City guide
🇨🇦 Living in Montreal
A vibrant, affordable, French-speaking metropolis with public healthcare and a distinct Quebec immigration route
At a glance
Net salary calculator
Calculate your take-home pay in Montreal with our detailed tax calculator.
Calculate net salary →Cost of living
| Rent (1-bed, center) | €1,116/mo |
| Rent (1-bed, suburb) | €852/mo |
| Groceries (single) | €247/mo |
| Groceries (family) | €643/mo |
| Transport pass | €65/mo |
| Restaurant (2 people, mid-range) | €65 |
| Coffee | €3.00 |
| Gym membership | €29/mo |
| Healthcare | Quebec has public healthcare (RAMQ) covering physician and hospital care. New residents face a waiting period of up to three months, but citizens of France, Belgium, and Luxembourg are exempt under social-security agreements and covered immediately if they present proof of prior affiliation (for example France's SE-401-Q certificate, obtained before departure). Supplemental private insurance is common for prescription drugs and dental care |
Budget calculator
Build a detailed monthly budget for Montreal based on your lifestyle.
Build your budget →Why choose Montreal?
French is the official and working language, a natural fit for francophone expats
Notably more affordable than Toronto, especially on rent
A rich cultural scene of festivals, food, and music, with a European feel
Public healthcare (RAMQ), with French, Belgian, and Luxembourg citizens exempt from the usual waiting period
Quebec runs its own immigration selection (Arrima and the CSQ), with French ability strongly rewarded
A major North American hub for tech, AI, and video games, with growing job opportunities
Quality of life
Moving to Montreal : checklist
- 1 Note that Quebec selects its own economic immigrants (Arrima and the CSQ), separate from federal Express Entry, with French ability strongly rewarded
- 2 Apply to RAMQ on arrival; coverage usually starts after up to three months, but French, Belgian, and Luxembourg citizens are exempt and covered immediately if they obtain a proof-of-affiliation certificate (such as the SE-401-Q form for France) before leaving
- 3 Get a Social Insurance Number (SIN) to work and bank
- 4 Budget for rent: a central one-bedroom averages around 1,120 euros per month, well below Toronto
- 5 Get an OPUS card for the metro and buses
- 6 Plan for written French at work: job contracts and official dealings are in French under Quebec law
- 7 Note that winters are long and cold; budget for warm clothing and indoor life from December to March
Frequently asked questions
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