Newmarket vs East Gwillimbury: Which Is Cheaper in 2026?

East Gwillimbury saves renters $183 per month compared to Newmarket. For buyers, the gap jumps to $359/month — nearly $4,300 every year. But Newmarket has a fuller downtown, more transit options, and a denser job market within walking distance of its GO station.

Here's every number, side by side.

The Quick Answer

East Gwillimbury is cheaper across the board. Renting saves you $183/month. Buying saves you $359/month. The trade-off is a slightly longer commute and a quieter, more suburban character versus Newmarket's walkable Main Street and established services.

Renting: Side by Side

We calculated true monthly costs using a 2-bedroom rental, with utilities at the typical tenant share (60% of total), a GO Transit monthly pass, average groceries for one person, and tenant insurance.

Newmarket (2BR Rental)

• Monthly Rent: **$2,600**
• Utilities (tenant share): **$165**
• GO Transit monthly pass: **$320**
• Groceries (single): **$415**
• Tenant Insurance: **$43**
• **True Monthly Cost: $3,543**

East Gwillimbury (2BR Rental)

• Monthly Rent: **$2,400**
• Utilities (tenant share): **$180**
• GO Transit monthly pass: **$340**
• Groceries (single): **$400**
• Tenant Insurance: **$40**
• **True Monthly Cost: $3,360**

East Gwillimbury's $200 rent advantage mostly holds up. The GO Transit pass from East Gwillimbury GO is $340/month vs $320 from Newmarket — a $20 gap — but the rent difference more than covers it. Net savings: $183/month, or $2,196/year.

Renting with a Family? The Numbers Scale

Here's what a 3-bedroom rental actually costs for a family of four:

Newmarket (3BR, Family)

• Rent: **$3,050**
• Utilities: **$165**
• GO Transit: **$320**
• Groceries (family): **$1,040**
• Tenant Insurance: **$43**
• **True Monthly Cost: $4,618**

East Gwillimbury (3BR, Family)

• Rent: **$2,850**
• Utilities: **$180**
• GO Transit: **$340**
• Groceries (family): **$1,000**
• Tenant Insurance: **$40**
• **True Monthly Cost: $4,410**

Family renters save $208/month in East Gwillimbury — that's over $2,500/year.

Buying: Where the Gap Really Opens Up

We ran both cities at their average home price with 20% down, 5.5% interest, 25-year amortization.

Newmarket (Average Home)

• Home Price: **$1,120,000**
• 20% Down Payment: $224,000
• Property Tax Rate: **0.75%**
• Monthly Mortgage: **$5,503**
• Monthly Property Tax: **$700**
• Utilities: **$275**
• GO Transit: **$320**
• Groceries: **$415**
• Home Insurance: **$160**
• Maintenance (1% annually): **$933**
• **True Monthly Cost: $8,306**

East Gwillimbury (Average Home)

• Home Price: **$1,050,000**
• 20% Down Payment: $210,000
• Property Tax Rate: **0.82%**
• Monthly Mortgage: **$5,159**
• Monthly Property Tax: **$718**
• Utilities: **$300**
• GO Transit: **$340**
• Groceries: **$400**
• Home Insurance: **$155**
• Maintenance (1% annually): **$875**
• **True Monthly Cost: $7,947**

Despite East Gwillimbury's higher property tax rate (0.82% vs Newmarket's 0.75%), the lower home price means the monthly tax bill is nearly identical — $718 vs $700. The real saving comes from the smaller mortgage: $344/month less, before everything else.

Total buyer savings in East Gwillimbury: $359/month, or $4,308/year.

One Number That Changes the Equation: Property Tax Rate

Newmarket's property tax rate is 0.75%. East Gwillimbury's is 0.82%. Right now, on a $1.05M home versus a $1.12M home, that washes out — similar monthly tax amounts. But if East Gwillimbury home prices rise toward Newmarket levels as the area develops, owners will pay more per dollar of home value. It's worth knowing.

The Commute Comparison

Both cities are on the Barrie GO line — one of the more frequent GO corridors into Union Station.

• **Newmarket GO:** ~45–50 minutes to Union, $320/month
• **East Gwillimbury GO:** ~55 minutes to Union, $340/month

East Gwillimbury is one stop further north. The difference is roughly 10 minutes each way and $20/month. If you work downtown Toronto five days a week, that's an extra ~83 hours on the train per year. For some people that's fine. For others, it's the deciding factor.

Both cities also have access to Highway 404, which extends north through East Gwillimbury and makes driving toward the city comparable.

Lifestyle: What Each City Actually Feels Like

Newmarket has a real downtown. Riverwalk Commons hosts outdoor events year-round. Main Street has independent restaurants, coffee shops, and retail. Upper Canada Mall and the Yonge Street corridor handle the big-box needs. It's a town that functions as a town — walkable from the GO station if you're close to the core.

East Gwillimbury is newer and less defined. Sharon and Holland Landing have some services, and the Holland Landing development corridor is actively building out retail and housing. It's a better fit if you want a new build, more space per dollar, or plan to drive everywhere anyway. Think: young family suburb in growth mode.

Neither has the density of Vaughan or Markham, but Newmarket is noticeably more established.

How They Compare to the Rest of York Region

For context, here's the 2BR renting true monthly cost across the region:

• **Vaughan:** ~$3,738/month
• **Richmond Hill:** ~$3,704/month
• **Markham:** ~$3,641/month
• **Aurora:** ~$3,593/month
• **Newmarket:** $3,543/month
• **East Gwillimbury:** $3,360/month
• **Georgina:** ~$3,183/month

Newmarket sits in the middle of the pack — affordable relative to the south, more accessible than Georgina. East Gwillimbury offers a genuine step down in cost while staying connected to the GO network.

Who Should Pick Which

Choose Newmarket if:
- You want a walkable downtown and established amenities
- You commute to Toronto and every 10 minutes on the train matters
- You value community events and Main Street character
- You're buying and want a slightly lower property tax rate long-term

Choose East Gwillimbury if:
- You want lower rent or a lower home price with a comparable GO connection
- You're open to a quieter, newer suburban environment
- You have a family and the $2,500/year rental savings matters
- You're buying and the $4,300/year saving outweighs the extra commute

The Bottom Line

• **Renting:** East Gwillimbury saves $183/month ($2,196/year)
• **Buying:** East Gwillimbury saves $359/month ($4,308/year)
• **Transit:** Newmarket wins — same GO line, 10 minutes faster and $20/month cheaper
• **Lifestyle:** Newmarket is more established; East Gwillimbury is newer and growing

If the $4,300/year buyer saving sounds compelling but you want the numbers personalized to your income, family size, and down payment, use the free calculator at yorklivingcost.ca/calculator.

Compare more York Region cities:
- Aurora vs Newmarket — Newmarket vs its neighbour to the south
- East Gwillimbury vs Georgina — York Region's most affordable options
- Vaughan vs Markham — the two economic hubs compared

Use the free calculator to see your personal numbers at yorklivingcost.ca/calculator