
It’s not just a fantasy anymore. For many Canadians, the big move out of the city actually happened. According to a RE/MAX Canada and Leger survey, nearly one in four Canadians left major markets for smaller communities during the pandemic. And here’s the kicker: 85% say they’re glad they did it. Over half (52%) even report that their mental health improved after relocating. Fewer crowds, more space and a slower pace of life seem to be more than just Instagram dreams. They’re delivering real-world quality-of-life boosts.
Smaller cities and towns are increasingly valued for their affordability and livability, shorter commutes, less noise, more green space. But growing demand isn’t without consequence. Locals and newcomers alike worry that rising prices and an influx of remote workers could chip away at the very character that made these towns attractive in the first place.
Take the family profiled in MoneySense back in 2021, for example. Tired of Toronto’s sky-high real estate market, they packed up and moved to Winnipeg, in the middle of the pandemic. There, they bought a detached house for around $378,000 — less than half of what a similar property would cost in Toronto. Sure, their property taxes went up, but their overall expenses dropped, and life took on a calmer, more manageable rhythm. The trade-off? More breathing room, both financially and emotionally.
Expert research shows these moves often come with a financial upside: lower housing costs, cheaper auto insurance, and often lower property taxes. But the picture isn’t entirely rosy. Faster internet might be hit or miss. Public transit tends to be minimal or non-existent. And depending on how far off the beaten path you go, something as simple as finding a specialist doctor , or even a decent takeout menu, can be more difficult than you expect.
Still, with the right planning and realistic expectations, more Canadians are finding that smaller-town life is both doble and might be exactly what they need.
The trade-offs: What you gain and what you might miss
Small-town life promises a lot, but as many who’ve made the move have discovered, it’s not always a straight line from chaos to calm. It’s more of a balancing act, with trade-offs that aren’t always obvious from a distance.
For starters, the savings are real. In many towns, you can buy a home for a fraction of what you’d pay in a major city. But the jobs that once funded those big-city mortgages might not exist out here — at least not in the same way. Salaries tend to be lower, and many newcomers rely on remote work or patch together multiple income streams just to make it work.
Then there’s the math that doesn’t show up in your mortgage calculator. Groceries, gas, heating, even internet, can cost more, depending on how rural you go. That charming isolation often comes with a longer drive to everything, including the basics.
And socially? Don’t expect instant community. In some towns, “new” is a label that can stick for years. Locals may smile and say hello, but as u/kamomil and u/GordieGord both explained, breaking into tight-knit circles can be slow and subtle — especially in places where everyone is someone’s cousin. It’s not hostility, just a different social pace.
If you’re eyeing a tourist town, brace yourself for seasonal whiplash. That vibrant summer boardwalk? It might feel like a ghost town come January. Jobs and storefronts tend to vanish with the tourists, leaving behind long, quiet winters and limited year-round work.
And when it comes to services like healthcare, childcare, entertainment, even takeout, what’s available might be further away, open less often, or simply not exist at all. You learn to plan ahead, get creative, and adjust your expectations.
But for those who come prepared — financially and emotionally — these compromises can be worth it. If you’re looking for fewer honking horns and more breathing room, the trade-offs might just be part of the charm.
Final word: is it worth it?
Many Redditors and market analysis suggest small‑town life can work well if you value affordability, slower pace and nature. But there are trade‑offs: limited services, lower wage potential, social dynamics and seasonal churn.
It often comes down to priorities: Are you ready for a quieter life, longer commutes for essentials, and slower social integration? Or do you crave city convenience at a cost?
If access to affordable housing, peace and space outweigh big‑city amenities for you, the next move could be more than a relocation — it could be liberation.
Sources
1. Reddit: r/Ontario: Thinking about moving to a smaller town from a big city
2. Newswire: Liveability in Canada’s Small Markets Eclipses Relative Affordability (April 13, 2022)
3. Moneysense: Home economics: How moving to a smaller city can reap big financial gains (April 2, 2021)
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.