Shopping in Canada

Halifax is a shopper’s haven, offering retail experiences in Atlantic Canada. From quirky local boutiques and top-tier malls to charming seaside shops, you’ll find everything from handcrafted items to gourmet food, books, and tech. Whether you’re searching for unique local finds or popular global brands, Halifax has it all.

Shopping Malls

Shopping Centers/Malls

Halifax Shopping Centre
Park Lane Mall
Scotia Square Mall
Mic Mac Mall
Sunnyside Mall
Chain Lake Drive Plaza
Dartmouth Crossing

Supermarkets/Grocery Stores

Sobeys
Atlantic Superstore
No Frills

Department Stores

Secondhand/Thrift Stores

Costco
Walmart

Salvation Army Thrift Stores
Value Village

Markets

Halifax Seaport Farmers' Market
Gateway Meat Market
Sunday Market Halifax

Buying furniture

IKEA Halifax – Located in Dartmouth Crossing, IKEA offers affordable and stylish furniture for all rooms in your home.
The Brick – A well-known chain with a wide selection of furniture, appliances, and home decor.
Leon’s – Known for quality furniture, mattresses, and appliances with a range of options.
Sleep Country – Specializes in mattresses, beds, and sleep-related products.
Worldwide Furniture – Offers a large selection of furniture for every room, with modern and traditional styles.
Gallery 1 Furniture – High-quality, customizable furniture with a focus on craftsmanship.
Jordan’s Home Furnishings – Offers luxury, high-end furniture and home decor.
Structube – Specializes in modern, contemporary furniture at reasonable prices, with locations at Bayer's Lake.
Wicker Emporium – Known for unique, rustic furniture and decor.
Ashley HomeStore – A large retailer with a variety of styles and furniture for every room.
Urban Barn – Provides stylish, modern furniture and home accents at Halifax Shopping Centre.

Tipping in Canada

You should tip in certain cases when someone performs a service for you. Generally, people tip between 10% to 20%for good service.

Tipping is common in:

Restaurants (when being served) or coffee shops (in a jar)
Taxis
Hairdressers or nail salons
Hotel employees (doorman, bellman, housekeeper, valet)
Delivery drivers

Buying Cell Phone Services

The cost of cell phone service can be high in Canada. Make sure you understand all of the services, fees and commitments when you sign your plan.

Cell phone plans:

Postpaid Contracts- You pay your bill at the end of the billing period.
Prepaid Plans – paying in advance.

Some common cell phone companies are Telus, Rogers, Virgin Mobile, Bell Aliant, Koodo and Fido. Finding the ideal cheapest cell phone plan can present a challenge. Choosing the least expensive option may not be the most effective approach, as a budget-friendly plan lacking data or minutes can prove inconvenient.

We advise performing a personalized search and choosing your plan according to the following standards after reviewing the results:

The data-to-price ratio
Monthly data volume (make sure to have a margin to avoid exceeding or running out)
Network coverage quality (are there dead zones in your area?)
Availability of technologies (3G, 4G, LTE, 5G)
Included options (unlimited calls or texts, voicemail, etc.)
Options for travelling to other countries
Ability to bring your own device (BYOD)
Cost (monthly price, additional fees, total payment over 2 years, etc.)
Reviews from users
Quality of customer service
Provider-specific benefits (data sharing, loyalty program, no contract, etc.)
Plan-specific benefits (cash back, gift card, protection against data overage, etc.)

Buying a Car

You can buy or lease a new car at a car dealership.
Financing a car may require a good credit history.
Used cars are available at used car dealerships, or on websites such as Kijiji or Autotrader.
If you buy a used car, make sure it is in good condition, it doesn’t have any liens (debts) and that it isn’t stolen.
You may want to order a CarFax (www.Carfax.com) report. This will give you a car’s history including accidents, servicing and if the car was reported stolen.
You will need to pay HST to the Government of Nova Scotia on the value of the car.

Buying Electronics

Whether you need a new laptop, smartphone, or household gadget, Halifax offers a variety of stores for electronic devices:

Best Buy: Known for a wide range of electronics, computers, cell phones, and home appliances.
Staples: Offers computers, office electronics, accessories, and tech support.
Apple Store: Located in Halifax Shopping Centre, it’s the go-to place for Apple products and support.
The Source: Specializes in consumer electronics, accessories, and mobile services.
Visions Electronics: Known for competitive pricing on TVs, audio equipment, and computers.