Welcome to Canada: Deciding where you want to live before you arrive
Deciding where to live in Canada is one of the most important decisions you will make. If you have family or friends living in Canada, you may already have decided to move near them.
Keep an open mind to all possibilities
Canada is a large place, and each province and territory has something unique to offer. You may know about big cities such as Vancouver, Toronto and Montréal; however, Canada’s smaller cities and towns are welcoming many new people. They are drawn to the smaller cities and towns because of the quality of life and good job opportunities. Some other benefits are
- family-friendly communities
- affordable housing
- a quieter and more relaxed environment
- less traffic
- shorter commute times
To help you decide
- get to know Canada and its 10 provinces and 3 territories
- learn what to consider when choosing a city
- learn about living in a Francophone community outside Quebec
There are a few other things to consider when choosing where you want to live in Canada.
The cost of living in Canada
Canada is a very big country. Because of this, the cost of living can be quite different depending on where you choose to live.
Big cities like Toronto and Vancouver are the most expensive places to live, especially when it comes to housing. According to a report by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (PDF, 6.7 MB), in 2021
- the average monthly rent for a 2-bedroom apartment was
- $1,824 in Vancouver
- $1,666 in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)
- $1,167 across all of Canada
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Get help in different provinces and territories
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