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Sep 2, 2014 · MONTREAL — To an outsider, Montreal might seem like the perfect place to live. It has the lowest rents of all the major cities in Canada, it’s the nation’s epicentre of art and culture, and ...
May 7, 2024 · Pros And Cons Of Living in Montreal 2023. May 7, 2024 by Jill. If you feel that most Canadian cities have a bland north-American feel, then Montreal, with its European vibe, maybe the city for you. Montreal seems to operate on a different wavelength from the rest of Canada. It is lively and vibrant with a great night scene.
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Download our Moving to Montreal Guide (PDF) The island city of Montreal is a unique melting pot of Canadian and European cultures, with French being its official language. Many expats are attracted to the affordable cost of living and the city's lively nature. Like any area, though, living in Montreal does come with some drawbacks.
- Verdun. Best for safety. Crime rate: 22.26 crimes per 1000 people. Average 1-bedroom apartment: $1483. Average home price: $935 625. Verdun has an impressively low crime rate of 22.26 crimes per 1000 people given its population of 107 564.
- Rosemont - La Petite-Patrie. Best for young couples. Crime rate: 29.44 crimes per 1 000 people. Average 1-bedroom apartment: $1350. Average home price: $639 333.
- LaSalle. Ideal for families with children. Crime rate: 32.10 crimes per 1000 people. Average 1-bedroom apartment: $1450. Average home price: $689 632. LaSalle offers a mix of small-town charm, modern amenities, and exceptional schools, making it an ideal choice for families with children.
- Kirkland. Family-friendly neighborhood. Crime rate: 40.60 crimes per 1000 people. Average 1-bedroom apartment: $2000. Average home price: $757 750. From the green parks and single family homes, Kirkland is an ideal spot for young couples looking to start a family.
- Pros of Living in Montreal
- Cons of Living in Montreal
- Conclusion
1. The Cultural Capital
Montreal is often said to be the cultural capital of its province, Quebec; not only is this due to the mix of English and French cultures and histories, which in itself has created wonderfully diverse communities but there is also a strong focus on art and music. If you like to go to festivals, then you will not find a city that hosts more than they do in Montreal, all year round you will be able to find a festival of some kind, representing different cultures and art forms. Among the most po...
2. Low Rents
It is always a massive positive if you can live in a city without having everything you earn going towards rent, well in Montreal you don’t have to stress too much about breaking the bank. The average price per month to rent is cheaper than other big cities such as Vancouver and Toronto, and if you head just a little outside the city center, you will find rent even cheaper still. Now, I am not saying that Montreal is the cheapest place for rent that you will come across in Canada, but given i...
3. Transport
The public transport system is good, and for the most part, it is reliable, comfortable, and cheap for city standards. For example, currently, a monthly metro pass for the Montreal metro is $86.50, now compare this to the current price of a monthly pass in Toronto which is $151.15, and you can see the difference is not just pocket change, rather it adds up to a substantial amount over the course of, say, a year. However, if you want to save money further, or do not want to use a car, there is...
1. You Need to Speak French
Okay, so you don’t absolutely need to speak French, but to get the most out of living there, then yes, you do need to speak French. You see, Montreal is second to Paris when it comes to the largest French-speaking cities in the world, more French is spoken at home here than English, so being able to speak it goes a long way, and being able to speak French and English will be even better. If you can only speak English, you will find it harder to find a higher paying job, you will find it harde...
2. Infrastructure
There are parts of the city that look like they are falling apart, you can see buildings that are crumbling in places, there are potholes that take over most roads, and bridges that are frequently closed. A lot of roads you go down will be permanently under construction, and the buildings don’t seem to get fixed at a fast rate. This is a big problem in Montreal, so big in fact, that it has been joked that residents should wear hard hats in order to protect themselves from the occasional debri...
3. High Taxes
The relatively cheaper rent rates will probably end up being offset a little due to the higher tax rates in Montreal. Unfortunately, Quebec is one of the victims of high tax rates across the board, whereby the sales tax, property tax, and income tax are all some of the highest in the country. What’s worse is that there are no plans to decrease any of the tax rates to give anyone a break, instead they will probably increase further in years to come, with property taxes already increased by 1.7...
There is certainly a lot that Montreal has to offer by way of a good life and a good lifestyle, but despite its beauty and better than average work-life-balance that most residents try to maintain, the fact that speaking French is a big deal might be enough to deter someone from moving there. However, if you have a grasp on the French language, can...
Jun 25, 2024 · The biggest financial bonus for anyone living in Montreal is that property and rent prices is typically more affordable than many other Canadian cities. A decent room in a shared apartment in a safe Montreal neighbourhood can be rented for as little as $500 per month, with some one-bedroom apartments starting at $700-900.
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In this guide, we will discuss what it’s like to be living in Montreal so that you have a better idea of whether Montreal is a good place for you to live. Montreal is a great city for many reasons. It is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city with a lot to offer in terms of culture, food, and entertainment. It is also a very affordable city, making ...
