By Kaleigh Hamilton, Global News September 12, 2013 - Winnipeg is still one of the most affordable cities in Canada. Typical Winnipeggers make about $5,000 a month and put 16 per cent, or $800, of their income towards housing, according to Statistics Canada’s National Household Survey.
Urban studies Prof. Jino Distasio said he’s not surprised the city still ranks low on the list.
“Winnipeg still remains an affordable place to live. If you’re entering into the home ownership market, there are a good range of neighbourhoods to choose from and houses are at a price point much different from the stratospheric level of Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary.”
People in Saskatoon also pay more, spending 17.3 per cent, or $982, on rent or house payments, but they also earn $700 a month more.
Homeowner Emily Helston, 20, said she and her boyfriend searched for a long time to find the right house in their budget so they wouldn’t be house poor.
They settled on paying 19.4 per cent of their combined income on housing and hope the extra investment will help them pay down their mortgage more quickly and open the door to a bigger place.
“We’ve heard a lot of bad stories about people going house broke and we didn’t want to be those people,” Helston said Thursday. ”(We also wanted) some extra to renovate the house.”
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