Move to Montreal

Canada · Expat Guide for Tech Workers

Rent (1BR)

$1,500

Rent (2BR)

$2,000

Transport

$94/mo

Expat Community

4/5

🌟 Why Montreal?

  • ✓ Significantly lower cost of living than Toronto or Vancouver
  • ✓ Vibrant cultural scene with European atmosphere
  • ✓ Strong AI and gaming industry (Ubisoft, Google DeepMind)
  • ✓ Bilingual city with unique French-Canadian culture

🏠 Best Neighborhoods

Le Plateau-Mont-Royal map

Le Plateau-Mont-Royal

Colorful, bohemian, famous staircases, cafes

$1,600/mo
Griffintown map

Griffintown

New condos, tech companies, canal-side

$1,800/mo
Mile End map

Mile End

Creative, bagels, music scene, multicultural

$1,500/mo
Verdun map

Verdun

Up-and-coming, riverfront, affordable, family-friendly

$1,300/mo

✈ Airport

YUL (Montr\xC3\xA9al-Trudeau International)

☔ Weather

Hot summers (28C), very cold winters (-15C). Heavy snow. World-class winter sports nearby.

🎓 Schools

Several (bilingual options available)

💻 Coworking

Growing (WeWork, Espace CDPQ, Notman House)

✅ First Week Checklist

  1. Get an OPUS card for STM metro and buses
  2. Apply for SIN and open a bank account
  3. Start learning basic French (Duolingo or Alliance Francaise)
  4. Register for RAMQ (Quebec Health Insurance)
  5. Explore Old Montreal and try a Montreal-style bagel

🏗 Top Industries

AI/ML Gaming Aerospace Biotech