{"id":25984,"date":"2020-11-24T10:34:24","date_gmt":"2020-11-24T18:34:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/liv.rent\/blog\/?p=25984"},"modified":"2024-01-17T10:14:55","modified_gmt":"2024-01-17T18:14:55","slug":"best-canadian-cities-for-immigration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/liv.rent\/blog\/renters\/best-canadian-cities-for-immigration\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Canadian Cities for Immigration"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

People from around the world look to Canada as a safe haven. Known for its natural beauty, multiculturalism, universal healthcare, and an open-minded citizenry, Canada is a coveted destination for newcomers. And due to an aging population, Canada needs immigrants to augment the work force and sustain, as well as grow, the economy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020, Canada’s immigration minister announced an ambitious, new Immigration Levels Plan that would welcome over 1 million new permanent residents between now and 2022. However, in October, the number was adjusted upwards as 2020’s immigration was seriously curbed due to COVID-19. Now Canada is set to bring in over 400,000 immigrants a year over the next three years. The updated 2021-2023 Immigration Levels Plan aims to welcome 60% of all immigrants under the economic class programs<\/a> through the Express Entry<\/a> and the Provincial Nominee Programs<\/a>. (Source: CIC News<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The three largest cities\u2014Toronto<\/a>, Montreal<\/a> and Vancouver<\/a> continue to attract 60% of overall immigrants; this is followed by mid-sized cities like Calgary and Winnipeg. Here is a breakdown of the Top 5 Canadian Cities for Immigrants – summarizing average costs and job opportunities as well as offering some insights into living in these cities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Top 5 Canadian Cities for Immigration<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Jump ahead to the city section below:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Canadian City Comparison <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Toronto<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Vancouver<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Montreal<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Winnipeg<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Calgary<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Immigrating to Canada <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Canadian City Comparison<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Below is a comparison of average costs by city (including essentials, food and rents).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Essentials Comparison<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The prairie cities, Winnipeg and Calgary, are substantially cheaper when it comes to housing though their utilities are pricier. However, the cost of other essentials is comparable right across the country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Food Cost Comparison<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Food prices are relatively similar across the country with Winnipeg holding a slight edge in terms of affordability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rental Rate Comparison<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Toronto, Canada’s biggest city and the one drawing the most immigrants, is the most expensive. Winnipeg, at the centre of our country in Manitoba, conversely, has average rents under $1000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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>> Recommended Reading:<\/b> Average Rent Near Transit in the Greater Toronto Area<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Toronto<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Source: <\/em>Unsplash<\/em><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Canada’s biggest city, Toronto is a model metropolis. High-powered, vibrant, multi-cultural, and teeming with job opportunities; it is no wonder that Toronto attracts the most immigrants in Canada. The city and its suburbs feature a wide variety of housing options, good schools, and a far-reaching transit system that includes buses and a subway as well as commuter trains (GO-Train<\/a>) servicing more distant and affordable suburbs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here you can also find Canada’s highest ranked university, University of Toronto, some of Canada’s best art galleries and museums (Art Gallery of Ontario<\/a>, Royal Ontario Museum<\/a>), world class restaurants, music venues, the CN Tower,<\/a> as well as three professional sports teams – hockey’s Toronto Maple Leafs, baseball’s Toronto Blue Jays and, of course, basketball’s, 2019 NBA Champions, Toronto Raptors! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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>> Recommended Reading:<\/b> BC Tenancy Act<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Working in Toronto<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As Canada’s biggest city, many of Canada’s head offices are located here. In addition, Toronto boasts a vibrant start up culture, spurring innovation and entrepreneurism. The tech scene is hopping with companies like Ecobee<\/a>, Tophat<\/a>, Shopify<\/a>, Cisco <\/a>and Oracle<\/a> hiring regularly. The universities (University of Toronto, Ryerson, York University), banks (Royal Bank of Canada, Scotia bank, TD Bank), consulting firms (KPMG, Accenture) and Canadian telecoms (Rogers) based here usually have numerous openings and offer excellent career training. Despite the pandemic, Toronto’s job market is strong with extensive opportunities for everyone ranging from unskilled workers to highly educated professionals. Be sure to check company websites, LinkedIn or job boards like Indeed, SimplyHired, Monster, Workopolis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Living in Toronto<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Though Toronto is Canada’s most expensive city, it offers a wide variety of housing options. However, if you’d like to live centrally, the average rent for a one bedroom, unfurnished apartment <\/a>on liv.rent<\/a> is $1,726.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thankfully, the entire Greater Toronto Area is well-served by the Toronto Transit Commission’s (TTC) vast transit system of buses, streetcars (trams), subway, and commuter rail; a monthly pass can be obtained for $156<\/a>. Thus, living in more affordable areas, further from the downtown core, is a viable option for people new to the city. For detailed information on the cost of rentals around the Greater Toronto area, see our November 2020 Toronto Rent Report here. <\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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>> Recommended Reading:<\/b> Renter Spotlight: Laura Valenzuela from Brazil<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ontario Healthcare<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One key draw for many newcomers is Canada’s universal healthcare system which provides medical services to everyone with permanent residency and citizenship. The services covered vary from province to province. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Ontario, healthcare is administered by the Ontario Health Insurance plan<\/a>, or OHIP. Under OHIP the following services are covered: <\/p>\n\n\n\n