After Tax Canada / Province comparison calculatorVersion française
Province comparison calculator (2026)
Same salary, two provinces. Pick a gross salary and two provinces and see the take-home pay side by side, with federal tax, provincial tax, CPP or QPP, EI, and QPIP broken out. Federal tax is identical in both columns, so the gap you see is purely the province difference.
In Alberta you keep $21 more per month than in Ontario
Same salary, same federal tax. The gap is provincial tax, surtax and health premium, CPP vs QPP, and QPIP.
Side by side
| Ontario | Alberta | Difference (B minus A) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | $100,000 | $100,000 | $0 |
| Take-home pay | $74,206 | $74,459 | $252 |
| Take-home per month | $6,184 | $6,205 | $21 |
| Take-home per biweekly pay | $2,854 | $2,864 | $10 |
| Federal tax | $13,302 | $13,302 | $0 |
| Provincial tax | $6,723 | $6,470 | -$252 |
| CPP / QPP | $4,646 | $4,646 | $0 |
| EI | $1,123 | $1,123 | $0 |
| Total deductions | $25,794 | $25,542 | -$252 |
| Average tax rate | 25.8% | 25.5% | -0.3% |
| Marginal tax rate | 31.5% | 30.5% | -1.0% |
The winner is the province where you keep more of the same salary, after tax and payroll deductions.
Estimates from the 2026 tax tables for a single employee with no other income. Your actual pay depends on TD1 claims, benefits, and other income. Cost of living is not included: a province that taxes less can still cost more to live in. Not financial advice.
Make your take-home work harder
Your paycheque is only half the story. These are the account types Canadians use to put after-tax money to work. What follows is factual information, not financial advice.
High-interest savings account
A savings account that pays a higher rate than a chequing account. Money stays liquid and earns interest while you keep it.
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Investment account
An account for buying investments such as ETFs and stocks. It can be registered (TFSA, RRSP, FHSA) or non-registered.
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Bank account
A chequing account for daily spending and bill payments, often bundled with savings and credit products.
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Disclosure: if partner offers are listed here in the future, they will be clearly labelled, and we may earn a commission. Account descriptions are factual information, not financial advice.
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Worked examples: same salary, two provinces, 2026
| Salary and provinces | Take-home in A | Take-home in B | Monthly difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $100,000 · Quebec vs Alberta | $69,963 | $74,459 | $375 |
| $75,000 · Ontario vs British Columbia | $56,926 | $57,711 | $65 |
| $150,000 · Alberta vs Quebec | $107,458 | $98,130 | -$777 |
Annual figures, monthly difference is B minus A · 2026 tax tables · verified 2026-09-20 · how we calculate
FAQ
Why does the same salary pay differently in each province?
Federal tax is the same wherever you live, but every province sets its own brackets, credits, and surtaxes, and payroll deductions differ too: Quebec has QPP instead of CPP plus QPIP, Ontario adds a surtax and a health premium. At $100,000 those differences add up to thousands a year, which is why the province you live in matters as much as the salary itself.
Which province has the lowest taxes?
There is no single winner at every income: Alberta's flat 10% lowest provincial bracket usually wins at middle incomes, but the ranking shifts as salaries rise and credits phase out. Run your actual salary through both provinces here instead of trusting a general ranking.
Does moving provinces change my federal tax?
No. Federal brackets, the basic personal amount, and federal credits are identical across Canada. Only the provincial side, and Quebec's QPP and QPIP payroll deductions, change when you move.
Does this include CPP, EI, and QPIP?
Yes. Each side shows federal tax, provincial tax, CPP or QPP, EI, and QPIP for Quebec, plus the total deductions and the average and marginal rates. The QPIP row only appears when Quebec is one of the two provinces.
Does this include cost of living?
No, and that matters: a province that taxes less can still cost more to live in once rent, housing, and services are counted. Use this tool for the tax side of a move, and compare housing and living costs separately before deciding.
Is this financial advice?
No. These are estimates from the 2026 tax tables for a single employee with no other income. Your actual pay depends on TD1 claims, benefits, and other income. Use the comparison to narrow a decision, not to make it for you.