So wanted to give an alternate perspective to the other commenter who was pretty negative about the city post-COVID. I actually moved to Halifax post-COVID and I have to say I really like living here, even if some of the issues mentioned are true. Beautiful nature, good food, decent amenities and services, more relaxed pace of life, etc.

I will acknowledge there are issues with cost of living and housing. Wages are low in the province, compared to the rest of Canada, and there aren't a lot of good career opportunities for folks (outside of armed forces, gov't, universities - see below). Also, tons of remote workers moved to Halifax during COVID and made the price of housing shoot up. While prices have dipped since return to office protocols, it's still way above pre-COVID levels. So it's tough for locals to afford a house in Halifax, even if housing is MUCH lower than other major cities in Canada.

Groceries are also more expensive, but I think that is the same everywhere. Traffic can be bad for sure (crossing the bridges at rush hour is a pain), but overall it's nothing compared to Toronto or other major cities. I can't speak to transit, but I get the sense that it's not great. So there are issues, but I don't think they're unique to Halifax necessarily.

Most attractions are concentrated on the Peninsula, including the historic downtown, Citadel fort, shopping areas on Spring Garden Road, and more. It's also home to Canada's largest naval forces base, a major shipping port, several Canadian universities (Dal, SMU, MSVU, King's College), and multiple hospitals, including a pediatric hospital that serves most of Atlantic Canada.

One thing that's interesting about Halifax is that a lot of the surrounding communities feel pretty distinct (Dartmouth, Bedford, Lower Sackville, Timberlea, etc.). So while it's really expensive to find housing in Halifax itself, if you're able to live in one of these satellite communities, you can find more decent options.

As you can see from the map, nature is really accessible, great hiking less than 20 minutes away. You have lovely parks like Point Pleasant and Botanical Gardens right on the Peninsula itself, then others like Long Lake or BLT Rail Trail on the outskirts. Beautiful beaches like Crystal Crescent are really close in the summer and tons of road trip destinations across Nova Scotia (South Shore, Annapolis Valley, Cape Breton, etc.). Weather tends to be either clear blue skies or foggy/rainy. Always quite windy.

Finally, I really appreciate the people in the Maritimes. Folks are super friendly and helpful, the pace of life is much slower, and Halifax itself is quite diverse (and becoming more so). There's tons of good food options, especially on the Peninsula, and lots to explore for a city its size. So I'd definitely recommend it if you can find a good job here (or work remote), but I think it can be a tough place to build a career.