If you are fond of living in a city having a perfect balance of business and high education opportunities for the french lifestyle, Montreal is the perfect city for you!
This second-largest city of Canada has a lot of gems for Expats to offer; it has become a hub for international students for their higher master studies. Furthermore, being a North American city, this cosmopolitan city has a special flair for a European lifestyle.
If you are a person of culture, can speak a little bit of French and has confirmed Job letter in your Hand Montreal is waiting for you with a massive amount of opportunities and experiences!
Moving to Montreal from US will require you to be prepared for several challenges, from its ice-cold weather to its geographical location, but do not worry, Earthelo will be there for you in each step of the entire relocation process.
In recent years several thousand Americans have started moving to Canada from US considering various favorable aspects of the Canadian region. From penniless universal Healthcare to a migrant-friendly government, Canada never stops amusing us with its warm hospitality.
Canada is not just a country of Northern lights, poutine, and Maple syrup, but it’s much more than that, and as an Expat, multiple factors are crucial to an understanding before commencing the journey. Especially for a city like Montreal as it is located in Quebec, a french speaking province.
Let’s get started with the vital elements of your moving to Montreal first, and then we will move forward to our in-depth guide specifically curated for Expats portraying Immigrants’ life in Canada’s one of the best city Montreal!
Whether you are planning for moving to Montreal for personal reasons or professional reasons, the Cost of moving to Montreal could be difficult to estimate precise cost as there is always the chance that unforeseen costs can add up at any moment.
If you are moving to Montreal individually, then approximately the rough cost of Relocation could be around $5300. If you are planning to move with your family, the cost could add up to around $10,000.
This price may vary depending on multiple factors like the luggage(size of move), the destination, and the type of delicate items you include in your moving process.
Montreal is included in major shipping routes across Canada from the USA or any other International border; hence, the shipping cost would be quite reasonable compared to other small cities.
If we get into specifics, the shipping cost can vary as per the size of the container you choose, following the size of your move. For 20FT, the pricing varies around $430, and for 40FT, it’s $630 from the USA to Montreal.
You will find numerous vibrant and multicultural Expat friendly suburbs areas that one should consider to live if they are planning to move to Montreal from US.
As an American Expat, you can pick living on or off-island of Montreal considering your job preferences, but every area guarantees to offer a culture-rich standard of living with the perfect balance of modern lifestyle.
If we break down the most popular destinations in Montreal to live in, we can get below list of top destinations.
Old Montreal is the area of upmarket lofts. Most of the buildings portray the rich history of the Early Colony days of the French, creating a magnificent European vibe to live around.
Moreover, Montreal City hall and Notre-Dam Brasilica add a royal touch to the lifestyle of the Old Montreal locals.
If you are a bit peaky and want to have a wide range of accommodation options, you must consider the city centre to set up your accommodation. However, most of the housing facility you can find in the city center is either apartments or lofts.
However, if you have a decent budget, you can also find deluxe apartments at decent pricing.
For those looking for large houses and having a thick wallet to spend for Westmount is the place for you. Many politicians and celebrities opt for Westmount to live in.
In other words, Westmount itself is a small enclave home for wealthy people in Montreal.
Hold on; before packing your bags right away, get a precise estimate of your destination and a 360-degree view of every element of relocating process. Connect with the experts now!
Levarage, our well-experienced experts who have conducted hundreds of successful moves since the last ten years, make your one count in too for your journey for moving to Montreal!
Canada offers thousands of opportunities when it comes to skilled workers. In addition to this, according to one survey, Quebec has recorded a 60.00% Employment rate recently.
Even as an Expat, moving to Montreal, you can easily grab potential job opportunities if you have patience and proper reference. Moreover, to start working in Montreal, you must get either of these documents stamped first.
These permits will allow the Expat to work wherever they want freely and allow them to get settled in the local system well.
Now let’s check out the latest demand of skilled professionals and approximate Annual wages for each Job profile.
| Job Profile | Annual Salaries |
|---|---|
| Driver | $44,800 |
| Receptionist | $31,300 |
| Web Developer | $62,500 |
| Business Development Manager | $85,000 |
| Project Manager | $90,000 |
| Heavy Duty Mechanic | $70,000 |
| Accountant | $57,500 |
| Electrical Engineer | $77,500 |
| Financial Advisor | $57,500 |
| Registered Nurse | $76,000 |
Canada is worldwide known for its free or low-cost healthcare services. However, the Canadian government has different services and healthcare administrations for different provinces.
To receive low-cost subsidized healthcare services, every ExpatExpat is needed to get registered in RAMQ(Régie de l’assurance Maladie du Québec) as this department handles the healthcare system in Quebec.
However, usually, there is a waiting period of three months before getting registered is complete. In between this time, the Expat is required to get private Insurance for these three months.
In addition to this, even after getting your regular Universal Health Insurance coverage, the Expat must have prescription Drug Insurance as it won’t cover it in the regular Insurance. Expat can arrange this Insurance in three ways,
Private Insurance
Public Prescription Drug Insurance
Getting from the Current Employer
Bonus Fact for your moving to Montreal: Canada recognizes Mental health as a serious issue as one out of five people suffers from mental issues. Therefore, Canada acknowledges the importance of mental health by covering it in the Insurance. At the same time, most countries do not give much attention to the mental wellness of their citizens.
Montreal is one of the biggest cities in Canada. Hence, it would be wise to rent a temporary roof over your head for early few nights before you commence your moving to Montreal. However, if you want to rent a place for the long term, you can find many apartments, condominiums, and lofts under your budget.
If you are looking forward to exploring some budget-friendly options, you can also find duplexes that can be split into three parts, widely known as a triplex.
Furthermore, if you are moving without family, you can also get bachelor units that serve as bedrooms and living rooms altogether but come with a dirt-cheap price range.
To find the apartments and rental spaces, you can opt for the conventional ways like libraries and local newspapers and the modern ways like reaching websites like Craigslist and Kijiji.
To lease the house in Montreal, there are few documents you would need to keep handy, for instance
For security Deposit purposes, you will be required to submit half a month’s rent to your landlord in Montreal. And as far as, cost of rent is concerned it differs vastly following the size of the place you are renting for yourself.
| Type of Housing | Rent Price Range |
|---|---|
| Studio | $900 to $1000 |
| 1 Bedroom | $1300 TO $1400 |
| 2 Bedroom | $1600 TO $1700 |
| 3 Bedroom | $2000 TO $2100 |
| 4 Bedroom | $2400 TO $2500 |
Getting a payment Visa in Canada is not an easy path to move forward; however, for an American moving to Montreal can not be that difficult compared to Expats from other countries.
As an American citizen, you will get different 100 pathways to get the express entry in Montreal, but the most popular one is the Express entry.
Basically, Express Entry is the immigration system that manages the permanent citizenship program for refugees and other immigrants.
Candidates have been assessed based on various dynamics, including work experience, Language ability, education, and age for the criteria of giving permanent residency in Canada. There are multiple economic plans for skilled workers to consider for Immigration.
Compared to other provinces, Quebec has set the bar not that quite high hence, if you plan to get PR by living in Montreal, it will not get much time. Canada has specified certain avenues and characteristics for the Expats, after the careful observation of these aspects and then can move forward with the visa application process
Observe the above-described attributes and carefully fill the Visa Application form. The Economic Immigration Visa fee may vary around CAD 1000 depending on the further specification of your visa application.
Although the basic requirement is you have to stay in Canada for at least six years. A bit much time, but considering all the benefits it can give to your family and your future, it seems worth it, right?
The Quebec School system handles the education system of Montreal. Primarily the system focuses on two main languages for education, English, and French for their students.
The elementary level education begins at the age of 9 and consists of two cycles of grades, including grades 1 to 6.
The secondary school covers education for five years in two cycles of grades, including children aged 12 to 17. This part of education is typically known as a general Secondary Program, in other words, known as the Diploma of secondary studies.
The students above the age of 16 become eligible to take vocational studies and other advanced secondary-level courses.
If we talk about higher education, Montreal has quite reputed universities like Concordia University, Mcgill university, and the University of Montreal offering several courses in various fields like Commerce, Engineering, and Medical.
Overall, No matter if you are into music, Medical, or any other technical field, Montreal being a dynamic cultural hub for international students, will have every kind, of course, well-curated by experts just for you!
When you are moving to Montreal from US, you will not notice significant cost differences in domestic household things compared to the USA. And if you do most, you will get affordable pricing compared to cities like New York or LA.
You can find below the detailed average price list of necessities that you should expect after moving to Montreal.
| GOOD/SERVICE | Individual Cost | Cost of a Family |
|---|---|---|
| Food and Drinks | $420 | $990 |
| Storage | $130 | $165 |
| Permanent Rent | $850 | $1,500 |
| Transportation | $85 | $450 |
Yes, you can move to Montreal as an American, but you’ll need to obtain the appropriate visa or residency permit. The most common options include work visas, study permits, or family sponsorship. EarthRelo, a leading Moving Company in Montreal, specializes in international relocations, providing comprehensive services to help you move from the US to Montreal smoothly. We handle all aspects of your move, from packing and shipping to customs clearance, ensuring a hassle-free experience.
Moving to Montreal can be a great idea, especially for those seeking a vibrant cultural scene, a high quality of life, and a lower cost of living compared to many US cities. Montreal is known for its diverse population, rich history, and thriving arts community. As a top Moving Company in Montreal, EarthRelo is here to assist with every step of your relocation, making your move to this exciting city as seamless as possible.
Immigrating to Montreal involves several steps, including obtaining the necessary visa or permanent residency status. The process can be complex, depending on your circumstances, such as your profession, language skills, and whether you have family in Canada. However, with the right guidance, it can be manageable. EarthRelo provides expert relocation services to help you navigate the immigration process and ensure a smooth transition to your new life in Montreal.
The cost of living in Montreal is generally lower than in many major US cities. To live comfortably in Montreal, a single person might need around CAD 2,500 to CAD 3,500 per month, depending on lifestyle choices and housing costs. EarthRelo, your trusted Moving Company in Montreal, offers affordable moving solutions, allowing you to allocate more of your budget toward settling into your new home and enjoying all that Montreal has to offer.
Yes, it is possible to live in Montreal without speaking French, especially in downtown and more cosmopolitan areas where English is widely spoken. However, knowing some French can enhance your experience and open up more opportunities for socializing and employment. EarthRelo understands the challenges of relocating to a bilingual city and offers comprehensive Moving Company Montreal services to help you adjust to your new environment, including resources and support to make your transition smoother.
Living in one of the best five cities in the world is not just an experience but a privilege. And it is a difficult process to move to Montreal from US, especially when you have never set your foot in the city.
In such circumstances, if you have experienced and professional assistance behind you at each step of your move, the Relocation becomes hassle-free in no time!
Our experts will be there from the beginning of your preparation till you land in Montreal, as we understand moving to a new city is an overwhelming experience and always requires a helping hand.
Connect with us and get a free quote for an affordable and efficient relocation solution; in just a call away!
We have been trusted by over a million customers based on our years of provided Industry-best service. Professional Moving Services to Montreal from the US – EarthRelo
We are proud to have earned the trust and recognition of many reputable organizations and platforms. Here are some of them.
