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Of the 13 provinces and territories, Nunavut keeps the most of a $70,000 salary at $55,426 a year, and Nova Scotia keeps the least at $50,496. That is a spread of $4,929 on identical pay.
The full ranking, with what was taken
| Rank | Province or territory | Tax | CPP, QPP and EI | Take-home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nunavut | $9,495 | $5,080 | $55,426 |
| 2 | Northwest Territories | $10,476 | $5,080 | $54,444 |
| 3 | British Columbia | $10,572 | $5,080 | $54,348 |
| 4 | Yukon | $10,661 | $5,080 | $54,259 |
| 5 | Alberta | $10,813 | $5,080 | $54,107 |
| 6 | Ontario | $11,134 | $5,080 | $53,786 |
| 7 | Saskatchewan | $12,251 | $5,080 | $52,669 |
| 8 | New Brunswick | $12,878 | $5,080 | $52,042 |
| 9 | Manitoba | $13,021 | $5,080 | $51,899 |
| 10 | Quebec | $12,908 | $5,386 | $51,706 |
| 11 | Newfoundland and Labrador | $13,217 | $5,080 | $51,703 |
| 12 | Prince Edward Island | $13,536 | $5,080 | $51,384 |
| 13 | Nova Scotia | $14,424 | $5,080 | $50,496 |
The tax column is income tax, federal and provincial together. The pension and EI column is nearly the same everywhere. Quebec is the exception at $5,386, since it has its own plans.
Where Ontario lands
Ontario ranks 6th with $53,786. That is $1,639 below Nunavut and $3,290 above Nova Scotia. Five places pay more than Ontario on this salary: Nunavut, Northwest Territories, British Columbia, Yukon, Alberta.
What drives the order
The federal side of the bill is the same in each place. The order comes mostly from provincial and territorial income tax, which is why the tax column is the one that climbs as you go down the list. The three territories, BC and Alberta tax this pay lightly, while Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador tax it more heavily.
How the money splits per $100
In Ontario, out of every $100 of this pay, $15.91 goes to income tax and $7.26 goes to CPP and EI. The remaining $76.84 is yours. Nunavut’s income tax is $9,495, where Ontario’s is $11,134, and Nova Scotia’s is $14,424. The difference between those figures is what the ranking shows.
The gap in monthly terms
As a monthly paycheque, Nunavut comes to $4,619 and Nova Scotia to $4,208, a difference of $411 each month. The Ontario figure sits at $4,482. The ranking changes with the salary, so the order for a different income may not match this one.
What the same pay looks like in hand
In Ontario, $70,000 comes to $2,069 every two weeks and $4,482 a month. Nunavut pays $2,132 every two weeks, and Nova Scotia pays $1,942. The 13 places run from the first row to the last by $190 a cheque.
An Ontario view of this pay is in your Ontario paycheque on a 70k salary, and your 70000 salary in Ontario after tax and deductions has more detail. See take-home pay by province for other salaries, and use the take-home pay calculator for your own.
Where do these figures come from?
These figures are calculated with the same engine as our take-home pay calculator and the 2026 tables from the Canada Revenue Agency and the provinces. Only pay is counted, with no RRSP, credits or benefits unless the text says so. This is an independent information site: we provide no services, we do not represent the CRA or any organization, and we do not guarantee that anything here is accurate or current. We accept no liability for decisions based on it. Check the official source before you rely on it. See the full disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
How much is 70k after tax in Ontario?
You keep $53,786.27 a year, or $4,482.19 a month. Income tax is $11,133.91, CPP is $3,956.75 and EI is $1,123.07.
Do I keep more of 70k in Alberta?
The estimate is $54,107.20 a year, which is $320.93 more than in Ontario.
How much of 70k do I keep in Quebec?
$51,705.68, after income tax, QPP, QPIP and EI. The estimate leaves out Quebec's own tax credits.
Which province did you assume?
Ontario, because it's the most common case. Other provinces are in the comparison table.
Does 70k after tax change with a second job?
Yes. Other income is taxed on top of this pay, at your highest rate, so the result here only fits a single salary.
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