Living in Canada: Cost of Living, Healthcare and What to Know About Living in Canada

Living in Canada

Last updated on Jan 07, 2024

Summary: The approximate population of Canada is 37.59 million people. The largest cities in Canada are Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton. Expats love living in Canada for its diverse culture, friendly people, and beautiful landscapes. People describe life in Canada as peaceful, safe, and welcoming. Popular foods in Canada include poutine (fries with cheese curds and gravy), maple syrup, Nanaimo bars, and butter tarts. The cons of living in Canada include the cold weather, high taxes, and the cost of living. The average cost of living for an expat is around $2,500 USD per month. This includes rent, food, transportation, and other expenses.

What do I need to know about living in Canada?

When we asked people what advice they would give someone preparing to move to Canada, they said:

"Try to get a job prospect first, rental properties are scarce and pricey compared to rest of Ontario. They want a resume for the most menial jobs. They are pretty strict about a lot of stuff. Good bus system, don't need car," commented one expat who made the move to Kingston.

"Plan ahead and make sure you find a place to live BEFORE coming here, there is a major housing shortage in Ottawa as of Aug 23rd 2002..," remarked one expat living in Ottawa, Canada.

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About the Author

Betsy Burlingame is the Founder and President of Expat Exchange and is one of the Founders of Digital Nomad Exchange. She launched Expat Exchange in 1997 as her Master's thesis project at NYU. Prior to Expat Exchange, Betsy worked at AT&T in International and Mass Market Marketing. She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a BA in International Business and German.

Some of Betsy's articles include 12 Best Places to Live in Portugal, 7 Best Places to Live in Panama and 12 Things to Know Before Moving to the Dominican Republic. Betsy loves to travel and spend time with her family. Connect with Betsy on LinkedIn.