It can be quite tricky to decide which city you should be moving to in Canada, so I decided to compile a list of factors that you should consider as well as possible cities to make your decision quicker and easier!
Canadian Cities for Early Career Job Opportunities
If your reason for moving to Canada is primarily due to better career prospects, and you are a recent graduate, then the ideal cities to move to for skilled labor would be –
- Toronto
- Vancouver
- Montreal
The reason being not only are most job postings in the country represented by those three cities, but also there will be a ton of other opportunities if you want to go for a career change or just go up the ladder!
If you decide to go to a smaller city early in your career then just make a note that there are not going to be a lot of job postings or even companies willing to hire you! Smaller cities also tend to have jobs in specific industries so make sure before moving to a smaller city that there are jobs in your industry.
Canadian Cities for Experienced Professionals
Being an experienced person can open a lot more options apart from just Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal. You can start considering other Canadian cities like –
- Calgary
- Edmonton
- Winnipeg
- Regina
- Ottawa
- Halifax
While these cities have relatively fewer jobs, there are still good prospects for experienced folks. I do recommend you to do a search for jobs in your field before making a move!
Top Canadian Cities for Higher Education
If getting an education from a top institute is your priority then Toronto comes out at the top since the University of Toronto is based there. You can also consider Vancouver/Kelowna, where the University of British Columbia is based. Montreal would be an ideal choice if you are a French speaker as it hosts McGill University as well as the University of Montreal.
Other cities and universities to consider for top tier education –
- Edmonton – University of Alberta
- Calgary – University of Calgary
- Ottawa – University of Ottawa
- Waterloo – University of Waterloo
- Halifax – Dalhousie University
Canadian Cities for French Speakers in Canada
Canada has two official languages – English and French. While the majority of the country’s population speaks English, you will find French to be more prevalent in Quebec and in the Western part of New Brunswick.
If French is your sole language, and you are looking for opportunities then the best cities to move to in Canada would be –
- Montreal
- Quebec City
- Ottawa-Gatineau
Both Ottawa and Montreal have many people that are bilingual in both English and French. If you are looking to get exposure to English, then both cities would be an ideal fit.
The majority of French-speaking immigrants move to either Quebec or Ontario not only because of the opportunities but also because Ontario offers a lot of support to French speakers for them to succeed.
Best Canadian Cities for a Vibrant Social Life
If you are looking for a city with a ton of events happening throughout the year then you will have to move to
- Montreal
- Toronto
- Vancouver
Something important to note here is that your Social Life will depend on what you like to do and how fast you are able to make friends after your move. Some people are not able to make any friends despite moving to these big cities!
Top Canadian Cities with a Lower Cost of Living
If you are looking for an affordable city to live in, forget Toronto/Vancouver! Instead, consider one of these cities –
- Quebec City
- Winnipeg
- London
- Moncton
- Saskatoon
- Windsor
- Thunderbay
- Halifax
- Gatineau
- Calgary
- Edmonton
where the cost of living is significantly lower than Toronto/Vancouver!
Best Canadian Cities for Mild Weather
A few Canadian cities have a much warmer climate than the rest of Canada.
If you are looking for nice weather in the Eastern parts of Canada, cities to consider moving to would be
- Halifax (Nova Scotia)
- St Johns (Newfoundland)
Cities in Western Canada that have milder weather –
- Victoria (British Columbia)
- Vancouver (British Columbia)
While Toronto does get quite cold in winter, if you are living in the downtown area you would have zero issues due to winter as the roads and walkways are always kept clear of snow!
Canadian Cities With Cultural Diversity
If you enjoy the country lifestyle then you are looking moving either to Alberta or Saskatchewan. Cities to consider in that case would be Edmonton, Calgary, Regina or Saskatoon!
Certain parts of Quebec also offer country life (including rodeos and music!) Trois-Rivières, Quebec City, and Montreal are not too from Saint-Tite which is where one of the largest rodeo events in North America is held! Yes, it’s in French!
Brampton, which is part of the Greater Toronto Area, has a significant South Asian population, and you will be able to find all sorts of South Asian cuisines. However, note that the crime rate in Brampton is higher than in other Canadian cities. It might just be ideal for you to move to Toronto.
You will be able to find people from all over the world in Vancouver/Montreal/Toronto. If you want to experience multicultural cities then they would be a good place to start!
Surprisingly, the most diverse city in Canada is Calgary where a large number of migrants have moved in the last few decades.
Top Canadian Cities for Raising a Family
If you are planning to have a family then whichever city you choose, you will most likely be looking at living in the suburbs (away from downtown) as the houses are usually much more affordable than in the downtown core.
If you want your kids to be in a bilingual environment then you would need to either be in Ottawa or Montreal. There are other cities that you can consider as well, like Winnipeg, Sherbrooke where there is a significant bilingual population.