Ontario residents enjoy dramatically lower provincial income tax than PEI residents at every income level. At $100,000, Ontario saves $6,367 per year in income tax alone. PEI also charges 15% HST โ€” two percentage points more than Ontario's 13%, adding roughly $800/year in sales tax costs on $40,000 of spending. Despite these significant tax disadvantages, PEI attracts a growing stream of Ontario migrants, particularly retirees and remote workers, lured by island housing priced at $300,000โ€“$400,000 compared to Toronto's $1,000,000+. The PEI migration trend is one of the most interesting in Canada: people willingly trading higher taxes for an extraordinary lifestyle at a fraction of the cost.

By Daniel, Founder of CountryTaxCalc

Daniel has spent 5+ years researching tax systems across 95+ countries and all US states to make tax comparison accessible to everyone. For corrections, contact us.

Last Updated: April 2026

The Big Picture

๐Ÿ Ontario

5.05-13.16%

Lower Income Tax

5 progressive brackets from 5.05% to 13.16%

๐Ÿฆ€ Prince Edward Island

9.65-18.75%

High Income Tax + 15% HST

5 progressive brackets from 9.65% to 18.75%

Typical Annual Savings

At $100,000 income:

$6,367

Ontario residents pay $6,367 less per year in provincial income tax than PEI at $100,000. PEI also charges 15% HST versus Ontario's 13%, adding ~$800/year in sales tax costs on typical spending.

Tax Savings by Income Level

IncomeON TaxPEI TaxSavings10-Year
$50,000 $2,525$5,516-$2,991-$29,910
$75,000 $4,753$9,245-$4,492-$44,920
$100,000 $7,041$13,408-$6,367-$63,670
$150,000 $12,563$22,415-$9,852-$98,520
$250,000 $25,023$41,165-$16,142-$161,420
๐Ÿ’ก

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Ontario Pros and Cons

โœ… Pros

  • Significantly lower provincial income tax at every income level
  • Ontario's top rate of 13.16% is far below PEI's 18.75%
  • Toronto: Canada's largest job market across all sectors
  • Lower sales tax at 13% HST vs PEI's 15% HST

โŒ Cons

  • Toronto housing costs are among the highest in North America
  • High overall cost of living: rent, childcare, transit
  • Urban stress: traffic, congestion, cost of space
  • No island lifestyle or quiet rural community feel

Prince Edward Island Pros and Cons

โœ… Pros

  • Dramatically lower housing costs โ€” homes in Charlottetown area $300Kโ€“$450K
  • Stunning island lifestyle: red sand beaches, seafood, farming communities
  • Canada's smallest province โ€” short commutes and tight-knit communities
  • Growing remote work economy attracting Ontario and BC transplants

โŒ Cons

  • Among Canada's highest provincial income tax rates at all levels
  • 15% HST is one of Canada's highest sales tax rates
  • Very limited job market outside government, tourism, and agriculture
  • Ferry or flight dependency to reach mainland Canada

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is Ontario or PEI cheaper for taxes?

Ontario is substantially cheaper on both income tax and sales tax. At $100,000 income, Ontario saves $6,367/year in provincial income tax. Ontario also charges 13% HST versus PEI's 15% HST, saving roughly $800/year more on $40,000 of spending. Total provincial tax advantage for Ontario: approximately $7,167/year.

Q: What are PEI's provincial income tax brackets for 2026?

Prince Edward Island 2026 provincial brackets: 9.65% to $32,656; 13.63% to $64,313; 16.65% to $105,000; 18% to $140,000; 18.75% above $140,000. Source: PEI Department of Finance.

Q: Why are PEI's income taxes so high?

PEI is Canada's smallest province with a limited tax base, heavily reliant on tourism, fishing, and agriculture. With limited corporate tax revenue and significant reliance on federal transfers, the province charges higher income and sales taxes to fund public services. The provincial government has been working to attract more workers and businesses to broaden its revenue base.

Q: Is moving from Ontario to PEI worth it financially?

It depends heavily on your income and work situation. If you're earning $100,000+, you'll pay roughly $7,000/year more in taxes on PEI. However, if you're trading a $1.2M Toronto home for a $400,000 PEI property, the mortgage savings can be $30,000โ€“$40,000/year. Remote workers and retirees often come out ahead overall despite the tax disadvantage.

Q: Is PEI a good place for retirees from Ontario?

PEI has become increasingly popular for Ontario retirees. Lower housing prices allow retirees to downsize and unlock significant equity. The island lifestyle, ocean proximity, and slower pace of life are major draws. On retirement income (typically $40,000โ€“$80,000), the income tax difference is still notable but more manageable than at higher working incomes.

Q: What is PEI's sales tax rate?

PEI charges 15% HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) โ€” one of Canada's highest, tied with Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland. This is 5% federal GST plus 10% provincial component, applying to most goods and services.

Q: How has remote work affected PEI's tax situation?

Remote work has driven significant in-migration from Ontario and BC since 2020. This has boosted PEI's population, increased housing demand, and broadened the provincial tax base โ€” but rates have not come down significantly. The province benefits from each new high-earning remote worker paying its relatively high income taxes while taking advantage of island housing prices.

Related Comparisons

Ontario Tax CalculatorPrince Edward Island Tax CalculatorOntario vs Nova Scotia Tax ComparisonOntario vs Newfoundland Tax ComparisonNova Scotia vs New Brunswick Tax ComparisonCanada Provinces Tax Comparison Guide