Buyers who choose a newer suburb like Stonebridge, Evergreen or Willowgrove for the lower entry price trade a longer daily drive for it, typically crossing Circle Drive or one of the bridges at peak times, which adds real minutes during Saskatoon's two rush hours.
Bridge choice matters more here than in most cities, since Saskatoon's river splits the city and certain bridges back up harder than others at 5pm on a weekday, so it is worth doing the actual drive at rush hour before committing to a neighbourhood based on the map distance alone.
A shorter commute from a central neighbourhood usually costs more upfront, against the citywide benchmark of $444,700, and a first-time buyer has to decide whether that time is worth the trade against a lower mortgage payment further out.
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