Cost to heat a house in St. John's, NL
In St. John's, a cold-climate heat pump costs about $1,468 a year to heat a typical 2,000 sq ft home, versus $3,563 with propane. That saves about $2,095/year. At an installed cost of about $15,000 CAD, the simple payback is roughly 7 years. It is shorter with rebates, or if you need to replace an old furnace or air conditioner anyway.
Annual heating cost, 2,000 sq ft home (CAD)
Average insulation, high-efficiency furnaces, cold-climate heat pump with a seasonal efficiency (COP) of 2.7 in St. John's's climate. Space heating only.
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1 GJ ≈ 26.4 m³ of natural gas ≈ 9.48 therms. US gas bills in therms: $/therm × 9.48 = $/GJ.
Heating cost by home size in St. John's
| Home size | Heat pump | Propane furnace | Heating oil furnace | Electric baseboard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | $734 | $1,782 | $3,304 | $1,952 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $1,101 | $2,672 | $4,956 | $2,928 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $1,468 | $3,563 | $6,608 | $3,904 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $1,835 | $4,454 | $8,260 | $4,880 |
| 3,000 sq ft | $2,202 | $5,345 | $9,912 | $5,856 |
Month-by-month heating cost
Most of the bill lands in the coldest months. In January, a 2,000 sq ft home in St. John's needs about 13.1 GJ of heat.
| Month | Avg temp | Heat pump | Propane furnace | Heating oil furnace | Electric baseboard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -4.2°C | $235 | $517 | $959 | $566 |
| Feb | -4.7°C | $222 | $482 | $893 | $528 |
| Mar | -2.2°C | $205 | $470 | $872 | $515 |
| Apr | 1.8°C | $147 | $365 | $677 | $400 |
| May | 6.3°C | $102 | $273 | $507 | $299 |
| Jun | 10.8°C | $59 | $168 | $311 | $184 |
| Jul | 16.0°C | $26 | $78 | $144 | $85 |
| Aug | 16.5°C | $23 | $70 | $130 | $77 |
| Sep | 12.8°C | $44 | $129 | $239 | $141 |
| Oct | 7.8°C | $87 | $239 | $443 | $262 |
| Nov | 3.4°C | $129 | $329 | $611 | $361 |
| Dec | -1.0°C | $188 | $443 | $821 | $485 |
Energy prices used
- Electricity: 15.59¢/kWh CAD — Hydro-Québec, Comparison of Electricity Prices in Major North American Cities 2025 (1,000 kWh/month, excl. taxes)
- Natural gas: not widely available for homes in Newfoundland and Labrador.
- Heating oil: $2.41/L — Statistics Canada, St. John's price, September 2026, incl. taxes (prices by city)
- Propane: $0.95/L — Natural Resources Canada average heating oil $1.76/L and propane market estimate $0.95/L (Aug 2026, via Liberty Utilities NB) (estimate; no official city series)
Change any price in the calculator above to match your bill. Prices exclude sales tax.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to heat a house in St. John's?
For a typical 2,000 sq ft home with average insulation, expect roughly $1,468 to $6,608 CAD per year depending on the system. The cheapest option at current prices is the heat pump ($1,468/year).
Is a heat pump worth it in St. John's?
In St. John's, a cold-climate heat pump costs about $1,468 a year to heat a typical 2,000 sq ft home, versus $3,563 with propane. That saves about $2,095/year. At an installed cost of about $15,000 CAD, the simple payback is roughly 7 years. It is shorter with rebates, or if you need to replace an old furnace or air conditioner anyway.
How much does heating cost per month in St. John's in winter?
In January, heating a 2,000 sq ft home costs about $235 with a heat pump and $959 with heating oil (CAD).
How cold does it get in St. John's?
The average January temperature in St. John's is -4.2°C (24°F). The city has about 4,743 heating degree-days a year (base 18°C).