Living and working in charming Montreal, Quebec

Credit to Author: Staff Writer| Date: Wed, 05 Feb 2025 13:16:26 +0000

Quebec’s largest city, Montreal, is even bigger than the province’s capital, Quebec City. Originally known as Ville-Marie, or City of Mary, the city is named after Mount Royal — the hill at the heart of Montreal. It’s also the most popular city in Quebec for newcomers who choose to move to Montreal in greater numbers every year.

French is the official language of Quebec, so if you want to settle in Montreal it’s a good idea to become fluent (although English is widely spoken as well). Montreal holds the honour of having the largest French-speaking populous of any city in North America — second only to Paris, France. An exceptionally clean and livable city, Montreal is family friendly and boasts many cultural and historical attractions as well as a number of prestigious post-secondary institutions.

Statistics

Incorporated as a city: 1832
Became the capital city of Quebec in 1844
Population: 1,762,949 (Statistics Canada, 2021 Census)

Diversity by the numbers:

The following numbers from the 2021 Census Canada Report show the number of visible minorities in the city.

Total visible minority population: 1,959,355
South Asian: 91,365
Chinese: 69,985
Black: 208,805
Filipino: 33,365
Latin American: 82,550
Arab: 151,890

Neighbourhoods

Tourists and residents alike love Old Montreal for its cobbled streets, architecture, or a ride in a horse-drawn calèche. Take public transit from downtown or get there via the ville intérieure or indoor city, a set of interconnected complexes in and around Montreal’s downtown core.

Affluent Westmount is a suburb located on the Island of Montreal, headquarters for two Canadian Forces Primary Reserves and home to a number of lovely parks including Westmount Summit, King George Park, and Westmount Park.

On the West Island lies Senneville a large suburb of inner city Montreal and home to historical Fort Senneville, built in 1671. A well-to-do area, you’ll find century old stately mansions alongside some newly built luxury real estate. Senneville also boasts the breathtaking Morgan Arboretum, a nature reserve beloved by the locals.

Montreal has a more affordable housing market than Toronto and Vancouver despite being Canada’s second-largest city by population, thus attracting many buyers. A further decline in mortgage rates will likely attract more buyers. The median price of a single family home in Montreal is about $580,000.  A one-bedroom apartment in Montréal, QC costs about $1,711 on average, while a two-bedroom apartment is $2,245. The monthly rent for an apartment is $1,799. Houses for rent are more expensive, with an average monthly cost of $3,200.

For more info on rental and housing options, take a look at: Montreal Rentals Montreal Housing

Economy

The city supports a number of major industries including aerospace, electronic goods, biopharmaceuticals, printed goods, IT and multimedia, telecommunications, textile and apparel manufacturing, tobacco, transportation, engineering, finance, cultural and entertainment, and higher education.

As of 2025, Montreal is bracing for an economically challenging year, with growth projected at just 0.4% in 2024—the slowest among 13 major Canadian cities, according to the Conference Board of Canada. The downturn is primarily due to declining immigration and sluggish housing development, along with provincial and federal policy changes impacting international students.

In 2023, Montreal welcomed a record 150,000 international newcomers, but net migration is expected to drop to 92,000 in 2024 and continue declining in the years ahead. Factors contributing to this decline include higher tuition fees for out-of-province students, stricter French-language requirements, and a national cap on international student admissions, all of which are expected to reduce both interprovincial and international migration.

Despite these challenges, Montreal remains an important destination for newcomers, helping to maintain a steady labour force. Meanwhile, industries such as manufacturing and services have the potential to regain strength as inflation eases and interest rates stabilize, offering hope for economic recovery beyond 2024.

 

Cost of Living

Montrealers have typically enjoyed living in a lively, multicultural city with a low cost of living. However, the city’s affordability landscape has undergone a significant change. The city has been experiencing a housing shortage, leading to increased competition and rising prices in the real estate market. This shortage makes it challenging for newcomers and residents alike to find affordable housing options.

Additionally, Montreal’s stringent French-language laws can pose challenges for businesses and individuals not proficient in French, potentially limiting employment opportunities and business growth. The city’s ongoing construction projects, while aimed at infrastructure improvement, often lead to traffic congestion and disruptions, affecting daily commutes and overall quality of life.

Despite these challenges, Montreal continues to offer a vibrant cultural scene, diverse communities, and a relatively lower cost of living compared to cities like Toronto and Vancouver. However, potential residents should be aware of the evolving economic landscape and plan accordingly.

Subsidized daycare at a cost of 9$9.10 makes it an attractive place to stay for families with young children.

 

Transportation

Montreal is one of the primary transportations hubs in North America, with two international airports (Trudeau International and Mirabel International). The city also hosts an extensive network roads and railways along its major seaport. It is headquarters for a number of airlines, including Air Canada, as well as CN Rail. The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) provides more than 1.3 million passenger trips by by bus and metro per day to its 68 stations. For $79.50 you can purchase a monthly pass valid from the first the last day of each month with unlimited transit service. Taxi fares start at $3.50, and for a 10 kilometre jaunt across the city expect to pay around $20.

Climate/Weather

Montreal has a humid continental climate, where precipitation is quite abundant. You can expect to see an average snowfall of 2.25 metres per year in the wintertime. Rainfall is also quite generous, with an average precipitation rate of 900 millimetres. In the summer, Montrealers enjoy a balance of hot, sunny days and humid rainy ones.

Average winter temperature sits at -10.4°Celsius, which, thanks to windchill, feels much colder. Summers average 26.3°C, with a high humidity rating, which can make the heat seem more severe than it actually is. Both spring and autumn can see snowfall, but late heat waves in autumn are typical, helping extend the feel of the summer.

 

Things to do

Montreal is nothing less than a patron city of culture and the arts. Music, theatre, comedy (e.g., the world famous “Just For Laughs” festival), dance — this cosmopolitan mecca has it all. Explore the city’s cultural and historical roots with a visit to Old Montreal and Old Port — and be sure to check out the city’s pride, Mount Royal. The city has a number of art galleries and museums well worth seeing, including the Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art and Point-a-Calliere Museum. A trip to Montreal wouldn’t be complete without shopping. Be sure to take in the Jean-Talon Market (Marché Jean-Talon) and the chic boutiques along rues St-Laurent and Ste-Catherine. For kid-friendly fun visit you can’t beat the Montreal Biodome. The entire family may also enjoy the annual world renowned Montreal International Jazz Festival which takes place in late June/early July.

 

Helpful information

These useful resources will help you find your way around the city and the province:

Maps of Montreal
City of Montreal
Province of Quebec
Tourism Montreal

 

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