Province Tax
Comparison Canada 2026
Compare take-home pay, income tax, sales tax, minimum wage, and cost of living between any two Canadian provinces. See exactly what moving provinces means for your wallet.
Province A
Province B
Tax calculations are estimates based on 2026 federal and provincial brackets. Includes the Ontario surtax and health premium. Does not include credits beyond the basic personal amount, deductions other than CPP and EI, or municipal taxes. Not financial or tax advice. Terms →
Alberta has no provincial sales tax (5% GST only) and the highest basic personal amount of any province ($22,769 in 2026). On a $100,000 salary the take-home pay in Alberta is only about $250 a year higher than in Ontario, but the gap grows with income: about $3,100 at $150,000 and about $6,600 at $200,000. However, Alberta also has lower public services, no rent control, and typically higher car insurance.
Ontario's top combined rate is 53.53%, reached on income above $220,000, and the Ontario surtax applies once provincial tax passes a modest threshold. The 13% HST applies broadly. However, Ontario has stronger employment standards, rent control for older buildings, and OHIP health coverage.
BC has a higher top rate than Alberta, but at moderate incomes it has the lowest tax of the ten provinces: on a $100,000 salary British Columbia has the highest take-home pay in this calculator. The PST (7%) doesn't apply to most business inputs (unlike HST which is recoverable). Vancouver's high housing costs offset much of the income tax advantage.
Take-home pay is only part of the picture. Housing costs, transit, childcare, healthcare premiums (BC has eliminated MSP premiums), car insurance, and quality of public services all differ dramatically by province. Use the Cost of Living comparison tool for the full picture.
What actually drives the take-home pay gap between provinces
The same salary nets out very differently depending on which province you live in, and the gap is bigger than most people expect until they actually run the comparison.
Alberta's flat tax is the single biggest factor
Alberta introduced an 8% bracket on the first $61,200 of income in 2026 and charges 10% up to $154,259, then 12%, 13%, 14% and 15% above that. It has no provincial surtax. At higher incomes most other provinces apply steeper brackets, so the gap in take-home pay grows with income.
Quebec's separate tax system adds real complexity
Quebec collects its own provincial income tax independently from the CRA, with its own brackets, its own basic personal amount, and additional payroll deductions (like the Quebec Pension Plan instead of CPP, and QPIP instead of federal EI maternity benefits). This means a direct salary comparison between Quebec and any other province needs to account for an entirely parallel tax and benefits system, not just different bracket percentages.
Higher take-home pay doesn't always mean more purchasing power
A higher net paycheque in one province can be entirely offset by a higher cost of living, housing in particular varies dramatically more than tax rates do between Canadian cities. Comparing take-home pay alone, without factoring in local rent or home prices, can lead to a misleading picture of which location actually leaves you better off financially.
CPP and EI deductions are identical everywhere except Quebec
Outside Quebec, CPP and EI rates and maximums are federally set and identical across every province, they don't contribute to the take-home pay gap at all. The entire difference in net pay between, say, Ontario and Alberta comes down to provincial income tax brackets alone, which makes provincial tax structure the cleanest single factor to compare when evaluating a cross-province move.
When comparing offers across provinces, always ask for the gross salary and run it through a take-home calculator for each specific province rather than assuming a quoted number is directly comparable, recruiters don't always account for these differences when discussing compensation.
Frequently asked questions
Which Canadian province has the lowest income tax?
Alberta has one of the lowest overall tax burdens at most income levels, with no provincial sales tax, the highest basic personal amount and an 8% to 10% provincial rate on the first $154,259. At moderate incomes British Columbia and the territories are close or lower. At very high incomes Saskatchewan's top combined rate (47.5%) is slightly below Alberta's (48%), though Alberta's lower brackets still leave more take-home pay at $300,000. Newfoundland and Labrador (54.3%) and Nova Scotia (54.0%) have the highest top combined rates, just above Ontario's 53.53%.
Is it worth moving provinces for lower taxes?
At a $100,000 salary, moving from Ontario to Alberta changes take-home pay by only about $250 a year. At $150,000 it is about $3,100 a year, and at $200,000 about $6,600 a year, which adds up over ten years. But factor in: housing costs (Alberta is cheaper), cost of living, family connections, career opportunities, and public services. Pure tax optimization rarely justifies a move on its own.