Relocating to the second-largest economy and second-most populous metropolis in Canada means that you will be staying in a place with plenty of employment, education, and entertainment opportunities. To ensure that moving to Montreal goes smoothly, hire an international moving company to handle your things while you’re figuring out the basics of becoming a Canadian resident.
Relocating to MTL will bring many changes to your life, so to avoid getting stressed out and overwhelmed, we made a detailed guide that can help you. That’s why we answered questions like Is moving to Montreal a good idea, Can you move to Montreal without speaking French, Is it expensive to live in Montreal, and Is it better to live in Montreal or Toronto?
Before Moving Abroad There Are Some Things You Should Know About MTL
CA is one of the best countries to live in the world. However before relocating to its second-most populous city, you should brush up on some facts that will help you fit in faster:
- It’s located in Quebec province
- The broader metropolitan area has around 4,098,000 residents
- It is situated 122 miles from Ottawa and 160 from the provincial capital Quebec
- It’s one of the most bilingual cities in CA.
Learn the Main Pros and Cons of Moving to Montreal
MTL is an attractive location for many people moving overseas or relocating just across the US border. What makes it attractive for Americans is its vicinity to the US, so keeping touch with friends and family won’t be difficult. Additionally, it is affordable and very entertaining, so you don’t have to worry about being bored. However, there are also some downsides to it – taxes are a bit higher, and the winters can get pretty cold. All things considered, the benefits of relocation outnumber the downsides, so you shouldn’t hesitate to pack up your bags and move.
Prior to Moving Internationally Make Sure You Gathered All the Documents
You’ll be relocating to one of the friendliest countries in the world, however, that doesn’t mean you can get in and out of Canada without valid documents. The first thing you should do after hiring an overseas shipping company to handle your stuff is to gather all the necessary documents to travel abroad.
Are you relocating for love, or are you looking for a job in CA? Depending on your circumstances, there will be more than one visa you can apply for and become a legal resident. When you start figuring out how to move to another country, make sure you contact the Canadian embassy and check all the immigration programs. Getting the information straight from the source will save you some time during the relocation and make it less stressful.
Go Over the Cost of Living in MTL Before the Relocation
Before you start packing and thinking about using professional shipping overseas services, put down on the paper the monthly costs, and you will easily be able to tell Is it expensive to live in Montreal.
According to the website Numbeo, you will need $75 a month for basic utilities such as heating, cooling, water, garbage, and electricity. Also, if you’re planning to rent an apartment, know that a one-bedroom place in the center can cost up to $1,000, while three bedrooms are around $1,115. Those that wish to become homeowners should expect to pay $420 per square feet in the center. Overall, if you are not sure how to pick the best location to settle in, make sure you compare it with other popular destinations in CA.
Compare Cost of Living in MTL With Other Big Cities in CA
Are you wondering Is moving to Montreal a good idea? Or maybe you are trying to figure out Is it better to live in Montreal or Toronto? The best way to get the answer is by comparing the cities. For example, utilities in Toronto and Ottawa are 35% more expensive than in MTL. Also, living in the state’s capital will knock more money out of your pocket for rent and public transportation.
Choose the Right Neighborhood to Settle In
The metropolis is divided into 19 large boroughs that are subdivided into smaller areas. If you’re looking for the best neighborhood in Montreal to live in, you’ll have to figure out your priorities before making the final decision. Firstly decide if you are going to live in the city or the suburbs, then consider renting or buying, and finally look into commute time and entertainment options. Some of the greatest areas in the MTL are:
- Rosemont – it is not only affordable, but there are also plenty of dining out and shopping options in the area. Furthermore, if you love to bike, there are paths that will take you through parks, which will make you feel like you are not even in the MTL.
- The Plateau – a hotspot for artists and students that love to be in the middle of the action. Plenty of restaurants, shops, and coffee places attract a youthful crowd. Additionally, if you are relocating with your dogs, know that here you can find plenty of pet-friendly parks in the area.
- Ville Marie – one of the central neighborhoods with many attractions and a large shopping mall. If you are thinking about moving in with friends, this is where you should look for accommodations because the real estate offer is diverse and affordable.
Figure out How The Education System in Quebec Is Different From Others in Canada
Are you relocating with kids? If so, you have to think about their education, and the Quebec system is a bit different from others in CA. There is additional school kids have to attend, and it comes between high school and university – CEGEP.
CEFEP provides students with two years of pre-university and three years of technical programs, and they are available in both French and English. There are also elementary and secondary schools in both languages your kids can attend. With so many bilingual options, learning a language abroad shouldn’t be a problem for your kids.
Some Universities Here Are Among the Best in the World
Those in pursuit of top-rated higher education don’t have to move across the world to get it. Settling in MTL will do the trick, after all, here you can find some of the A-listed Canadian universities highly regarded across the globe.
If you are a student that wants to attend classes in the English language, check out McGill University, the oldest operating university in the city. McGill is ranked 31st on the QS World University Rankings list of best universities worldwide. You can also enroll in Concordia, where you can pick and choose among more than 400 undergraduate programs. Those who want to enroll in French-speaking schools can check out UdeM, the second largest research university in the nation. Also, there is UQAM specializes in liberal arts.
Getting a Dream Job Should Be Easy
Suppose you’re not relocating to another country for love, but in pursuit of the dream of employment, go over the offer of jobs in Canada, and you’ll see that settling in MTL is the way to go. The metropolis has the second-largest economy in the nation based on GDP and its important center for tech, aerospace, pharmaceuticals, and software engineering industries. Some of the largest employers who could offer you a job are:
- International Civil Aviation Organization
- Airports Council International
- Alliance Films
- Facebook AI Research (FAIR)
- BioWare
- Ubisoft Montreal
If you land a job before the move, don’t forget to ask your employers important relocation questions like will they pay for a part of your relocation and how will they make sure you adjust faster.
You Should Learn French When Moving to Montreal From the US
Did you know that 77% of Quebec residents are native French speakers and that 95% of all the population there speaks it as their first or second language? This being said, you might wonder can you move to Montreal without speaking French.
Even though most Canadians in MTL speak French as a first language, many also understand English. However, if you want to adjust to the area faster and climb the career leader, consider breaking the language barrier. Suppose the new language seems like a hard one to master, reach out to other Americans living in the area to help you. After all, this is one of the places with a strong US expat community counting more than 44,500 Americans, according to FVAP.
Bring the Car With You if You Want to Travel Around the Country
When relocating to Canada, you will have access to one of the world’s biggest road networks. The country’s length of highways, motorways, and dirt roads is approximately 648,000 miles. With over 23,600 miles of national and regional highways, this is the country where going on a road trip can be an adventure of a lifetime. That’s why you should consider bringing your car with you. If you don’t want to stress about shipping the vehicle, hire a professional overseas moving company to take care of it for you. When you don’t have to worry about car shipping overseas and all that comes with it, you can use your free time to plan some future adventures like visiting Toronto, Ottawa, or Vancouver.
If you want to spend the day in the capital, know that MTL is connected with Ottawa via King’s Highway 417. Furthermore, for a trip to Toronto, you can use Highway 401, a 514-mile long road that stretches across Ontario and Quebec.
MTL is also home to two international airports, one of which is for cargo transportation while the other is for passengers. A rail system operates Adirondack, a daily passenger train that connects New York City to MTL.
There Is More Than One Public Transportation Option You Can Use
One of the main challenges when relocating abroad is finding your way around the unfamiliar location. When you are traveling to MTL, you can drive around the area in your own vehicle or use public transportation. This is one of the most affordable ways of getting around. It’s not only clean and safe but fast and relatively simple to use. Depending on where you want to go, you can use the metro, buses, expo train, and taxibus.
Becoming a Canadian Is Worth All the Trouble of International Relocation
When you pick one of the best places to live abroad, expectations can get really high. Don’t worry, settling in MTL will pay off at the end of the day. When all is said and done, you will be a resident of a highly diverse, vibrant metropolis with plenty of different opportunities.
If you are on the fence about the relocation, don’t hesitate to do the research. Let the professionals that offer moving services handle packing and shipping of your stuff while you are going over all the benefits of life in MTL. You will soon see that the metropolis can give you everything you need, from a job in one of many highly regarded national and international companies to education in world-famous universities. All the trouble of gathering documents, looking for work, and accommodation will pay off as soon as you unpack and embrace the Canadian way of life.
