Closing Costs in Atlantic Canada (NS, NB, PEI, NL, 2026)
Deed transfer tax on a $450,000 home is $6,750 in Halifax, $4,500 in New Brunswick and PEI, and $3,666 in Newfoundland fees. Every Atlantic closing cost.
Each Atlantic province sets its own transfer cost. Nova Scotia's deed transfer tax is municipal, up to 1.5% (Halifax charges the maximum), plus a 10% provincial tax on buyers who are not Nova Scotia residents. New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island charge a flat 1%, and PEI exempts qualified first-time buyers entirely. Newfoundland and Labrador has no tax, only registration fees on the deed and the mortgage. On a $450,000 home: $6,750 in Halifax, $4,500 in Moncton or Charlottetown, and $3,666 in St. John's. None of the four charges PST on mortgage insurance.
Figures come from the CostToClose guided buying flow.
Transfer costs at common prices
| Price | Nova Scotia (Halifax, 1.5%) | New Brunswick (1%) | PEI (1%) | Newfoundland & Labrador (fees, 10% down, insured mortgage) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $300,000 | $4,500 | $3,000 | $3,000 | $2,510 |
| $450,000 | $6,750 | $4,500 | $4,500 | $3,666 |
| $650,000 | $9,750 | $6,500 | $6,500 | $5,209 |
| $900,000 | $13,500 | $9,000 | $9,000 | $7,137 |
This example was computed with the CostToClose calculator, 14 September 2026. PEI first-time buyers: $0 at every price.
Nova Scotia
The deed transfer tax is set by each municipality between 0% and 1.5%. Halifax Regional Municipality, Cape Breton, Truro and most larger municipalities charge 1.5%; a few rural municipalities charge nothing. Your lawyer confirms the rate for the exact municipality.
Since 1 April 2025 the province adds a non-resident deed transfer tax of 10% of the price for buyers who are not residents of Nova Scotia. That includes buyers from Ontario or Alberta, not only foreign buyers. It is refunded if the buyer moves to Nova Scotia within six months. Under August 2026 administrative changes, buyers get up to one year to prove residency and two years to apply for the refund. A $450,000 Halifax purchase by a non-resident who does not relocate pays $6,750 plus $45,000.
There is no first-time buyer rebate on the deed transfer tax. Halifax's former rebate ended in 2023.
New Brunswick
Real property transfer tax of 1% of the greater of the price and the assessed value, paid at closing. No first-time buyer exemption. Legal fees typically $1,000 to $1,800.
Prince Edward Island
Real property transfer tax of 1% of the greater of price and assessed value, none if the value is $30,000 or less. Qualified first-time buyers pay nothing at any price. To qualify you must have lived in PEI for six months before closing or filed PEI tax returns in two of the last six years, never have owned a home anywhere, and occupy the property as your principal residence. The exemption is claimed on the affidavit filed at closing.
Newfoundland and Labrador
No transfer tax. The Registry of Deeds charges $100 for the first $500 of value plus $0.40 per additional $100, to a maximum of $5,000, on the deed, and the same formula on the mortgage. A $450,000 purchase with 10% down pays $1,898 on the deed plus $1,768 on the insured mortgage of $417,555 (the premium is part of the amount registered).
Worked example from the calculator
$450,000 house, 10% down, mortgage $405,000, CMHC premium $12,555 added to the mortgage, no PST on the premium in any Atlantic province:
| Item | Halifax (resident) | Moncton | Charlottetown (first-time buyer) | St. John's |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transfer tax / fees | $6,750 | $4,500 | $0 | $3,666 |
| Legal fees (estimate) | $1,400 | $1,300 | $1,300 | $1,300 |
| Title insurance and inspection (estimate) | $975 | $975 | $975 | $975 |
| Appraisal (estimate) | $400 | $400 | $400 | $400 |
| Tax adjustment (estimate) | $780 | $780 | $780 | $780 |
| Closing costs | $10,305 | $7,955 | $3,455 | $7,121 |
| Cash needed with down payment | $55,305 | $52,955 | $48,455 | $52,121 |
What changes the number
- Nova Scotia residency. The 10% non-resident tax is the largest single closing cost in the region for anyone moving in from another province who cannot become a resident within one year of closing.
- PEI first-time status. Worth the full 1%.
- Municipality in Nova Scotia. 0% to 1.5%.
- New construction. HST of 15% applies in all four provinces, less the federal rebate and any provincial rebate; first-time buyers can now recover the full 5% federal portion on new homes up to $1 million.
Frequently asked questions
How much is deed transfer tax in Halifax?
1.5% of the purchase price: $6,750 on $450,000. Non-residents of Nova Scotia pay an additional 10% unless they become a resident within one year, as of August 2026 administrative changes (previously six months).
Does New Brunswick have a first-time home buyer land transfer rebate?
No. The 1% real property transfer tax applies to all buyers.
Are first-time buyers exempt from PEI's transfer tax?
Yes, in full, if they meet the residency and never-owned tests and occupy the home as a principal residence.
Is there land transfer tax in Newfoundland?
No. Registration fees apply instead: $3,666 on a $450,000 purchase with 10% down, including the mortgage registration.
Do Atlantic provinces charge PST on CMHC insurance?
No. The HST provinces do not tax mortgage default insurance premiums; the premium is added to the mortgage with nothing due in cash.
Sources
- Service Nova Scotia, Deed Transfer Tax; Non-Resident Deed Transfer Tax (effective 1 April 2025; proof-of-residency and refund-window changes, O.I.C. 2026-259 effective 6 August 2026) — checked 5 Oct 2026
- Halifax Regional Municipality, deed transfer tax — checked 14 Sept 2026
- Government of New Brunswick, Real Property Transfer Tax — checked 14 Sept 2026
- Government of Prince Edward Island, Real Property Transfer Tax and first-time home buyers exemption — checked 14 Sept 2026
- Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Registration of Deeds Act fee schedule — checked 14 Sept 2026
- CMHC, mortgage loan insurance premiums — checked 14 Sept 2026
This is general information for Canadian home buyers and sellers, checked against the sources listed above on the date shown, and it is not legal, tax, or mortgage advice. Rules and rates change, so confirm current figures with your lawyer or notary, your lender, or the government office that administers the tax before relying on them.