Nova Scotia on a budget

27.05.2024 - 09:25 / lonelyplanet.com / Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia, Canada’s second smallest province, offers a surprising variety of landscapes. Rocky headlands end in sweeping crescents of white sand, and the ancient mountains of Cape Breton Island add another dimension. Mammoth tides pick fishing boats up and set them down again in the Bay of Fundy, and rivers stitch together small lakes across the interior. The capital, Halifax – home to a third of Nova Scotia’s population – its walkable waterfront is a beehive of bars, restaurants and attractions. The key to visiting Nova Scotia on a budget? Get outside and explore all these beautiful places.

“Canada’s ocean playground,” as it’s nicknamed, offers a wide selection of accommodations, activities and food options, making Nova Scotia a budget-friendly destination. July and August – when most visitors arrive and Nova Scotians are out and about – are the most expensive months, but even peak season is made affordable by making informed choices and following these tips. 

Visitors from the far reaches of North America and beyond must fly into Halifax’s Stanfield International Airport. Halifax public transit runs an airport shuttle for $4.25. Rental cars can be scarce in the summer and add significantly to a travel budget, so if you do go with a rental, book early. People within one or two days of driving to Nova Scotia can skip the flights and rental cars, saving a significant amount of cash. 

Without a vehicle, getting around Nova Scotia is difficult as there’s little public transportation outside Halifax – driving into Nova Scotia guarantees you access to all the free things to do and the cheaper accommodation options beyond the city. Arrival from Maine and New Brunswick by car ferry is expensive, so budget travelers should drive into Nova Scotia from New Brunswick.

How you can drive, fly, float, cycle and more around Nova Scotia

Some costs in Nova Scotia might be lowest in winter, but only marginally. Food and drink prices at the many grocery stores and restaurants don’t vary much from season to season. The cost of accommodations also remains relatively steady year-round, except in July and August, when it spikes, especially in Halifax. On the other hand, the price of gas is usually lower before and after the busy summer driving season. In late summer and fall, farmers markets and U-picks burst with affordable produce. Share a seaside cabin or rental home with friends and family to cut down on individual accommodation costs.

Hostels are literally few and far between in Nova Scotia. The Highlands Hostel in Cape North near the Cabot Trail, one of the world’s great scenic drives, is open year-round with dorm beds and private rooms from $50 to $150. However, there just might be as many universities, which rent