If you are considering moving to Canada, there are some important factors to take into account to ensure you arrive in a city that has the potential to feel like home. Namely, we recommend taking these factors under advisement prior to your move:
1. Cost of Living
2. Employment Opportunities
3. Housing Culture
4. Transporation
5. Climate
6. Schooling
7. Community
8. Language
9. Recreation
You’ll find that with each Canadian city, there are both negatives and positives. In order to help you decide which city is most suitable for you, we’ll briefly review the top five Canadian cities for newcomers to Canada, giving you a look into some of the important factors listed above.
Let’s discuss.
Ottawa, Ontario
The capital of Canada offers:
- Relatively affordable housing in comparison to other major cities like Toronto or Vancouver
- Low crime rate
- Convenient transportation system; walkable
However, if you’re looking at Ottawa as one of your top destinations when moving to Canada, you should be aware that:
- There is little diversity in jobs (i.e. most popular sectors include government and IT positions)
- Cold winters (heavy snowfall)
- The cost of living is on the higher end
Ottawa is best suited for higher-educated individuals with children.
Oakville, Ontario
While Oakville might not have the same well-known status as some other major Canadian cities, in 2018, Oakville was named the best city for new immigrants in a survey done by MoneySense.
Oakville attracts newcomers to Canada because of:
- High safety and low crime rate
- Proximity to Toronto
- Close-knit community feel (visible minorities have increased from 18 percent to 31 percent over the last 10 years)
On the other end, it’s important to be aware of the following:
- High cost of living (housing, in particular, can be costly)
Oakville is best suited for newcomers who have high-earning potential, and who are looking for a family-friendly city.
Calgary, Alberta
Calgary has made our list of top cities for newcomers to Canada because:
- Named as one of the cleanest cities in the world
- Major city but a low cost of living (5% Alberta sales tax)
- Good job opportunities
Having said that, it’s also important to note that Calgary:
- Has extremely cold winters
- Lack of public transportation (you’ll likely need a car)
Calgary is ideally suited for anyone who wishes to live in a big city, but who wants to avoid the high cost of living associated with major cities like Toronto.
Halifax, Nova Scotia
If you’re interested in making your way to the east coast of Canada, Halifax is great for newcomers to Canada because of:
- The slower pace of life
- Good job opportunities and economic stability
- Affordable housing (i.e. 40 percent lower rental rates than Toronto)
Newcomers to Canada might avoid Halifax because:
- Less income potential (i.e. low wages)
If you’re not looking for a prestigious job and you’re interested in a slower pace of life, Halifax could be the right Canadian city for you.
Montreal, Quebec
Ranking as the fifth most popular destination for immigration in North America, Montreal is popular because of:
- Strong sense of culture and diversity
- Smaller city; easy to get around (no need for a car)
- Safe, low crime rate
Having said that, keep in mind that Montreal:
- Has low employment rate, especially for newcomers
- Getting a job without any French language skills is particularly challenging
Montreal is best suited for young professionals who wish to enjoy a fun, culturally diverse city; however, French language skills are strongly recommended.
As you can see, Canadian immigration tends to be most popular in major cities, but, you will notice that we specifically left Vancouver and Toronto off of this list.
While these are popular cities for immigration, they are quickly becoming extremely expensive places to live and we wanted to provide you with more affordable options that offer the same quality of life.
If you’re struggling with which Canadian city is right for you, we would recommend choosing the top two cities that interest you based on some of the details discussed above. From there, do your own in-depth research on each city, and it should become more clear which city will best support your lifestyle.
For more assistance, our Canadian Immigration consultants would be happy to assist you with all your Canadian immigration questions.
About Us
Canada By Choice is a Canadian Immigration Firm based in Windsor, Ontario. Founded in 2007, Canada By Choice Immigration is widely considered one of the most respected immigration firms in our region. We have earned our reputation as a World Class firm by providing dedication and personalized service to each and every unique case before us.
Verify our Membership number here. Membership number: R530015
