Every spring, enormous icebergs drift down from Greenland past the Avalon Peninsula — visible from shore in St. John's. Combined with humpback, minke, and fin whales feeding in the waters, and 22 million seabirds nesting on nearby Cape St. Mary's, St. John's offers wildlife experiences that rival anywhere in the world. This isn't a nature trip — it's your backyard.
About St. John's
St. John's is the capital and largest city of Newfoundland and Labrador, situated on the Avalon Peninsula on the eastern tip of Canada. It holds the distinction of being the oldest English-established settlement in North America — John Cabot arrived in 1497. The city of 114,000 has a unique cultural identity entirely its own — a distinct Newfoundland dialect, music tradition, and sense of humour that is celebrated across Canada.
The 'Jelly Bean Row' houses along Gower Street — brightly painted Victorian homes in jewel colours — are one of Canada's most iconic streetscapes. George Street is legendary across Canada as having the highest concentration of bars and restaurants per capita in North America. The economy has been transformed by offshore oil production (Hibernia, Terra Nova fields) and is diversifying into ocean technology, tourism, and remote work.
Pros & Cons of Living in St. John's
✓ Pros
- Canada's most affordable major city housing ($320K avg)
- Friendliest people in Canada — universally acknowledged
- Unique Newfoundland culture, music, and humour
- Icebergs visible from shore (May–June)
- World-class whale watching and seabird colonies
- George Street — legendary nightlife
- Memorial University — major economic anchor
- Strong sense of community and belonging
✗ Cons
- Most isolated major city in Canada
- Foggy, wet, windy weather much of the year
- Expensive flights to rest of Canada
- Economy historically oil-dependent
- High NL income tax (up to 21.3%)
- Limited job market outside oil, government, healthcare
- Brain drain — young people leave for mainland
- High cost of consumer goods due to isolation