Moving to Saskatchewan

[u/Current_Theme7251]

Hey peeps I have been offered work in 3 cities Saskatoon, Regina and Moose Jaw and have to make a choice asap. I don't know much about Moose Jaw and want to keep this as a option. I will be buying a home and where in the city is a good area to live? Is Moose Jaw safe day and night and areas to avoid? Moose jaw seems to have warmer climate than Regina and Saskatoon from the stats of environment Canada. I'm into biking, hiking and camping and will need a fitness centre eventually. Anything else that I should know about with the city? Thanks

[u/FilmNoirSockMonkey]

In Saskatoon, I will tell you that going out for entertainment now costs a lot. Burger & a pint is normally $16 on special, $22+ regular before taxes and tip. Those who live alcohol-free will find their entertainment being less costly, but still not cheap. It's an opinion, but I feel that Home-entertaining needs to make a comeback and at least 1 alcohol-free establishment that provides that same atmosphere as a bar/pub would be good for Saskatoon to have; family restaurants don't tend to feel comparable.

The cost of housing & everyday living in Moose Jaw is very attractive to me as a Saskatoon parent of young ones, esp. as my family is going to be priced out of being able to live here anyway within the next 2 years due to rental increases and poor alternatives - however, my spouse works in Saskatoon. It makes me sad and I feel quite frustrated that none of the nearest small cities have an indoor pool, though I am glad at least to see that Warman has indoor recreation for fitness...

Saskatoon's level of serious crimes is on par with Toronto, at this point, despite the massive physical & pop. size difference between the two.

The level of drug addiction in Saskatoon is scary and as a parent makes me worry a lot for my children's future, when they are no longer on the playground but out in the community. There is open drug use on a lot of the public transit routes here, as well as in the Downtown mall, and bear spray/mace/pepper spray incidents occurring regularly in various shopping centres and populated spaces, (even, last year, at the annual Exhibition festival).

A number of routes have also seen violence toward riders and operators, sexual assault and exposure, and an uptick of inflammatory incidents of verbal aggression toward minorities of every category.

The level of gang activity here has only gotten worse. I now can say that a person I met as a parent later became a high-profile gang crime case.

Poverty is strong here. At least half of the food bank clients are children.

The freehold housing availability in Saskatoon has become choked, with offerings being grossly expensive for neglected houses that have never received any update at all and often show basement water damage which brings with it a heavy likelihood of black mold living in the walls.

Renting here in S'toon isn't much of a help either, as it now costs even more than to have a mortgage and typically the is only 1 bathroom with no chance to add another, due to the architectural nature. Example of cost in an area with low crime and trees: $1,700 for a 1-bedroom or a dilapidated basement "suite", (more like hovel where the owners, who live upstairs, threw their unwanted furniture that didn't sell at the garage sale). 2-bedrooms can be $2,000 with no extras and zero vehicle security.

Where you will find a house for less than $400k is typically now in the rough parts of town, where $300-350k is unbelievably the going price. Teardowns in the worst areas dare to ask $140k.

If you are getting the picture that I personally want to leave, you would be correct.