Top 10 Best Cities to Settle in Canada as a New Immigrant

Table of Contents


So you’ve applied to come to Canada as a permanent resident but you don’t know exactly where you should live. Everyone has heard of Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, but who knows if those are really great cities to start your new life. This list looks at big cities in Canada that are most accessible to new immigrants.

It’s time for the latest iteration of our list of the top 10 larger cities in Canada most accessible to immigrants. (See the 2018 list.) Yes, cities like Vancouver, Montreal, and Toronto are on the list once again because of their large communities of new Canadians that can help recent arrivals with their transition towards life in Canada, but we’ve included a few surprises as well.

So, if you’re perhaps deciding where you might want to settle in Canada, or if you just like reading about cities, here’s our look at where to live. As we often do, we’ve included data from the crowd-sourced website Numbeo that gets into the nitty gritty details of the daily expenses a typical Canadian incurs living in these cities.

 

10. Longueil Quebec

by Google Earth

It’s hard to argue with demographics. In the case of the province of Quebec, it faces a double whammy when it comes to population growth:

  • Like much of Canada, but perhaps even more so, its natural increase in population has slowed to half of what it was in the early 1970s.
  • Unlike much of Canada, it also suffers from an outflow of people moving to other provinces in the country.

This means that over the last few years, especially since around 2014, Quebec has relied on immigration to sustain its population and even grow at a modest rate. The province has realized the benefits to Quebec’s economy and society of immigration. The amount of population growth due to immigration in the province has more than doubled over the last 5 years. In other words, if you’re willing to learn (or already know) French, then opportunities are there in Quebec, especially in the greater Montreal area.

Longueil is a satellite city of Montreal lying on the southern shore of the St. Lawrence river and connected by subway (metro) to the main island of Montreal. Remember that the Montreal Metropolitan area has an immigrant population of over 23% which is slightly above Canada’s national average of just under 22%.

To the southeast of Longueil down the Eastern Townships Autoroute you have rolling farmland followed by ski centres like Sutton, Owl’s Head, and Orford within an easy drive of 1 or 2 hours, and a lake district just north of Vermont. Up the Saint Lawrence river you have astonishingly beautiful drives into the heart of the province and the cliffs of Quebec City.

The city of Longueil itself has a population of just fewer than 240,000 making it Canada’s 20th largest city. While many residents commute to Montreal for work, Longueil is also home to a thriving aerospace industry including facilities belonging to Pratt & Whitney as well as firms like Agropur, Innergex Renewable Energy, and the Canadian subsidiary of Hasbro. Not only that, it’s home to the headquarters of the Canadian Space Agency.

While Brossard (just to the south of Longueil) might have a higher immigrant population, with around 30%, Longueil is growing its immigrant population from the current level of under 10% and it’s only a matter of time before it begins to display the same diversity as it’s neighbour along the south shore.

 

Cost of Living in Longueil 2019 CAD$

Restaurants Average Price Price Range
Meal at a Cheap Restaurant $15.00 $10.00 – $17.00
McDonald’s Combo $10.00 $8.00 – $11.54
Groceries Average Price Price Range
Milk 1 liter $2.00 $1.15 – $2.50
White Rice 1 kg $4.00 $1.79 – $4.35
Eggs 1 dozen (12) $3.15 $2.00 – $4.00
Chicken Breasts (boneless, skinless) 1 kg. $13.23 $5.00 – $15.00
Beef Round 1 kg. $14.72 $8.45 – $18.00
Banana 1 kg. $1.65 $0.70 – $3.00
Tomato 1 kg. $4.29 $1.74 – $5.84
Potato 1 kg. $2.00 $0.50 – $3.00
Water 1.5 litres $2.00 $1.00 – $2.29
Cigarettes (pack with 20) $12.00 $8.50 – $14.00
Bottle of Wine (mid-range) $15.00 $15.00 – $15.00
Transportation Average Price Price Range
One-way ticket (local) $3.25 $3.25 – $3.25
Monthly pass $96.50 $86.00 – $125.00
Taxi start (normal tariff) $3.50 $3.45 – $4.00
Taxi rate (per km.) $2.35 $1.70 – $4.50
Toyota Corolla Comfort $22,125 $18,000 – $25,000
Gasoline (per litre) $1.23 $1.10 – $1.36
Utilities Average Price Price Range
Basic Monthly (Electricity, Heating/Cooling, Water, Garbage collection) for 85 square-metre apt. $104.79 $44.00 – $150.00
1-minute pre-paid Mobile tariff $0.36 $0.15 – $0.60
Internet (60 Mbps) $62.50 $45.00 – $90.00
Childcare Average Price Price Range
Pre-school/Kindergarten (full-day, private, monthly fee) $632.00 $190.00 – 990.00
International Primary School (yearly) $7,000 $3,700 – $10,000
Rent (Monthly) Average Price Price Range
1-bedroom central $787 $600 – $900
1-bedroom outside centre $645 $500 – $700
3-bedroom centre $1,420 $1,200 – $1,700
3-bedroom outside centre $1,012 $800 – $1,200

 

9. Markham, Ontario

by Google Earth

We’ve kept Markham in the same spot in our list as it’s one of Canada’s cities with over 50% of immigrants. Nearly half the population is Chinese while just under a fifth is South Asian. There are other significant visible minorities as well. Add in the fact that’s it’s just north of the city of Toronto and is part of the GTA, and that means that work, study, and leisure options are among the best in Canada. (Don’t tell that to people from Vancouver or even Montreal of course).

How many tech and life-science companies do you think operate out of Markham? 32? Nope. 54? Nope. Try around 1,000. Yes. One thousand. Including IBM. As well, industrial and financial companies like Honda and Toyota Financial Services are among the many, many corporate names in Markham. And we’re talking about a city of around 330,000. A diverse city with an astonishing tech-heavy corporate base. If you’re a skilled worker, this is where you want to be, or at least work.

Of course, housing is not cheap when so many people work and/or live in Markham. Let’s look at the rest of living costs in Markham.

 

Cost of Living in Markham 2019 CAD$

Restaurants Average Price Price Range
Meal at a Cheap Restaurant $17.50 $10.00 – $21.00
McDonald’s Combo $10.00 $8.00 – $13.00
Groceries Average Price Price Range
Milk 1 liter $2.88 $1.00 – $3.99
White Rice 1 kg $3.40 $1.12 – $5.00
Eggs 1 dozen (12) $3.50 $2.00 – $5.00
Chicken Breasts (boneless, skinless) 1 kg. $13.23 $4.69 – $25.00
Beef Round 1 kg. $15.00 $4.69 – $21.95
Banana 1 kg. $1.40 $0.79 – $1.80
Tomato 1 kg. $4.19 $2.20 – $5.00
Potato 1 kg. $2.75 $0.44 – $3.49
Water 1.5 litres $2.07 $0.80 – $3.15
Cigarettes (pack with 20) $14.00 $10.00 – $15.00
Bottle of Wine (mid-range) $15.50 $11.00 – $20.00
Transportation Average Price Price Range
One-way ticket (local) $3.98 $3.25 – $4.25
Monthly pass $142.50 $122 – 150
Taxi start (normal tariff) $4.00 $3.25 – $4.96
Taxi rate (per km.) $2.00 $1.00 – $2.50
Toyota Corolla Comfort $23,383 $17,000 – $29,000
Gasoline (per litre) $1.20 $1.09 – $1.32
Utilities Average Price Price Range
Basic Monthly (Electricity, Heating/Cooling, Water, Garbage collection) for 85 square-metre apt. $146.14 $59.50 – $250.00
1-minute pre-paid Mobile tariff $0.43 $0.05 – $0.50
Internet (60 Mbps) $66.62 $40.00 – $90.00
Childcare Average Price Price Range
Pre-school/Kindergarten (full-day, private, monthly fee) $1,217 $400.00 – 1,800
International Primary School (yearly) $15,333 $10,000 – $18,000
Rent (Monthly) Average Price Price Range
1-bedroom central $1,678 $1,200 – $1,950
1-bedroom outside centre $1,431 $1,000 – $1,700
3-bedroom centre $2,500 $2,200 – $2,750
3-bedroom outside centre $2,043 $1,800 – $2,400

 

8. Mississauga, Ontario

by Google Earth

Just west of Toronto and north of Oakville, this is the largest satellite city in the GTA and a large Canadian city in its own right with a population approaching 800,000. To get an idea of how diverse a place Mississauga is, consider some of the principal languages spoken in the city, according to a recent Statistics Canada survey:

Language Number of Speakers
Arabic 16,810
Vietnamese 6,770
Tagalog 8,985
Tamil 6,315
Polish 14,985
Ukrainian 3,555
Russian 3,075
Serbian 2,290
Bengali 2,185
Gujarati 4,100
Hindi 4,700
Punjabi 12,890
Urdu 22,890
Farsi (Persian) 3,160
Italian 3,460
Portuguese 6,460
Romanian 1,400
Spanish 9,415
Korean 3,250
Cantonese 11,415
Mandarin 18,080

This is clearly a city with a large number of substantial immigrant communities where recent arrivals can network and start establishing roots in their new home. Reportedly, over 50% of the population speaks a language other than English and over 50% are visible minorities.

And like Markham, Mississauga also has long been a corporate and industrial centre as well. We’re talking Fortune 500 companies. Over 60 large corporations have their headquarters in the city. Electronics and computers, pharma, banking and finance, transportation equipment, and aerospace are among the industries in Mississauga. By the way, when you land at Pearson International Airport, you’re in Mississauga, so that makes the city a natural focal point for Canada’s aeronautics industry.

Mississauga does have its apartment towers, but this is still a city with lots of row housing and semi-detached and detached suburban bungalows, as well as low-rise (5 or less stories) apartment buildings. Rents are much higher than in Longueil, but still slightly better than Toronto or Vancouver.

 

Cost of Living in Mississauga 2019 CAD$

Restaurants Average Price Price Range
Meal at a Cheap Restaurant $17.00 $10.00 – $20.00
McDonald’s Combo $10.00 $8.00 – $12.00
Groceries Average Price Price Range
Milk 1 liter $1.94 $1.00 – $3.79
White Rice 1 kg $3.40 $1.50 – $5.00
Eggs 1 dozen (12) $3.45 $2.00 – $5.00
Chicken Breasts (boneless, skinless) 1 kg. $14.49 $5.00 – $21.89
Beef Round 1 kg. $15.00 $5.00 – $21.00
Banana 1 kg. $1.57 $0.69 – $2.00
Tomato 1 kg. $4.00 $1.50 – $4.41
Potato 1 kg. $2.43 $0.44 – $3.75
Water 1.5 litres $2.00 $1.00 – $3.15
Cigarettes (pack with 20) $13.00 $10.00 – $15.00
Bottle of Wine (mid-range) $15.00 $9.00 – $20.00
Transportation Average Price Price Range
One-way ticket (local) $3.50 $3.00 – $3.75
Monthly pass $130 $125 – 145
Taxi start (normal tariff) $3.95 $3.25 – $4.50
Taxi rate (per km.) $2.00 $1.75 – $2.50
Toyota Corolla Comfort $22,200 $16,790 – $26,000
Gasoline (per litre) $1.19 $1.03 – $1.32
Utilities Average Price Price Range
Basic Monthly (Electricity, Heating/Cooling, Water, Garbage collection) for 85 square-metre apt. $135.69 $59.50 – $223.68
1-minute pre-paid Mobile tariff $0.38 $0.05 – $0.50
Internet (60 Mbps) $65.40 $40.00 – $90.00
Childcare Average Price Price Range
Pre-school/Kindergarten (full-day, private, monthly fee) $1,150 $600 – 1,800
International Primary School (yearly) $10,000 $5,400 – $12,000
Rent (Monthly) Average Price Price Range
1-bedroom central $1,892 $1,400 – $2,100
1-bedroom outside centre $1,604 $1,200 – $1,900
3-bedroom centre $2,626 $2,200 – $3,000
3-bedroom outside centre $2,228 $1,800 – $2,500

 

7. Surrey, BC

Surrey By Mike. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

by Google Earth

It has been over a century since the Komagata Maru incident in Vancouver’s harbour in 1914 when a boat with South Asian refugees – most of them Sikhs – were turned away by Canadian authorities and not even allowed to disembark. The event has become a key moment in Canada’s immigration history and shows that prejudice and discrimination were very much a part of the policies that decided who could settle in Canada, and who couldn’t.

But it also marks an awareness of how Canada has since opened up and become a far more tolerant and diverse society, one which has produced over the last few decades, one of the longest running periods of prosperity in the nation’s history. And that opening up has often been in response to the struggles for a rightful place in Canada on the part of the very people who were turned away in mid-1914.

In other words, the roots of migration from both Eastern and South Asia go back generations and Metro Vancouver’s diversity is the direct result of those roots and those past struggles. Of course, success always comes with a cost, and that cost in Vancouver has been that a cozy city tucked into the beautiful coastline of BC has become an enormously expensive place to buy a house or rent a place to live.

As a result, the growing South Asian community in the city of Vancouver began in the 1990s to move south to Surrey, which is the largest suburban city in Metro Vancouver. A little like Mississauga, this is a place where a detached home doesn’t have to cost you over $1 million, and where you can still find – if not cheap – at least somewhat more reasonably priced accommodations.

At over 500,000 Surrey is Canada’s 12th largest metropolitan area, and out of that population, South Asians accounted for around 32% in the 2016 census. Chinese, Filipinos, and Southeast Asians accounted for between 10% and 3%. Needless to say, everything from Spanish to Mandarin (as well as Punjabi of course) are spoken, with over half of the population with a mother tongue other than English.

While agriculture has historically played a key role in Surrey’s economy, nowadays you’re much more likely to see a film crew rather than a tractor in and around the city. Health industry enterprises and a smaller but growing tech sector are also important employers. And Vancouver is a reasonable commute to the north if you decide to work there.

As for the cost of living, it’s not a cheap city but clearly still one worth considering if you’re deciding where to settle in Canada.

 

Cost of Living in Surrey 2019 CAD$

Restaurants Average Price Price Range
Meal at a Cheap Restaurant $15.00 $14.00 – $20.00
McDonald’s Combo $10.50 $9.00 – $12.00
Groceries Average Price Price Range
Milk 1 liter $1.23 $1.06 – $2.59
White Rice 1 kg $4.00 $2.15 – $8.82
Eggs 1 dozen (12) $3.21 $2.00 – $5.00
Chicken Breasts (boneless, skinless) 1 kg. $16.93 $8.82 – $21.98
Beef Round 1 kg. $16.76 $6.61 – $30.00
Banana 1 kg. $1.21 $0.66 – $1.52
Tomato 1 kg. $3.17 $2.20 – $4.14
Potato 1 kg. $2.16 $0.64 – $3.68
Water 1.5 litres $2.19 $2.00 – $2.38
Cigarettes (pack with 20) $13.10 $12.20 – $14.00
Bottle of Wine (mid-range) $14.50 $14.00 – $15.00
Transportation Average Price Price Range
One-way ticket (local) $2.95 $2.75 – $3.75
Monthly pass $100 $93 – 174
Taxi start (normal tariff) $3.38 $3.20 – $3.50
Taxi rate (per km.) $1.84 $1.50 – $1.89
Toyota Corolla Comfort $22,465 $16,790 – $30,000
Gasoline (per litre) $1.53 $1.34 – $1.69
Utilities Average Price Price Range
Basic Monthly (Electricity, Heating/Cooling, Water, Garbage collection) for 85 square-metre apt. $108.64 $50.00 – $156.58
1-minute pre-paid Mobile tariff $0.36 $0.25 – $0.50
Internet (60 Mbps) $77.19 $60.00 – $100.00
Childcare Average Price Price Range
Pre-school/Kindergarten (full-day, private, monthly fee) $850 $600 – 1,200
International Primary School (yearly) $11,667 $7,000 – $18,000
Rent (Monthly) Average Price Price Range
1-bedroom central $1,303 $1,000 – $1,800
1-bedroom outside centre $1,028 $800 – $1,500
3-bedroom centre $2,221 $1,800 – $3,000
3-bedroom outside centre $1,821 $1,350 – $2,500

 

6. Ottawa, Ontario

Ottawa via https://pixabay.com/photos/ottawa-canada-city-urban-skyline-1863754/

by Google Earth

It’s not the usual destination for many new immigrants to Canada, but when you start to add up what Canada’s capital city offers, it turns out to be quite an interesting destination for someone looking for a city to settle in.  For example:

  • A number of first-rate healthcare facilities. No surprise here, bureaucrats and politicians tend to make sure the city they work and live in is well provided with services.
  • A number of cultural offerings that a city of similar size (a little over 900,000) might not necessarily have.
  • Several good universities as well as community colleges that offer a wide range of programs in both English and French.
  • Skiing, natural parks, and other rural attractions up the Ottawa Valley and across the river in Quebec that are much easier to access than equivalent destinations near Vancouver, Toronto, or even Montreal.
  • Good public schools, green spaces, and housing that is not yet at the insane price levels found in Vancouver and Toronto.
  • A tech sector and healthcare sector are important contributors to the local economy, but public employees are by far the largest sector as well as a growing tourism industry that includes the Gatineau region across the Ottawa river in Quebec as well as the Rideau river and canal system running south and which connects Ottawa to Kingston and Lake Ontario.
  • And importantly, a large number of immigrant communities that while not on the scale of what you find in Metro Vancouver or the GTA, are still large enough to provide community and connections to someone looking to establish themselves and their family in the city.

Consider the following from Statistics Canada 2016 census profile of Ottawa:

Mother Tongue other that English/French/Aboriginal
Somali 6,300
Arabic 34,295
Khmer (Cambodia) 1,100
Vietnamese 5,930
Tagalog (Pilipino, Filipino) 6,035
Creole (Haitian, Other) 3,995
Tamil 2,415
Croatian 1,005
Polish 5,525
Russian 6,150
Serbian 1,705
Ukrainian 1,630
Dutch 2,215
German 5,275
Greek 2,110
Bengali 3,255
Gujarati 1,470
Hindi 2,875
Punjabi 3,880
Urdu 4,410
Farsi (Persian) 6,850
Romanian 2,560
Spanish 11,985
Swahili 1,100
Niger-Congo languages 1,030
Cantonese 10,160
Mandarin 18,575

While these numbers do not come close to the percentages of immigrant communities like the South Asian community in Surrey or the Chinese community in cities like Mississauga, they are nonetheless solid numbers and are only set to grow.

How expensive a city is Ottawa? Let’s find out:

 

Cost of Living in Ottawa 2019 CAD$

Restaurants Average Price Price Range
Meal at a Cheap Restaurant $16.00 $12.65 – $25.00
McDonald’s Combo $10.00 $8.00 – $12.00
Groceries Average Price Price Range
Milk 1 liter $2.17 $1.19- $3.20
White Rice 1 kg $3.52 $1.00 – $5.99
Eggs 1 dozen (12) $3.02 $2.50 – $4.00
Chicken Breasts (boneless, skinless) 1 kg. $13.08 $10.00 – $18.00
Beef Round 1 kg. $15.18 $10.00 – $22.05
Banana 1 kg. $1.54 $1.00 – $2.00
Tomato 1 kg. $3.44 $2.00 – $5.00
Potato 1 kg. $2.10 $1.00 – $4.41
Water 1.5 litres $1.76 $1.00 – $2.50
Cigarettes (pack with 20) $14.50 $12.00 – $18.00
Bottle of Wine (mid-range) $16.00 $15.00 – $18.00
Transportation Average Price Price Range
One-way ticket (local) $3.50 $3.50 – $3.60
Monthly pass $116.50 $116.50 – 120.00
Taxi start (normal tariff) $3.85 $3.45 – $5.00
Taxi rate (per km.) $1.77 $1.50 – $2.77
Toyota Corolla Comfort $23,540 $19,999 – $27,000
Gasoline (per litre) $1.17 $1.05 – $1.25
Utilities Average Price Price Range
Basic Monthly (Electricity, Heating/Cooling, Water, Garbage collection) for 85 square-metre apt. $146.11 $68.00 – $228.73
1-minute pre-paid Mobile tariff $0.26 $0.20 – $0.40
Internet (60 Mbps) $64.70 $50.00 – $89.00
Childcare Average Price Price Range
Pre-school/Kindergarten (full-day, private, monthly fee) $1,126 $600 – 1,500
International Primary School (yearly) $12,944 $8,000 – $25,000
Rent (Monthly) Average Price Price Range
1-bedroom central $1,382 $1,100 – $1,700
1-bedroom outside centre $1,071 $800 – $1,300
3-bedroom centre $2,328 $1,700 – $2,900
3-bedroom outside centre $1,780 $1,400 – $2,000

 

5. Toronto, Ontario

Toronto at Night via https://pixabay.com/en/buildings-can-cn-tower-canada-2297210/

by Google Earth

There’s no way to avoid Toronto when it comes to Canada. As important as cities like Vancouver, Calgary, or Montreal might be, Toronto still plays a major role with its size and its local economy. And it still is where many immigrants choose to settle, given the impressive size and diversity of its many communities. Like Vancouver, it has a world-class film and media presence, but Toronto also has far greater industrial, financial, and tech industries than it’s Pacific-based competitor. Its universities include Canada’s top institutions (like University of Toronto) and, especially when you include its neighbouring cities in the GTA, it’s home to an increasing number of start-up companies. From a home-cleaning services employee to a UX manager at an intelligent clothing start-up, there are jobs of every kind on offer in Toronto.

Perhaps the one area where Vancouver seems to a clear winner (ok aside from the weather) is in the quality of BC’s healthcare system which is recognized as world class and even top 5 as we’ve covered here at IMMIgroup. OHIP (Ontario’s provincially managed public health care system) is a good solid system, but it can often result in delays and long wait times, given the sometimes-overwhelming demand for healthcare services in places like Toronto and across the province.

And yes, housing is nearly as outrageously expensive in Toronto as it is in Vancouver. How about the rest of living expenses in Hogtown? (That would be Toronto.) Let’s take a look:

 

Cost of Living in Toronto 2019 CAD$

Restaurants Average Price Price Range
Meal at a Cheap Restaurant $20.00 $15.00 – $26.00
McDonald’s Combo $11.00 $9.00 – $13.00
Groceries Average Price Price Range
Milk 1 liter $2.86 $1.32 – $4.25
White Rice 1 kg $3,67 $2.00 – $6.25
Eggs 1 dozen (12) $3.39 $2.27- $5.00
Chicken Breasts (boneless, skinless) 1 kg. $14.48 $10.00 – $29.00
Beef Round 1 kg. $21.42 $11.00 – $36.00
Banana 1 kg. $1.77 $1.30 – $3.00
Tomato 1 kg. $4.16 $2.20 – $6.00
Potato 1 kg. $3.15 $1.45 – $5.25
Water 1.5 litres $2.07 $1.00 – $3.99
Cigarettes (pack with 20) $15.00 $12.00 – $18.00
Bottle of Wine (mid-range) $16.00 $15.00 – $22.00
Transportation Average Price Price Range
One-way ticket (local) $3.25 $3.10 – $3.25
Monthly pass $151.00 $146.00 – 151.15
Taxi start (normal tariff) $4.00 $3.25 – $4.96
Taxi rate (per km.) $2.00 $1.75 – $3.00
Toyota Corolla Comfort $25,188 $19,300 – $30,000
Gasoline (per litre) $1.22 $1.15 – $1.30
Utilities Average Price Price Range
Basic Monthly (Electricity, Heating/Cooling, Water, Garbage collection) for 85 square-metre apt. $134.16 $70.00 – $250.00
1-minute pre-paid Mobile tariff $0.44 $0.20 – $0.70
Internet (60 Mbps) $64.55 $50.00 – $90.00
Childcare Average Price Price Range
Pre-school/Kindergarten (full-day, private, monthly fee) $1,486 $1,000 – 2,140
International Primary School (yearly) $26,000 $15,000 – $31,000
Rent (Monthly) Average Price Price Range
1-bedroom central $2,158 $1,800 – $2,500
1-bedroom outside centre $1,707 $1,300 – $2,000
3-bedroom centre $3,492 $2,800 – $4,500
3-bedroom outside centre $2,535 $2,000 – $3,000

5 Things I Learned as a Foreigner Livingin Toronto

 

4. Vancouver, BC

Google Earth

by Google Earth

Vancouver has edged out Toronto in 2019 as a result of its top-notch healthcare system. BC Medical Services Plan is a well-run organization that delivers healthcare services to residents of British Columbia in an effective and fair way, thus easing one of the main worries any new immigrant has to their adopted country: how do I find a doctor? The splendor of the surrounding area, from world-class skiing to Vancouver Island’s beaches, the milder climate, and the fact that cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Hawaii are a reasonable flight away, means this is the top choice for many new Canadians.

While Surrey’s main immigrant population is South Asian, in the city of Vancouver, the Chinese community is far and away the largest presence at just over 26%:

 

Visible Minorities in City of Vancouver (StatsCan 2016 survey)

Specific Immigrant Community Population % of Total Population
Chinese 167,180 26.5%
South Asian   37,130 6.0%
Filipino   36,460 5.8%
Southeast Asian   17,120 2.7%
Latin American   10,935 1.7%
Japanese   10,315 1.6%
Korean    9,360 1.5%
West Asian    8,630 1.4%
Black    6,345 1.0%
Arab   2,965 0.5%
Other & Mixed visible minorities  11,070 2.0%
Total visible minority 319,010 50.6%

The city is a major port in the North America – Asia trade, and has industries from software, film and media, biotech, animation, video game development, to mining and forestry, as well as a large tourism industry.

So why is the city 4th instead of 1st?

Maybe astronomical housing costs? Yes … that would be why.

Let’s look at expenses in one of the world’s most livable cities (if you have the income to be able to afford a decent home).

 

Cost of Living in Vancouver 2019 CAD$

Restaurants Average Price Price Range
Meal at a Cheap Restaurant $16.00 $14.00 – $20.00
McDonald’s Combo $10.00 $8.50 – $12.00
Groceries Average Price Price Range
Milk 1 liter $2.39 $1.32 – $4.00
White Rice 1 kg $4.13 $2.20 – $5.60
Eggs 1 dozen (12) $4.01 $2.84 – $5.50
Chicken Breasts (boneless, skinless) 1 kg. $15.21 $10.00 – $22.05
Beef Round 1 kg. $18.01 $10.09 – $30.00
Banana 1 kg. $1.81 $1.00 – $4.00
Tomato 1 kg. $4.93 $3.00 – $5.00
Potato 1 kg. $3.28 $1.98 – $5.00
Water 1.5 litres $2.52 $1.50 – $4.00
Cigarettes (pack with 20) $15.00 $13.00 – $17.00
Bottle of Wine (mid-range) $20.00 $15.00 – $25.00
Transportation Average Price Price Range
One-way ticket (local) $2.95 $2.40 – $3.20
Monthly pass $98.00 $95.00 – 130.00
Taxi start (normal tariff) $3.50 $3.25 – $4.00
Taxi rate (per km.) $1.89 $1.84 – $2.50
Toyota Corolla Comfort $23,638 $20,000 – $30,000
Gasoline (per litre) $1.55 $1.40 – $1.71
Utilities Average Price Price Range
Basic Monthly (Electricity, Heating/Cooling, Water, Garbage collection) for 85 square-metre apt. $87.17 $45.00 – $150.00
1-minute pre-paid Mobile tariff $0.37 $0.20 – $0.50
Internet (60 Mbps) $72.64 $50.00 – $92.00
Childcare Average Price Price Range
Pre-school/Kindergarten (full-day, private, monthly fee) $1,245 $900 – 1,600
International Primary School (yearly) $22,000 $16,000 – $25,000
Rent (Monthly) Average Price Price Range
1-bedroom central $2,054 $1,700 – $2,400
1-bedroom outside centre $1,659 $1,250 – $1,900
3-bedroom centre $3,762 $3,000 – $4,900
3-bedroom outside centre $2,710 $2,000 – $3,500

Did you notice something interesting? Rent in Vancouver is about the same as in Toronto. Maybe in Vancouver house prices on average are higher, but over the last few years, rental costs between the two cities have basically equalized.

However, Toronto still offers more employment opportunities across a wider range of industries, of course, and that might be the X factor in deciding which city to live in.

 

3. Calgary, Alberta

Calgary By No machine-readable author provided. Cszmurlo assumed (based on copyright claims). [GFDL (https://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY 2.5 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons

by Google Earth

Calgary is the largest city in Alberta and the third-largest urban area in Canada. A large metropolitan area,

We’re keeping Calgary at number 3 because the city really has hit a sweet spot between opportunity and affordability, as well as showing growing diversity. In terms of opportunity, consider how diverse and prosperous Calgary’s local economy is. According to the local business organization, Calgary Economic Development:

  • Calgary has more head offices per capita than any other Canadian city, 118 of them. Toronto might have more head offices in absolute numbers but given Calgary’s size, the city punches above its weight. And head offices mean lots of secondary and even tertiary jobs that are created to service all those corporate HQs: from international tax experts to a small business with 4 vans that offers cleaning services.
  • Calgary’s airport is Canada’s 2nd busiest in terms of air cargo volume.
  • The city has business plan to expand on its more traditional energy, agricultural, and transportation businesses and develop a wide range of newer industries and sectors:
    • Tourism: with the Rocky Mountains a short drive to the west, some of Canada’s most spectacular national parks are a couple hours drive away.
    • Creative Industries: Films and TV shots have been shot in the Calgary and Southern Alberta area for decades, and the city is keen to make Calgary an equal in this area to Vancouver and Toronto.
    • Life Sciences and Health: Alberta tends to offer more streamlined regulations and taxes and is openly welcoming to new businesses. That means well-paying jobs in a growing area of the economy.
    • Financial Services: Calgary’s financial sector is much bigger than most people realize and is only set to grow. Again, this means good jobs directly and indirectly will be created as a result.

Calgary is clearly not quite as diverse a city as Surrey or Mississauga, for example, but there are a surprisingly large number of communities that are established. So, it’s a little like Ottawa, where the size of the community relative to the city’s total population is less than Vancouver or Toronto, but there are nevertheless lots of immigrant communities to help a newcomer settle into life in Calgary. Let’s look at the numbers of speakers of languages other than English or French or aboriginal languages:

Language Number of Speakers
Arabic 18,965
Vietnamese 13,540
Tagalog (Pilipino, Filipino) 40,955
Malayalam 2,130
Tamil 1,865
Croatian 2,100
Polish 8,150
Russian 9,555
Serbian 1,865
Ukrainian 3,625
Dutch 4,040
German 11,865
Bengali 4,140
Gujarati 5,575
Hindi 7,390
Punjabi 38,840
Urdu 16,930
Farsi (Persian) 7,295
Romanian 4,795
Spanish 28,685
Korean 9,220
Cantonese 34,235
Mandarin 28,740
Turkish 1,265

While these communities might not be quite as large in absolute numbers compared to Toronto or Vancouver, it’s clear that the city is well on its way to be as diverse an urban centre as anywhere. And if you’re a Spanish speaker, this is one of Canada’s largest communities in absolute numbers. Given the exodus of skilled oil workers from countries like Venezuela and given the importance of energy to various Latin American economies including Mexico, perhaps this shouldn’t be surprising.

While Calgary is a no-nonsense can-do city with more than a little of pioneer spirit in its residents, it also happens to be a great place to raise a family. You can still buy your suburban bungalow with a decent backyard at prices that, while not cheap, are still well below the sky-high level of Vancouver or Toronto. How expensive is the living in Cowtown? Let’s see:

 

Cost of Living in Calgary 2019 CAD$

Restaurants Average Price Price Range
Meal at a Cheap Restaurant $20.00 $12.00 – $30.00
McDonald’s Combo $10.00 $8.00 – $12.00
Groceries Average Price Price Range
Milk 1 liter $1.90 $1.21 – $3.25
White Rice 1 kg $3.19 $2.00 – $6.25
Eggs 1 dozen (12) $3.19 $2.50 – $4.00
Chicken Breasts (boneless, skinless) 1 kg. $13.51 $8.00 – $20.00
Beef Round 1 kg. $14.74 $9.00 – $20.00
Banana 1 kg. $1.77 $1.00 – $2.00
Tomato 1 kg. $3.53 $2.82 – $5.51
Potato 1 kg. $2.29 $1.00 – $3.50
Water 1.5 litres $2.35 $1.30 – $3.00
Cigarettes (pack with 20) $16.50 $15.00 – $20.00
Bottle of Wine (mid-range) $15.50 $12.00 – $20.00
Transportation Average Price Price Range
One-way ticket (local) $3.40 $3.30 – $3.45
Monthly pass $106.00 $103.00 – 106.00
Taxi start (normal tariff) $3.80 $3.50 – $5.40
Taxi rate (per km.) $1.50 $1.45 – $2.00
Toyota Corolla Comfort $23,179 $19,500 – $26,000
Gasoline (per litre) $1.07 $0.96 – $1.20
Utilities Average Price Price Range
Basic Monthly (Electricity, Heating/Cooling, Water, Garbage collection) for 85 square-metre apt. $187.67 $100.00 – $250.00
1-minute pre-paid Mobile tariff $0.34 $0.15 – $1.00
Internet (60 Mbps) $78.99 $55.00 – $100.00
Childcare Average Price Price Range
Pre-school/Kindergarten (full-day, private, monthly fee) $1,098 $800 – 1,400
International Primary School (yearly) $15,154 $12,000 – $20,000
Rent (Monthly) Average Price Price Range
1-bedroom central $1,196 $995 – $1,500
1-bedroom outside centre $947 $800 – $1,150
3-bedroom centre $1,928 $1,500 – $2,600
3-bedroom outside centre $1,532 $1,200 – $2,000

 

2. Burlington, Ontario

Google Earth

by Google Earth

Have you heard of the Golden Horseshoe?

In Canada, since the 1950s the term has referred to the area of Southern Ontario that stretches in horseshoe shape from Oshawa to Niagara Falls and includes over half of Ontario’s population and the bulk of its economic activity. It includes the GTA as well as Hamilton and St. Catharines and has been expanded in 2004 to include municipalities north of the shoreline of Lake Ontario, like Waterloo-Kitchener.

What tidy, prosperous, and peaceful city sits at the hub of the Golden Horseshoe? With major industrial and financial centres just a short drive down the expressway?

That’s right, Burlington.

With Hamilton’s steel industry and manufacturing base to the south, and the GTA’s booming and wide-ranging economy to the northeast, Burlington is a prosperous place with a number of major companies like Cogeco Cable, Evertz Microsystems, Boehringer Ingleheim, and The Sunshine Donut Company. And if you’re willing to commute to work over a slightly larger distance Mississauga and Oakville are quite close by.

More green spaces and more affordable housing are an attraction that offsets the smaller size of the immigrant communities in Burlington. But a Go Train ride to Union Station in Toronto and you’re in the heart of arguably Canada’s most diverse city. In terms of minority communities, they are relatively small, but keep in mind that Burlington’s total population is around 183,000 according to the 2016 census numbers. Here is a look at some of the minority languages spoken:

Burlington Non-Aboriginal and Non-Official Languages Spoken
Arabic 2,205
Tagalog (Pilipino, Filipino) 1,290
Polish 2,365
Serbian 905
Ukrainian 600
Punjabi 1,795
Urdu 915
Spanish 2,680

This is a shorter list than most cities on our top 10, but that’s the point. Every diverse urban centre in Canada was overwhelmingly white just a generation ago. And the changes that have happened in Toronto, Vancouver, and throughout the country will only accelerate as declining birth rates among native Canadians are balanced out by increased immigration. So, it won’t be long before Burlington is as diverse as most of its neighbouring cities. Let’s take a look at costs:

 

Cost of Living in Burlington 2019 CAD$

Restaurants Average Price Price Range
Meal at a Cheap Restaurant $20.00 $15.00 – $25.00
McDonald’s Combo $10.00 $10.00 – $15.00
Groceries Average Price Price Range
Milk 1 liter $3.00 $1.10 – $6.00
White Rice 1 kg $3.83 $3.00 – $5.00
Eggs 1 dozen (12) $3.45 $2.99 – $5.00
Chicken Breasts (boneless, skinless) 1 kg. $11.37 $7.00 – $14.00
Beef Round 1 kg. $15.00 $5.00 – $21.00
Banana 1 kg. $1.05 $0.79 – $1.30
Tomato 1 kg. $6.34 $4.00 – $8.69
Potato 1 kg. $4.80 $3.00 – $6.59
Water 1.5 litres $2.08 $1.00 – $3.15
Cigarettes (pack with 20) $13.00 $12.00 – $20.00
Bottle of Wine (mid-range) $15.50 $15.00 – $16.00
Transportation Average Price Price Range
One-way ticket (local) $3.50 $2.75 – $3.50
Monthly pass $100.00 $71.00 – 100.00
Taxi start (normal tariff) $3.50 $3.50 – $3.50
Taxi rate (per km.) $2.00 $2.00 – $2.00
Toyota Corolla Comfort $21,145 $20,800 – $21,490
Gasoline (per litre) $1.22 $1.12 – $1.30
Utilities Average Price Price Range
Basic Monthly (Electricity, Heating/Cooling, Water, Garbage collection) for 85 square-metre apt. $180.00 $100.00 – $224.00
1-minute pre-paid Mobile tariff $0.38 $0.25 – $0.50
Internet (60 Mbps) $74.59 $60.00 – $90.00
Childcare Average Price Price Range
Pre-school/Kindergarten (full-day, private, monthly fee) $1,333 $800 – 2,000
International Primary School (yearly) $10,000 $10,000 – $10,000
Rent (Monthly) Average Price Price Range
1-bedroom central $1,483 $1,300 – $1,650
1-bedroom outside centre $1,457 $1,190 – $1,750
3-bedroom centre $2,250 $1,600 – $3,500
3-bedroom outside centre $2,192 $1,600 – $3,275

 

1. Waterloo, Ontario

Google Earth

by Google Earth

Waterloo used to be a quiet rural town only a generation ago, but it is now a vital part of the Golden Horseshoe region of Southern Ontario, having been included since around 2004. A key part of that transformation is the University of Waterloo and its co-op program which emphasizes the so-called STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) subjects and has helped turn the city into a regional technology centre in Ontario.

While it’s housing prices are above the Canadian average, with an average house price in Waterloo coming in at over $500,000 in November of 2019, it’s still a bargain compared to Toronto or even some of the outlying cities in the GTA. As far as visible minorities are concerned, here are the numbers in terms of percentages out of the city’s total population of over 103,000:

Visible Minorities in Waterloo
Chinese 9.3%
South Asian 6.4%
Black 1.9%
Arab 1.8%
Latin American 1.4%
Southeast Asian 1.1%
West Asian 1.1%
Korean 1.1%
Filipino 0.5%
Japanese 0.2%

Like Burlington, these are noticeably but not yet significantly sized communities, with the possible exception of the Chinese community in Waterloo. As well, cities like Mississauga or Toronto itself can be reached in a fairly easy drive (excepting rush hour of course) where large immigrant communities have been well established for a number of decades.

Let’s take a deep dive into the occupations the city’s economy offers. According to Statistics Canada’s 2016 survey they are as follows:

 

Waterloo Labour Force by Occupation (NOC classifications)

(NOC) Occupation Percentage of Total
(0) Management Occupations 11.7%
(1) Business, Finance, & Administration 15.4%
(2) Natural & Applied Sciences 12.9%
(3) Health Occupations   5.2%
(4) Education, Law, Social, Community, & Government Services 15.5%
(5) Art, Culture, Recreation, & Sport   3.4%
(6) Sales & Service 21.2%
(7) Trades, Transport, & Equipment Operators   8.8%
(8) Natural Resources & Agriculture   1.1%
(9) Manufacturing & Utilities   4.7%

Clearly Waterloo is a city with lots of so-called white-collar jobs (in so far as white-collar/blue-collar is still a valid classification nowadays) and less in manufacturing, resources, and agriculture. This is a knowledge-based economy with lost of service jobs supporting the highly paid knowledge workers. But there’s everything from working the counter at a pharmacy to being a UX specialist at Blackberry, the city’s prime tech company.

Finally, it’s time to round up our survey with a look at the cost of living in Waterloo, our top pick for best city for new immigrants to settle in:

 

Cost of Living in Waterloo 2019 CAD$

Restaurants Average Price Price Range
Meal at a Cheap Restaurant $16.50 $8.00 – $22.00
McDonald’s Combo $10.00 $6.00 – $12.00
Groceries Average Price Price Range
Milk 1 liter $2.75 $1.13 – $4.79
White Rice 1 kg $3.76 $2.00 – $5.99
Eggs 1 dozen (12) $2.84 $1.75 – $4.00
Chicken Breasts (boneless, skinless) 1 kg. $12.50 $4.50 – $20.00
Beef Round 1 kg. $11.00 $3.98 – $22.00
Banana 1 kg. $1.29 $0.69 – $2.00
Tomato 1 kg. $3.00 $1.00 – $3.69
Potato 1 kg. $2.25 $0.50 – $3.99
Water 1.5 litres $2.00 $1.00 – $2.50
Cigarettes (pack with 20) $12.00 $8.99 – $15.00
Bottle of Wine (mid-range) $13.00 $9.00 – $15.00
Transportation Average Price Price Range
One-way ticket (local) $3.25 $3.00 – $3.25
Monthly pass $86.00 $86.00 – 90.00
Taxi start (normal tariff) $3.95 $2.50 – $4.50
Taxi rate (per km.) $2.10 $0.75 – $2.40
Toyota Corolla Comfort $23,000 $16,000 – $26,000
Gasoline (per litre) $1.19 $1.03 – $1.32
Utilities Average Price Price Range
Basic Monthly (Electricity, Heating/Cooling, Water, Garbage collection) for 85 square-metre apt. $151.43 $50.00 – $300.00
1-minute pre-paid Mobile tariff $0.25 $0.05 – $0.40
Internet (60 Mbps) $69.33 $30.00 – $95.00
Childcare Average Price Price Range
Pre-school/Kindergarten (full-day, private, monthly fee) $1,060 $600 – 1,250
International Primary School (yearly) $8,000 $6,000 – $10,000
Rent (Monthly) Average Price Price Range
1-bedroom central $1,308 $700 – $2,000
1-bedroom outside centre $1,080 $500 – $1,200
3-bedroom centre $2,433 $1,800 – $3,000
3-bedroom outside centre $1,833 $1,500 – $2,750

And so, like Burlington, Waterloo is an affordable and safe city with a smaller but growing immigrant community. If you can find work in areas that the city’s local economy offers, then it might just be the best place to settle in Canada.

Let us know what you think is the best city for new immigrants. Leave a comment below!

So you’ve applied to come to Canada as a permanent resident but you don’t know exactly where you should live. Everyone has heard of Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, but who knows if those are really great cities to start your new life. This list looks at big cities in Canada that are most accessible to new immigrants.

See the 2013 list. This list has been updated with maps.

 

Top 10 Best Cities in Canada to Settle in as a New Immigrant for 2018

  1. Vancouver, BC
  2. Markham, ON
  3. Saanich, BC
  4. West Vancouver, BC
  5. Oakville, ON
  6. Toronto, ON
  7. Richmond Hill, ON
  8. Calgary, AB
  9. Vaughan, ON
  10. Burlington, ON

 

 10. Vancouver, B.C.

The largest population centre in British Columbia, Vancouver is surrounded by water and has one of the mildest climates of all Canadian cities. Vancouver features a growing economy and a particularly diverse population. A popular destination for South Asian and Chinese immigrants, Vancouver offers the best of the best when it comes to outdoor living. An active cultural centre and a booming social spot, Vancouver is a gem on Canada’s west coast. Of the visible minority population in Vancouver, the most represented is the Chinese population (44%), followed by the South Asian (24%).

Vancouver Visible Minorities

(Click for larger)

Learn about British Columbia’s Provincial Nominee Program

Cost of Living in Vancouver in 2017

Restaurants Average Price Price Range
Meal at a Cheap Restaurant CAD$15.00 CAD$12.00-CAD$20.00
Three Course Meal for 2 at a regular restaurant CAD$65.00 CAD$50.00-$86.32
Combo at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) CAD$9.00 CAD$7.89-$11.00
Domestic Beer (draught pint) CAD$6.00 CAD$5.00-$7.00
Imported Beer (333ml bottle) CAD$7.00 CAD$5.00-$8.00
Cappuccino (regular) CAD$4.14 CAD$3.50-$5.00
Coke/Pepsi (333ml bottle) CAD$2.09 CAD$1.50-$3.00
Water (333ml bottle) CAD$1.84 CASD$1.10-2.75
Groceries Average Price Price Range
Milk (1 gallon) CAD$9.06 CAD$5.00-$14.00
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1lb) CAD$2.89 CAD$1.81-$3.63
White Rice (1lb) CAD$1.94 CAD$0.86-$2.72
Dozen Eggs CAD$3.70 CAD$2.80-$6.00
Local Cheese (1lb) CAD$5.77 CAD$3.63-$9.07
Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts (1lb) CAD$6.74 CAD$4.54-$10.00
Apples (1lb) CAD$1.59 CAD$0.91-$2.00
Oranges (1lb) CAD$1.45 CAD$0.91-$2.00
Tomatoes (1lb) CAD$1.59 CAD$1.00-$2.00
Potatoes (1lb) CAD$0.98 CAD$0.68-$1.50
Head of Lettuce CAD$2.14 CAD$1.50-$3.50
Water (1.5-liter bottle) CAD$2.54 CAD$1.80-$3.00
Average Bottle of Wine CAD$18.00 CAD$15.00-25.00
Domestic Beer (pint bottle) CAD$3.85 CAD$2.30-$5.28
Imported Beer (333ml bottle) CAD$3.59 CAD$2.65-$5.00
Pack of Cigarettes (Marlboro) CAD$12.16 CAD$10.00-$14.00
Transportation Price Range Average Price
One-way Transit Ticket CAD$2.75 CAD$2.75-$3.00
Translink Monthly Pass CAD$93.00 CAD$91.00-$125.00
Taxi Starting Fare CAD$3.50 CAD$3.20-$3.90
Taxi Fare Per 1 mile (Normal Traffic) CAD$2.98 CAD$2.90-$4.02
Taxi 1-hour Waiting CAD$33.00 CAD$32.00-$40.00
Gasoline (1 gallon) CAD$5.03 CAD$4.73-$5.30
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) CAD$20,500 CAD$19,195-$24,000
Utilities (Monthly) Average Cost Cost Range
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment CAD$76.20 CAD$34.00-$140.00
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) CAD$0.33 CAD$0.25-$0.50
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) CAD$65.60 CAD$45.00-$85.00
Sports and Leisure Average Cost Price range
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult CAD$46.75 CAD$20.00-$70.00
Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour on Weekend) CAD$15.50 CAD$0.00-$30.00
Movie Ticket CAD13.50 CAD$12.00-$15.00
CLothing and Shoes Average Price Price Range
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) CAD$72.82 CAD$50.00-$100.00
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store CAD$47.21 CAD$30.00-$75.00
1 Pair of Nike Shoes CAD$112.63 CAD$90.00-$140.00
1 Pair of Men’s Leather Shoes CAD$134.33 CAD$100.00-$200.00
Rent Per Month Average Cost Cost Range
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre CAD$1,813.44 CAD$1,400.00-$2,300.00
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre CAD$1,357.95 CAD$1,000.00-$1,700.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre CAD$3,677.50 CAD$3,000.00-$4,500.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre CAD$2,527.27 CAD$1,900.00-$3,200.00
condos Average Rate Rate Range
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre CAD$1,078.29 CAD$899.99-$1,399.99
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre CAD$788.96 CAD$600-$999.99
Salaries and Finances Average Salary Salary Range
Average Monthly Disposable Salary (After Taxes) CAD$3,328.52 Unknown
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly 2.80% 2.40-3.74%

All information crowd-sourced from Numbeo

Vancouver Foreign Born Population

(Click here for larger)

 

9. MARKHAM, ON

Markham is a suburb north of Toronto that is easily accessible from Toronto by transit or highway; it’s right next door to Richmond Hill. Markham has a high volume of immigrant settlers, the largest portion of “visible minorities” identifying as Chinese (45%). The second largest population of visible minorities identify as South Asian (17.8%) followed by the Black community (2.9%). Although once known for being an agricultural community, Markham now boasts itself as the “hi-tech capital” of Canada.

Learn about Ontario’s Provincial Nominee Program

Restaurant Purchase Average Price Price Range
Meal at a Cheap Restaurant CAD$15.00 CAD$10.00-$18.00
Three Course Meal for 2 at a regular restaurant CAD$50.00 CAD$40.00-$100.00
Combo at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) CAD$9.50 CAD$9.00-$10.00
Domestic Beer (draught pint) CAD$8.00 CAD$7.00-$10.00
Imported Beer (333ml bottle) CAD$8.00 CAD$7.00-$9.00
Cappuccino (regular) CAD$3.90 CAD$2.50-$5.00
Coke/Pepsi (333ml bottle) CAD$2.67 CAD$1.69-$3.00
Water (333ml bottle) CAD$1.70 CAD$1.00-$2.00
Groceries Average Price Price Range
1% Milk (1 liter) CAD$1.19 CAD$0.99-$3.00
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) CAD$3.75 CAD$1.99-$7.00
White Rice (1kg) CAD$3.50 CAD$1.00-$6.00
Dozen Eggs CAD$3.00 CAD$1.60-$4.50
Local Cheese (1kg) CAD$12.33 CAD$10.00-15.00
Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts (1kg) CAD$16.00 CAD$8.31-$20.00
Apples (1kg) CAD$2.59 CAD$2.18-3.00
Oranges (1kg) CAD$6.50 CAD$3.00-10.00
Tomatoes (1kg) CAD$2.59 CAD$2.18-3.00
Potatoes (1kg) CAD$1.32 CAD$0.99-1.98
Head of Lettuce CAD$1.00 No data available
Water (1.5-liter bottle) CAD$1.29 CAD$1.00-$1.59
Average Bottle of Wine CAD$15.00 CAD$10.00-16.00
Domestic Beer (pint bottle) CAD$2.25 CAD$2.00-2.50
Imported Beer (333ml bottle) CAD$2.25 CAD$2.00-2.50
Pack of Cigarettes (Marlboro) CAD$11.00 CAD$10.00-$15.00
Transportation Average Cost Price Range
One-way VIVA Ticket CAD$3.62 CAD$3.25-4.00
Local Transport Monthly Pass (Regular) CAD$140.00 CAD$125.00-180.67
Taxi Starting Fare CAD$4.62 CAD$3.25-6.00
Taxi Fare Per 1km (Normal Traffic) CAD$2.00 CAD$1.75-4.52
Taxi 1-hour Waiting CAD$22.00 CAD$15-38.71
Gasoline (1 liter) CAD$1.12 CAD$1.03-1.81
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) CAD$24,000.00 CAD$22,000.00-27,000
Utilities (Monthly) Average Cost Price Range
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Water, Garbage) for 85m Apartment CAD$187.93 CAD$100.00-$274.48
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) CAD$0.38 CAD$0.25-$0.60
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) CAD$74.75 CAD$70.00-$80.00
Sports And Leisure Average Cost Price Range
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult CAD$53.33 CAD$40.00-$70.00
Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour on Weekend) CAD$35.00 CAD$25.00-50.00
Movie Ticket CAD$15.00 CAD$15.00
Clothing And Shoes Average Price Price Range
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) CAD$73.33 CAD$35.00-$100.00
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store CAD$115.00 CAD$80.00-$165.00
1 Pair of Nike Shoes CAD$100.00 CAD$75.00-$150.00
1 Pair of Men’s Leather Shoes CAD$130.00 CAD$80.00-$159.00
Rent Per Month Average Rent Rent Range
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre CAD$1,450.00 CAD$1,200.00-$1,800.00
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre CAD$1,200.00 CAD$900.00-$1,500.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre CAD$2,466.67 CAD$2,200.00-$2,700.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre CAD$2,016.67 CAD$1,800.00-$2,250.00
Condos Average Rate Rate Range
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment in City Centre CAD$8,250.00 CAD$7,500.00-$9,000.00
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre CAD$6,500.00 CAD$5,000.00-$8,000.00
Salaries And Finances Average Salary Salary Range
Average Monthly Disposable Salary (After Taxes) CAD$5,835.83 No data available
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly 3.00% 2.89-3.00%

All information crowd-sourced from Numbeo

 

8. Saanich, B.C.

Google Earth

by Google Earth

Saanich is the largest municipality in greater Victoria by area and boasts plenty of variety in landscape. The population of Saanich is as culturally diverse as its territory and for thousands of years has served as home to First Nations people. The largest “visible minority” population in Saanich identify as Chinese (33%) with the second largest identifying as South Asian (25%) followed by Filipinos (18%). Employment rates among the immigrant population in Saanich are high and household income is also high. Although crime has increased in the past four years, Saanich remains a relatively safe area to settle.

Learn about British Columbia’s Provincial Nominee Program

Restaurant Purchase Average Price Price Range
Meal at a Cheap Restaurant CAD$12.00 CAD$12.00-$20.00
Three Course Meal for 2 at a regular restaurant CAD$70.00 CAD$55.00-$80.00
Combo at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) CAD$9.00 CAD$8.00-$25.00
Domestic Beer (draught pint) CAD$6.00 CAD$6.00-$7.00
Imported Beer (333ml bottle) CAD$6.50 CAD$5.00-$8.00
Cappuccino (regular) CAD$3.97 CAD$3.50-$5.50
Coke/Pepsi (333ml bottle) CAD$2.21 CAD$1.75-$3.00
Water (333ml bottle) CAD$1.90 CASD$1.00-$2.50
Groceries Average Price Price Range
1% Milk (1 liter) CAD$2.19 CAD$1.06-$2.50
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) CAD$1.73 CAD$2.29-$2.75
White Rice (1kg) CAD$4.09 CAD$1.50-$4.41
Dozen Eggs CAD$3.59 CAD$2.75-$3.50
Local Cheese (1kg) CAD$11.99 $CAD10.00-$20.00
Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts (1kg) CAD$11.87 CAD$8.80-$11.02
Apples (1kg) CAD$3.49 CAD$1.70-$4.00
Oranges (1kg) CAD$2.94 CAD$2.18-$2.99
Tomatoes (1kg) CAD$3.46 CAD$2.50-$4.39
Potatoes (1kg) CAD$1.19 CAD$1.19-$4.00
Head of Lettuce CAD$1.33 CAD$1.02-$3.00
Water (1.5-liter bottle) CAD$2.04 CAD$1.29-$3.50
Average Bottle of Wine CAD$15.50 CAD$14.00-$22.00
Domestic Beer (pint bottle) CAD$2.96 CAD$2.00-$5.00
Imported Beer (333ml bottle) CAD$3.30 CAD$2.34-$8.00
Pack of Cigarettes (Marlboro) CAD$11.00 CAD$10.25-$12.00
Transportation Average Cost Price Range
One-way Local Transport Ticket CAD$2.50 CAD$2.50-$2.75
Local Transport Monthly Pass (Regular) CAD$85.00 CAD$80.00-$85.00
Taxi Starting Fare CAD$3.50 CAD$3.25-$3.95
Taxi Fare Per 1km (Normal Traffic) CAD$1.92 CAD$1.88-$2.50
Taxi 1-hour Waiting CAD$40.74 CAD$40.48-$50.00
Gasoline (1 liter) CAD$1.26 CAD$1.19-$1.30
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) CAD$23,000 CAD$19,000.00-$28,000.00
Utilities (Monthly) Average Cost Price Range
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment CAD$83.19 CAD$45.47-160.00
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) CAD$0.32 CAD$0.20-$1.00
Internet (60 Mbps, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) CAD$57.30 CAD$25.00-$89.60
Sports And Leisure Average Cost Price Range
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult CAD$36.67 CAD$50.00-$70.00
Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour on Weekend) No data available No data available
Movie Ticket CAD$10.50 CAD$9.00-$14.00
Clothing And Shoes Average Price Price Range
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) CAD$64.12 CAD$45.00-$80.00
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store CAD$39.93 CAD$25.00-$65.00
1 Pair of Nike Shoes CAD$114.94 CAD$85.00-$150.00
1 Pair of Men’s Leather Shoes CAD$129.43 CAD$87.00-$200.00
Rent Per Month Average Rent Rent Range
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre CAD$1,50.00 CAD$500.00-$1,500.00
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre CAD$833.33 CAD$400.00-$1,100.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre CAD$1,933.33 CAD$1,200.00-$2,500.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre CAD$1,725.00 CAD$1,000.00-$2,200.00
Condos Average Rate Rate Range
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment in City Centre No data available No data available
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre CAD$4,305.56 No data available
Salaries And Finances Average Salary Salary Range
Average Monthly Disposable Salary (After Taxes) CAD$2,400.00 No data available
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly 2.79% 2.50%-3.50

All information crowd-sourced from Numbeo

 

7. WEST VANCOUVER, BC

Google Earth

by Google Earth

The richest city on this list, West Vancouver is a suburb of – you guessed it – Vancouver! The biggest industry sectors in the region are professional services and real estate and average household income is pretty high. Unemployment in West Vancouver is low. Although housing prices have been increasing in West Vancouver, August 2017 marked a sharp decline. West Vancouver’s immigrant population makes up 44% of the population. The largest group of “visible minorities” in West Vancouver are Chinese (35%), the second largest are West Asian (25%) and the third are Korean (11%).

Learn about British Columbia’s Provincial Nominee Program

 

6. Oakville, Ontario

Google Earth

by Google Earth

Oakville, Ontario has had a steadily increasing population over the past few years. Of the “visible minorities,” the largest percentage living in Oakville identify as South Asian (34%). The second largest percentage identify as Chinese (18%), followed by the Black population (12%). Unemployment rates are low at around 6.1%, although the average rent cost has been on the incline for the past 24 years. Despite this increase in housing costs, though, Oakville remains a solid choice for immigrating families.

Learn about Ontario’s Provincial Nominee Program

Restaurant Purchase Average Price Price Range
Meal at a Cheap Restaurant CAD$15.00 CAD$12.00-$23.00
Three Course Meal for 2 at a regular restaurant CAD$75.00 CAD$60.00-$90.00
Combo at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) CAD$10.00 CAD$9.50-$10.00
Domestic Beer (draught pint) CAD$7.00 CAD$6.00-$7.00
Imported Beer (333ml bottle) CAD$8.00 CAD$7.00-$8.00
Cappuccino (regular) CAD$4.21 CAD$3.00-$5.00
Coke/Pepsi (333ml bottle) CAD$2.37 CAD$1.50-$4.00
Water (333ml bottle) CAD$1.80 CASD$1.50-2.00
Groceries Average Price Price Range
Milk (1 liter) CAD$3.21 CAD$3.00-$4.00
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) CAD$2.50 CAD$1.40-$3.69
White Rice (1kg) CAD$6.58 CAD$2.75-$9.99
Dozen Eggs CAD$3.33 CAD$3.00-$3.99
Local Cheese (1kg) CAD$25.00 CAD$10.00-$40.00
Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts (1kg) CAD$12.00 CAD$5.99-$20.00
Apples (1kg) CAD$2.93 CAD$2.79-$3.00
Oranges (1kg) CAD$3.50 CAD$3.00-$4.00
Tomatoes (1kg) CAD$4.17 CAD$3.00-$5.00
Potatoes (1kg) CAD$2.00 CAD$1.00-$3.00
Head of Lettuce CAD$2.66 CAD$2.00-$2.99
Water (1.5 liter bottle) CAD$2.16 CAD$2.00-$2.49
Average Bottle of Wine CAD$15.00 CAD$15.00-$20.00
Domestic Beer (pint bottle) CAD$3.66 CAD$2.00-$5.00
Imported Beer (333ml bottle) CAD$3.23 CAD$2.20-$4.50
Pack of Cigarettes (Marlboro) CAD$15.00 No data available
Transportation Average Cost Price Range
One-way Transit Ticket CAD$3.50 CAD$3.25-$3.75
Transit Monthly Pass (Regular) CAD$117.50 CAD$115.00-$160.00
Taxi Starting Fare CAD$4.25 CAD$4.25
Taxi Fare Per 1km (Normal Traffic) CAD$1.92 CAD$1.78-$2.50
Taxi 1-hour Waiting CAD$47.50 CAD$30.00-$65.00
Gasoline (1 liter) CAD$1.04 CAD$1.00-$1.08
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) CAD$20,740.00 CAD$19,195.00-$22,200.00
Utilities (Monthly) Average Cost Price Range
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment CAD$270.47 CAD$110.00-$200.00
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) CAD$0.45 No data available
Internet (60 Mbps, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) CAD$72.66 CAD$45.00-$70.00
Sports And Leisure Average Cost Price Range
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult CAD$48.99 CAD$45.00-$50.00
Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour on Weekend) No data available No data available
Movie Ticket CAD14.00 CAD$12.99-$17.00
Clothing And Shoes Average Price Price Range
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) CAD$82.23 CAD$49.95-$100.00
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store CAD$55.00 CAD$40.00-$69.00
1 Pair of Nike Shoes CAD$100.00 CAD$100.00
1 Pair of Men’s Leather Shoes CAD$151.80 CAD$99.00-$200.00
Rent Per Month Average Rent Rent Range
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre CAD$1,650.00 CAD$1,500.00-$1,800.00
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre CAD$1,366.67 CAD$1,000.00-$1,600.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre CAD$2,133.33 CAD$2,000.00-$2,500.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre CAD$1,900.00 CAD$1,500.00-$2,500.00
Condos Average Rate Rate Range
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment in City Centre CAD$3,989.82 CAD$3,842.72-$4.090.29
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre CAD$4,063.38 CAD$4,036.47-$4,090.29
Salaries And Finances Average Salary Salary Range
Average Monthly Disposable Salary (After Taxes) CAD$3,350.00 No data available
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly 2.76% 2.50%-4.00%

All information crowd-sourced from Numbeo

 

5. Toronto, ON

Toronto, Ontario is best known for being the most populous city in all of Canada. A large percentage of Toronto’s diverse population are immigrants with almost 50% being foreign-born. Unlike many other areas, there is no one particular foreign-born group that significantly dominates another. The ever-increasing Toronto population is expected to reach over 60% visible minorities in the near future. Currently, of the visible minorities in Toronto, the largest percentage identify as South Asian (26%), Chinese (25%), and Black (18%). The average median income for homes in this area has increased steadily since 2010 and the unemployment rate in the area is in decline. As income in the area increases, however, so too does rent and cost per square foot of property. A place of great multicultural gathering, Toronto is costly to live in, but with secured employment, it puts you right in the heart of the action.

Toronto Visible Minorities

(Click for larger)

Learn about Ontario’s Provincial Nominee Program

Restaurant Purchase Average Price Price Range
Meal at a Cheap Restaurant CAD$15.00 CAD$12.00-$20.00
Three Course Meal for 2at a regular restaurant CAD$70.00 CAD$50.00-$100.00
Combo at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) CAD$9.75 CAD$9.00-$11.00
Domestic Beer (draught pint) CAD$6.89 CAD$5.00-$8.00
Imported Beer (333ml bottle) CAD$7.00 CAD$5.50-$9.00
Cappuccino (regular) CAD$3.97 CAD$3.00-$5.00
Coke/Pepsi (333ml bottle) CAD$1.84 CAD$1.13-$2.50
Water (333ml bottle) CAD$1.58 CASD$1.00-2.20
Groceries Average Price Price Range
Milk (1 liter) CAD$2.06 CAD$1.20-$3.99
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) CAD$2.63 CAD$2.00-$3.70
White Rice (1kg) CAD$3.34 CAD$2.00-$5.00
Dozen Eggs CAD$2.71 CAD$2.00-$4.00
Local Cheese (1kg) CAD$13.56 CAD$7.00-$20.00
Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts (1kg) CAD$13.10 CAD$8.82-$22.05
Apples (1kg) CAD$3.74 CAD$2.20-$5.51
Oranges (1kg) CAD$3.12 CAD$2.00-$5.00
Tomatoes (1kg) CAD$3.15 CAD$2.14-$5.00
Potatoes (1kg) CAD$2.02 CAD$1.00-$3.00
Head of Lettuce CAD$2.01 CAD$1.75-$2.50
Water (1.5-liter bottle) CAD$2.17 CAD$1.00-$3.00
Average Bottle of Wine CAD$15.00 CAD$12.00-$20.00
Domestic Beer (pint bottle) CAD$2.42 CAD$2.00-$3.00
Imported Beer (333ml bottle) CAD$2.78 CAD$2.00-$3.50
Pack of Cigarettes (Marlboro) CAD$12.00 CAD$10.00-$13.00
Transportation Average Cost Price Range
One-way Local Transit Ticket CAD$3.25 CAD$3.00-$3.25
Local Transit Monthly Pass (Regular) CAD$146.00 CAD$140.00-$146.25
Taxi Starting Fare CAD$3.83 CAD$3.25-$4.50
Taxi Fare Per 1km (Normal Traffic) CAD$1.75 CAD$1.57-$2.00
Taxi 1-hour Waiting CAD$31.02 CAD$30.00-$40.00
Gasoline (1 liter) CAD$1.11 CAD$1.04-$1.20
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) CAD$24,500.00 CAD$20,000.00-$27,000.00
Utilities (Monthly) Average Cost Price Range
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment CAD$125.98 CAD$65.00-$226.67
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) CAD$0.34 CAD$0.20-$0.50
Internet (60 Mbps, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) CAD$62.18 CAD$48.00-$84.00
Sports And Leisure Average Cost Price Range
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult CAD$53.19 CAD$35.00-$80.00
Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour on Weekend) CAD$22.81 CAD$0.00-$45.00
Movie Ticket CAD$14.00 CAD$12.00-$15.00
Clothing And Shoes Average Price Price Range
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) CAD$65.77 CAD$40.00-$90.00
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store CAD$43.50 CAD$30.00-$70.00
1 Pair of Nike Shoes CAD$97.34 CAD$76.00-$120.00
1 Pair of Men’s Leather Shoes CAD$128.86 CAD$90-$199.99
Rent Per Month Average Rent Rent Range
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre CAD$1697.72 CAD$1,300.00-$2,000.00
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre CAD$1,318.36 CAD$1,000.00-$1,600.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre CAD$2,989.29 CAD$2,200.00-$3,700.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre CAD$12,149.83 CAD$1,600.00-$2,600.00
Condos Average Rate Rate Range
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment in City Centre CAD$7,955.02 CAD$6,458.35-$9,800.00
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre CAD$5,818.00 CAD$4,8423.76-$7,534.74
Salaries And Finances Average Salary Salary Range
Average Monthly Disposable Salary (After Taxes) CAD$3,448.09 No data available
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly 2.82% 2.45%-3.50%

All information crowd-sourced from Numbeo

Toronto Foreign Born Population

(Click for larger)

 

4. Richmond Hill, Ontario

by Google Earth

The population of Richmond Hill has been on the steady incline since 2006 and the vast majority of neighborhoods in the area are labeled as wealthy. When it comes to “visible minorities” the largest ethnic group found in Richmond Hill is Chinese (30% of the population). After the Chinese, the West Asian (10.4%) and South Asian (7.7%) are the second and third largest ethnic groups. Richmond Hill has one of the highest employment rates in the province and most of the businesses in the area are smaller, employing just a handful of people. Real estate is a booming industry in this area, but housing is not the most affordable. In fact, Richmond Hill ranks in the top 20% highest real estate prices in Canada. That said, crime rates are very low making this a safe community for families.

Learn about Ontario’s Provincial Nominee Program

Restaurants Average Price Price Range
Meal at Cheap Restaurant CAD$15.00 CAD$7.00-$20.00
Three Course Meal for 2 at average Restaurant CAD$55.00 CAD$40.00-$70.00
Combo McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) CAD$8.50 CAD$5.69-$10.00
Domestic Beer (draught pint) CAD$5.00 CAD$2.20-$6.00
Imported Beer (335ml bottle) CAD$5.62 CAD$1.75-$7.00
Cappuccino (regular) CAD$3.00 CAD$2.00-$4.50
Coke/Pepsi (333ml bottle) CAD$1.91 CAD$1.00-$3.00
Water (333ml bottle) CAD$1.47 CAD$0.50-$2.00
Groceries Average Price Price Range
Milk (1 liter) CAD$1.57 CAD$1.00-$3.00
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) CAD$2.50 CAD$1.70-$3.00
White Rice (1kg) CAD$3.34 CAD$1.15-$5.00
Dozen Eggs CAD$3.38 CAD$1.99-$4.00
Local Cheese (1kg) CAD$13.75 CAD$5.99-$20.00
Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts (1kg) CAD$16.50 CAD$8.82-$20.00
Apples (1kg) CAD$3.60 CAD$2.00-5.51
Oranges (1kg) CAD$3.15 CAD$2.00-$4.00
Tomatoes (1kg) CAD$3.15 CAD$2.00-$5.00
Potatoes (1kg) CAD$1.92 CAD$0.50-$3.00
Head of Lettuce CAD$2.12 CAD$1.00-$3.00
Water (1.5-liter bottle) CAD$2.04 CAD$1.00-$3.00
Average Bottle of Wine CAD$15.00 CAD$11.00-$20.00
Domestic Beer (pint bottle) CAD$2.30 CAD$2.00-$2.60
Imported Beer (335ml bottle) CAD$2.00 CAD$1.50-$3.00
Pack of Cigarettes (Marlboro) CAD$12.00 CAD$12.00-$15.00
Transportation Average Cost Price Range
One-way Local Transport Ticket CAD$4.00 CAD$4.00
Regular Local Transit Monthly Pass CAD$130.00 CAD$110.00-$150.00
Initial Taxi Fare CAD$4.00 CAD$3.25-$5.00
Taxi 1km (Normal Traffic) CAD$1.75 CAD$1.00-$2.00
Taxi 1-hour Waiting CAD$31.02 CAD$25.00-$40.00
Gasoline (1 liter) CAD$1.02 CAD$0.85-$1.09
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) CAD$22,000.00 CAD$17,000.00-$26,000.00
Monthly Utilities Average Cost Price Range
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment CAD$175.06 CAD$62.33-$300.00
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) CAD$0.25 CAD$0.17-$0.25
Internet (60 Mbps, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) CAD$57.31 CAD$40.00-$80.00
Sports And Leisure Average Cost Price Range
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult CAD$72.33 CAD$42.00-$100.00
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) CAD$20.00 No data available
1 Movie Ticket CAD$13.00 CAD$10.00-$15.00
Clothing And Shoes Average Price Price Range
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) CAD$50.00 CAD$23.00-$80.00
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store CAD$43.50 CAD$16.05-$60.00
1 Pair of Nike Shoes CAD$97.34 CAD$50.00-$120.00
1 Pair of Men’s Leather Shoes CAD$114.67 CAD$51.37-$199.99
Rent Per Month Average Cost Range
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre CAD$1,400.00 CAD$850.00-$1,500.00
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre CAD$1,100.00 CAD$1,000.00-$1,400.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre CAD$2,200.00 CAD$1,600.00-CAD$2,500.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre CAD$1,866.67.00 CAD$1,200.00-$2,400.00
Condos Average Cost Range
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment in City Centre CAD$2,850.00 CAD$1,500.00-$4,200.00
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre CAD$3,060.52 CAD$1,000.00-$4,305.56
Salaries And Finances Average Range
Average Monthly Disposable Salary (After Tax) CAD$3,416.67 No available data
Yearly Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages 2.82% 1.90%-3.50%

All information crowd-sourced from Numbeo

 

3. CALGARY, AB

the economy here is diverse and includes financial services, transportation and logistics, technology, and energy. Most particularly this area is a great destination for engineers, mechanics, miners, and business professionals. As the Calgary population continues to grow housing sales are rising but rent prices are slowly declining as we see an increase in rental property availability. Another diverse area, Calgary has numerous “visible minorities,” the plurality of whom identify as South Asian (24%), Chinese (28%), and the Filipino (11%). Crime in the area is low and unemployment is slowly improving.

 

Learn about Alberta’s Provincial Nominee Program

Restaurant Purchase Average Price Price Range
Meal at a Cheap Restaurant CAD$15.00 CAD$13.00-$20.00
Three Course Meal for 2 at a regular restaurant CAD$80.00 CAD$60.00-$95.00
Combo at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) CAD$8.76 CAD$7.00-$10.00
Domestic Beer (draught pint) CAD$6.00 CAD$5.50-$7.00
Imported Beer (333ml bottle) CAD$7.90 CAD$6.25-$8.00
Cappuccino (regular) CAD$4.24 CAD$3.00-$5.00
Coke/Pepsi (333ml bottle) CAD$2.14 CAD$1.50-$3.00
Water (333ml bottle) CAD$1.82 CAD$1.25-2.45
Groceries Average Price Price Range
Milk (1 liter) CAD$1.98 CAD$1.25-$3.00
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) CAD$2.57 CAD$1.75-$3.45
White Rice (1kg) CAD$3.97 CAD$2.00-$8.00
Dozen Eggs CAD$3.18 CAD$2.70-$4.99
Local Cheese (1kg) CAD$12.20 CAD$6.50-$17.64
Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts (1kg) CAD$11.15 CAD$8.00-$14.00
Apples (1kg) CAD$4.11 CAD$3.09-$5.49
Oranges (1kg) CAD$3.77 CAD$2.82-$4.75
Tomatoes (1kg) CAD$3.59 CAD$2.00-$5.00
Potatoes (1kg) CAD$2.55 CAD$1.50-$4.00
Head of Lettuce CAD$2.27 CAD$1.75-$3.00
Water (1.5-liter bottle) CAD$2.05 CAD$1.19-$3.00
Average Bottle of Wine CAD$16.00 CAD$14.00-$20.00
Domestic Beer (pint bottle) CAD$2.95 CAD$2.00-$4.00
Imported Beer (333ml bottle) CAD$3.00 CAD$2.50-$4.25
Pack of Cigarettes (Marlboro) CAD$15.00 CAD$12.00-$16.75
Transportation Average Cost Price Range
One-way Local Transit Ticket CAD$3.25 CAD$3.15-$3.25
Local Transit Monthly Pass (Regular) CAD$101.00 CAD$99.00-$103.00
Taxi Starting Fare CAD$3.50 CAD$3.20-$3.80
Taxi Fare Per 1km (Normal Traffic) CAD$1.64 CAD$1.45-$2.25
Taxi 1-hour Waiting CAD$33.80 CAD$27.00-$36.00
Gasoline (1 liter) CAD$0.99 CAD$0.90-$1.09
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) CAD$23,370.00 CAD$20,500.00-$30,000.00
Utilities (Monthly) Average Cost Price Range
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment CAD$177.72 CAD$85.00-$300.00
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) CAD$0.34 CAD$0.25-$0.50
Internet (60 Mbps, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) CAD$63.34 CAD$45.00-$80.00
Sports And Leisure Average Cost Price Range
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult CAD$63.41 CAD$45.00-$95.00
Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour on Weekend) CAD$19.42 CAD$0.00-$36.00
Movie Ticket CAD13.50 CAD$12.95-$15.00
Clothing And Shoes Average Price Price Range
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) CAD$56.61 CAD$40.00-$80.00
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store CAD$44.75 CAD$29.00-$70.00
1 Pair of Nike Shoes CAD$96.94 CAD$80.00-$125.00
1 Pair of Men’s Leather Shoes CAD$122.00 CAD$80.00-$165.00
Rent Per Month Average Rent Rent Range
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre CAD$1,150.66 CAD$950.00-$1,400.00
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre CAD$917.08 CAD$800.00-$1,100.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre CAD$2,017.39 CAD$1,500.00-$2,500.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre CAD$1,541.00 CAD$1,300.00-$1,950.00
Condos Average Rate Rate Range
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment in City Centre CAD$4,316.10 CAD$3,089.24-CAD$5,381.96
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre CAD$3,045.37 CAD$2,350.00-$4,000.00
Salaries And Finances Average Salary Salary Range
Average Monthly Disposable Salary (After Taxes) CAD$3,756.89 No available data
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly 2.84% 2.40%-3.50%

All information crowd-sourced from Numbeo

 

2. Vaughan, Ontario

Google Earth

by Google Earth

 

The fifth largest city in the Greater Toronto area is Vaughan. Of the large minority population in the area, the most significant percentage identify as South Asian (33%). Following the South Asian population, the Chinese (16%) are the second largest minority group, followed by those who identify as “Other” (12%). Vaughan boasts slightly higher employment rates than average for Ontario. The business sector is the largest employment sector in Vaughan. Median income in this area is slightly higher than the province average. Property prices in the area are declining, but remain quite high; however, rent prices have been quite stable for the past year if not for a small increase. Vaughan is a safe area for families to live with low crime rates and is particularly appealing for those looking for employment in the retail and manufacturing sectors.

Learn about Ontario’s Provincial Nominee Program

Restaurant Purchase Average Price Price Range
Meal at a Cheap Restaurant CAD$16.00 CAD$10.00-$20.00
Three Course Meal for 2 at a regular restaurant CAD$61.75 CAD$40.00-$90.00
Combo at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) CAD$9.50 CAD$5.69-$10.00
Domestic Beer (draught pint) CAD$6.00 CAD$3.00-$7.00
Imported Beer (333ml bottle) CAD$8.00 CAD$5.00-$9.00
Cappuccino (regular) CAD$3.50 CAD$2.00-$5.00
Coke/Pepsi (333ml bottle) CAD$2.37 CAD$1.00-$3.50
Water (333ml bottle) CAD$1.75 CAD$0.50-2.00
Groceries Average Price Price Range
Milk (1 liter) CAD$1.57 CAD$0.99-$3.00
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) CAD$2.64 CAD$1.40-$3.30
White Rice (1kg) CAD$4.05 CAD$1.00-$9.99
Dozen Eggs CAD$3.00 CAD$1.60-$4.50
Local Cheese (1kg) CAD$19.84 CAD$4.00-$30.00
Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts (1kg) CAD$16.00 CAD$5.99-$30.00
Apples (1kg) CAD$3.30 CAD$1.58-$5.00
Oranges (1kg) CAD$5.20 CAD$1.58-$8.80
Tomatoes (1kg) CAD$3.84 CAD$1.50-$5.00
Potatoes (1kg) CAD$2.00 CAD$0.50-$3.00
Head of Lettuce CAD$2.00 CAD$1.00-$2.99
Water (1.5-liter bottle) CAD$2.00 CAD$0.99-$3.00
Average Bottle of Wine CAD$14.00 CAD$10.00-$16.00
Domestic Beer (pint bottle) CAD$2.30 CAD$1.80-$2.60
Imported Beer (333ml bottle) CAD$3.00 CAD$2.00-$3.75
Pack of Cigarettes (Marlboro) CAD$11.00 CAD$11.00-$15.00
Transportation Average Cost Price Range
One-way Local Transit Ticket CAD$4.00 CAD$4.00
Local Transit Monthly Pass (Regular) CAD$141.50 CAD$140.00-$143.00
Taxi Starting Fare CAD$4.25 CAD$3.10-$5.00
Taxi Fare Per 1km (Normal Traffic) CAD$2.00 CAD$1.47-$4.52
Taxi 1-hour Waiting CAD$30.00 CAD$30.00-$40.00
Gasoline (1 liter) CAD$1.04 CAD$0.94-$1.10
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) CAD$25,000 CAD$15,999.00-$27,000.00
Utilities (Monthly) Average Cost Price Range
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment CAD$187.93 CAD$60.00-$300.00
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) CAD$0.26 CAD$0.10-$0.60
Internet (60 Mbps, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) CAD$63.00 CAD$30.00-$80.00
Sports And Leisure Average Cost Price Range
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult CAD$45.00 CAD$35.00-$55.00
Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour on Weekend) No data available No data available
Movie Ticket CAD13.00 CAD$10.00-$15.00
Clothing And Shoes Average Price Price Range
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) CAD$53.33 CAD$28.00-$90.00
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store CAD$45.00 CAD$20.00-$60.00
1 Pair of Nike Shoes CAD$100.00 CAD$75.00-$125.00
1 Pair of Men’s Leather Shoes CAD$141.43 CAD$80.00-$200.00
Rent Per Month Average Rent Rent Range
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre CAD$1,483.33 CAD$1,400.00-$1,550.00
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre CAD$1,166.67 CAD$1,10.00-$1,200.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre CAD$3,000.00 No available data
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre CAD$2,400.00 CAD$2,000.00-$3,000.00
Condos Average Rate Rate Range
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment in City Centre CAD$2,701.36 No available data
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre CAD$2,1251.13 No available data
Salaries And Finances Average Salary Salary Range
Average Monthly Disposable Salary (After Taxes) CAD$4,701.52 No available data
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly 2.83% 2.10%-3.50%

All information crowd-sourced from Numbeo

 

1. BURLINGTON, ON

Burlington offers a great quality of life and is a safe area to live with low crime rates. Real estate prices in Burlington are currently declining and there is plenty of real estate opportunity. As is often the case with declining real estate sales, rental properties are seeing a slight increase in rent and lower availability. As the population in Burlington grows, the area becomes increasingly diverse. Of the current Burlington population, the most represented “visible minority” (33%) claim South Asian heritage. Following the South Asian population, the Black population (16%) and Chinese population (15%) are close behind. Income in Burlington is higher than the average income of the province and the unemployment rate is also lower than the province average. Employment is particularly high in sales and service occupations and the largest industry is business services.

Learn about Ontario’s Provincial Nominee Program

Restaurant Purchase Average Price Price Range
Meal at a Cheap Restaurant CAD$20.00 CAD$18.00-CAD$25.00
Three Course Meal for 2 at a regular restaurant CAD$80.00 CAD$55.00-$90.00
Combo at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) CAD$8.84 CAD$8.00-$9.50
Domestic Beer (draught pint) CAD$6.00 CAD$5.75-$7.00
Imported Beer (333ml bottle) CAD$8.00 CAD$7.90-$9.50
Cappuccino (regular) CAD$3.46 CAD$2.25-$4.50
Coke/Pepsi (333ml bottle) CAD$2.38 CAD$1.00-$3.50
Water (333ml bottle) CAD$1.54 CASD$0.75-2.50
Groceries Average Price Price Range
Milk (1 liter) CAD$1.63 CAD$1.19-$2.00
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) CAD$2.64 CAD$2.00-$3.00
White Rice (1kg) CAD$4.00 CAD$4.00
Dozen Eggs CAD$2.94 CAD$2.79-$2.99
Local Cheese (1kg) CAD$8.67 CAD$6.00-$12.00
Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts (1kg) CAD$12.25 CAD$9.00-$39.68
Apples (1kg) CAD$3.69 CAD$1.58-$6.00
Oranges (1kg) CAD$5.80 CAD$1.58-$7.00
Tomatoes (1kg) CAD$3.84 CAD$2.58-$5.00
Potatoes (1kg) CAD$3.50 CAD$1.99-$6.00
Head of Lettuce CAD$1.95 CAD$1.50-$2.50
Water (1.5-liter bottle) CAD$2.00 CAD$0.99-$5.00
Average Bottle of Wine CAD$14.75 CAD$13.00-$15.00
Domestic Beer (pint bottle) CAD$2.00 CAD$2.00
Imported Beer (333ml bottle) CAD$2.80 CAD$2.60-$3.00
Pack of Cigarettes (Marlboro) CAD$11.00 CAD$9.00-$13.00
Transportation Average Cost Price Range
One-way Local Transit Ticket CAD$3.50 CAD$2.90-$3.50
Local Transit Monthly Pass (Regular) CAD$98.50 CAD$97.00-$100.00
Taxi Starting Fare CAD$4.00 CAD$3.90-$4.50
Taxi Fare Per 1km (Normal Traffic) CAD$3.00 CAD$2.00-$4.00
Taxi 1-hour Waiting CAD$30.00 CAD$15.00-$32.40
Gasoline (1 liter) CAD$1.04 CAD$1.00-$1.09
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) CAD$25,000 CAD$20,000-$25,000
Utilities (Monthly) Average Cost Price Range
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment CAD$154.75 CAD$100.00-$190.00
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) CAD$0.26 CAD$0.20-$34
Internet (60 Mbps, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) CAD$58.83 CAD$30.00-$70.00
Sports And Leisure Average Cost Price Range
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult CAD$36.25 CAD$25.00-$45.00
Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour on Weekend) CAD$29.00 CAD$18.00-40.00
Movie Ticket CAD12.50 CAD$12.00-$12.99
Clothing And Shoes Average Price Price Range
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) CAD$53.00 CAD$45.00-$60.00
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store CAD$39.40 CAD$20.00-$45.00
1 Pair of Nike Shoes CAD$107.50 CAD$95.00-$125.00
1 Pair of Men’s Leather Shoes CAD$159.25 CAD$134.47-$200.00
Rent Per Month Average Rent Rent Range
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre CAD$1,320.00 CAD$1,200.00-$1,600.00
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre CAD$1,212.50 CAD$1,000.00-$1,450.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre CAD$1,875.00 CAD$1,800.00-$1,900.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre CAD$1,550.00 CAD$1,430.00-$1,745.00
Condos Average Rate Rate Range
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment in City Centre CAD$5,381.96 CAD$4,500.00-CAD$7,050.36
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre CAD$4,236.81 CAD$2,700.00-$5,704.87
Salaries And Finances Average Salary Salary Range
Average Monthly Disposable Salary (After Taxes) CAD$3,839.58 No data available
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly 2.58% 2.29%-3.00%

All information crowd-sourced from Numbeo

 

10. West Vancouver, BC

 

The richest city on this list, West Vancouver is a suburb of – you guessed it – Vancouver! It is surprisingly affordable for the renter: the average rent price in the city puts it right in the middle of the pack; it’s actually cheaper to rent in West Van than in Milton! The unemployment is relatively low, well over a third of the population are immigrants, and it of course features the warmer temperatures that the Vancouver area is known for. So what could possibly be wrong? Well, on average it takes about 8 years to save up enough money to buy a house. So if you’re thinking of starting out in West Vancouver, be sure to check out the rest of the list to find out where to move once you’ve made some money in Canada.

Learn about British Columbia’s Provincial Nominee Program

 

9. Milton, ON

Looking for a job? The rapidly expanding city of Milton may be the place to move. Though it’s a bit of a hike from Toronto – nearly an hour drive in traffic and significantly further by train – Milton boasts very low unemployment; the lowest among the immigrant-friendly big cities in the country. There aren’t as many immigrants in Milton as there are in some of the other cities on this list, and the rent isn’t exactly cheap, but it’s hard to say no to jobs. Unless you’re concerned about safety: Milton’s crime-rate isn’t exactly low.  

Learn about Ontario’s Provincial Nominee Program

 

8. Ottawa

 

The nation’s capital is a safe bet. Predicted by experts to see a boom in jobs in the near future, the capital is also pretty much in the middle in all livability factors: the rent and vacancy rates are reasonable, unemployment is higher than some places but should soon drop, house prices are about average, as is the time it takes to save for a house, and the city is safe with decent transit. But Ottawa is notoriously boring and cold, so keep that in mind.

Learn about Ontario’s Provincial Nominee Program

Restaurant Purchase Average Price Price Range
Meal at a Cheap Restaurant CAD$15.00 CAD$10.00-CAD$17.00
Three Course Meal for 2
at a regular restaurant
CAD$70.00 CAD$55.00-$80.00
Combo at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) CAD$9.00 CAD$8.00-$9.00
Domestic Beer (draught pint) CAD$6.25 CAD$5.75-$7.25
Imported Beer (333ml bottle) CAD$7.00 CAD$6.00-$8.00
Cappuccino (regular) CAD$3.59 CAD$3.00-$4.00
Coke/Pepsi (333ml bottle) CAD$2.14 CAD$1.79$-2.50
Water (333ml bottle) CAD$1.84 CASD$1.25-$2.00
Groceries Average Price Price Range
1% Milk (1 litre) CAD$1.77 CAD$1.06-$2.50
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) CAD$2.52 CAD$2.29-$2.75
White Rice (1kg) CAD$2.79 CAD$1.50-$4.41
Dozen Eggs CAD$3.05 CAD$2.75-$3.50
Local Cheese (1kg) CAD$13.33 $CAD10.00-$20.00
Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts (1kg) CAD$9.70 CAD$8.80-$11.02
Apples (1kg) CAD$3.14 CAD$1.70-$4.00
Oranges (1kg) CAD$2.54 CAD$2.18-$2.99
Tomatoes (1kg) CAD$3.10 CAD$2.50-$4.39
Potatoes (1kg) CAD$2.26 CAD$1.50-$3.00
Head of Lettuce CAD$1.55 CAD$1.00-$2.00
Water (1.5 litre bottle) CAD$2.07 CAD$1.79-$2.50
Average Bottle of Wine CAD$14.45 CAD$13.00-CAD$15.00
Domestic Beer (pint bottle) CAD$2.57 CAD$1.83-$3.50
Imported Beer (333ml bottle) CAD$2.55 CAD$2.00-$3.00
Pack of Cigarettes (Marlboro) CAD$11.00 CAD$10.00-$12.00
Transportation Average Cost Price Range
One-way OC Transpo Ticket CAD$3.45 CAD$3.30-$3.50
OC Transpo Monthly Pass (Regular) CAD$100.00 CAD$98.75-$100.75
Taxi Starting Fare CAD$3.50 CAD$3.45-$3.75
Taxi Fare Per 1km (Normal Traffic) CAD$2.00 CAD$1.72-$3.12
Taxi 1 hour Waiting CAD$18.00 CAD$18.00-$20.00
Gasoline (1 litre) CAD$1.22 CAD$0.97-$1.34
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline
(Or Equivalent New Car)
CAD$21,737.50 CAD$19,975.00-$23,575.00
Utilities (Monthly) Average Cost Price Range
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment CAD$133.56 CAD$114.37-$157.00
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) CAD$0.31 CAD$0.30-$0.35
Internet (6 Mbps, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) CAD$50.50 CAD$40.00-$60.00
Sports And Leisure Average Cost Price Range
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult CAD$58.83 CAD$50.00-$70.00
Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour on Weekend) CAD$18.34 CAD$14.00-$22.69
Movie Ticket CAD13.00 CAD$11.00-$14.50
Clothing And Shoes Average Price Price Range
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) CAD$59.17 CAD$50.00-$70.00
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store CAD$55.00 CAD$50.00-$65.00
1 Pair of Nike Shoes CAD$105.83 CAD$100.00-$120.00
1 Pair of Men’s Leather Shoes CAD$112.83 CAD$95.00-$150.00
Rent Per Month Average Rent Rent Range
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre CAD$1,093.75 CAD$1,000.00-$1,200.00
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre CAD$880.71 CAD$800.00-$990.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre CAD$1,665.62 CAD$1,525.00-$1,900.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre CAD$1,288.89 CAD$900.00-$1,500.00
Condos Average Rate Rate Range
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment
in City Centre
CAD$5,137.16 CAD$5,000.00-$5,274.32
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment
Outside of Centre
CAD$3,106.14 CAD$2,690.98-$3,627.44
Salaries And Finances Average Salary Salary Range
Average Monthly Disposable Salary (After Taxes) CAD$3,914.29 CAD$3,200.00-CAD$4,500.00
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly 3.31% 3.00%-3.70

All information crowd-sourced from Numbeo

 

7. Richmond Hill, ON

 

Richmond Hill, a suburb of Toronto easily accessible from the city by transit or highway, has one of the highest percentages of immigrants of any city in Canada – nearly equal that of the larger and perhaps more intimidating Mississauga. The only thing keeping it from being higher on this list is the violent crime rate which, while low, is significantly higher than the cities listed below. Well, that and the fact that it takes significantly longer to buy a house in Richmond Hill than it does in some other cities: the length of time to save for a house is not West Vancouver bad, but it’s close.

 

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6. Brossard, QC

 

Looking for a cheap apartment? Well, the immigrant-friendly Montreal suburb of Brossard has them in droves. The vacancy rate is reasonably high and the rent is way lower than any suburb of Toronto or Vancouver. Plus, it has a way lower crime rate than the equally cheap – and even more immigrant-friendly – Dollard-des-Ormeaux, another of suburb of Montreal, located almost as close to the downtown core. Sure, you have to cross the notoriously traffic-jammed Pont Champlain to get from Brossard to Montreal, but Dollard just isn’t as safe. Finally, the average resident of Brossard only has to save for three years to afford a house, and Brossard has the second lowest real estate prices of any major city in Canada.

Learn about immigrating to Quebec

 

5. Mississauga, ON

Mississauga, the third largest city in Canada’s most pop0lous province, is still considered by many to be a suburb of Toronto. That’s because it is only a 20 minute drive from the downtown and a short trip by transit. Mississauga boasts a population of over 50% immigrants and a low crime rate. But it’s still somewhat of a bedroom community despite it’s size – meaning you have to drive everywhere – and the employment rate doesn’t compare favourably with the other suburbs of Toronto.

Restaurants Average Price Price Range
Meal at Cheap Restaurant CAD$15.00 CAD$12.00-$19.00
Three Course Meal for 2 at average Restaurant CAD$50.00 CAD$35.00-$60.00
Combo McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) CAD$8.50 CAD$7.43-$10.00
Domestic Beer (draught pint) CAD$6.00 CAD$5.00-$7.00
Imported Beer (335ml bottle) CAD$7.66 CAD$7.00-$8.00
Cappuccino (regular) CAD$3.69 CAD$2.65-$4.60
Coke/Pepsi (333ml bottle) CAD$1.66 CAD$1.00-$2.00
Water (333ml bottle) CAD$1.27 CAD$1.00-$2.00
Groceries Average Price Price Range
1% Milk (1 litre) CAD$1.46 CAD$1.20-$1.70
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) CAD$2.47 CAD$2.00-$2.68
White Rice (1kg) CAD$2.20 CAD$2.00-$3.00
Dozen Eggs CAD$3.16 CAD$2.60-$3.75
Local Cheese (1kg) CAD$12.34 CAD$8.82-$18.90
Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts (1kg) CAD$10.59 CAD$9.00-$13.23
Apples (1kg) CAD$2.90 CAD$2.76-43.06
Oranges (1kg) CAD$3.55 CAD$2.50-$5.00
Tomatoes (1kg) CAD$2.72 CAD$2.20-$3.31
Potatoes (1kg) CAD$1.84 CAD$1.23-$2.20
Head of Lettuce CAD$1.72 CAD$1.29-42.00
Water (1.5 litre bottle) CAD$1.87 CAD$1.50-$2.00
Average Bottle of Wine CAD$11.50 CAD$10.00-$15.00
Domestic Beer (pint bottle) CAD$2.40 CAD$2.00-$3.00
Imported Beer (335ml bottle) CAD$2.88 CAD$2.50-$3.00
Pack of Cigarettes (Marlboro) CAD$10.00 CAD$10.00
Transportation Average Cost Price Range
One-way MiWay Ticket CAD$3.25 CAD$3.00-$3.25
Regular Monthly Pass CAD$120.00 CAD$100.00-$127.00
Initial Taxi Fare CAD$4.25 CAD$3.50-$4.25
Taxi 1km (Normal Traffic) CAD$2.00 CAD$1.77-$2.50
Taxi 1hour Waiting CAD$30.00 CAD$30.00
Gasoline (1 litre) CAD$1.19 CAD$0.99-$1.35
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) CAD$19,000.00 CAD$14,000.00-$20,000.00
Monthly Utilities Average Cost Price Range
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment CAD$235.00 CAD$200.00-$270.00
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) CAD$0.28 CAD$0.25-$0.30
Internet (6 Mbps, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) CAD$47.20 CAD$40.00-$55.00
Sports And Leisure Average Cost Price Range
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult CAD$43.60 CAD$33.00-$60.00
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) CAD$47.50 CAD$45.00-$50.00
1 Movie Ticket CAD$12.50 CAD$12.00-$14.00
Clothing And Shoes Average Price Price Range
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) CAD$25.66 CAD$22.00-$29.99
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store CAD$30.00 CAD$30.00-$30.00
1 Pair of Nike Shoes CAD$83.00 CAD$45.00-$120.00
1 Pair of Men’s Leather Shoes CAD$78.33 CAD$70.00-$85.00
Rent Per Month Average Cost Range
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre CAD$1,325.00 CAD$1,200.00-$1,400.00
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre CAD$916.67 CAD$800.00-$1,000.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre CAD$2,075.00 CAD$1,800.00-CAD$2,200.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre CAD$1,435.00 CAD$1,300.00-$1,600.00
Condos Average Cost Range
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment in City Centre CAD$3,282.99 CAD$2,690.98-$3,659.73
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre CAD$1,559.03 CAD$750.00-$2,368.06
Salaries And Finances Average Range
Average Monthly Disposable Salary (After Tax) CAD$2,912.67 CAD$2,376.00-$5,000.00
Yearly Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages CAD$3.71 CAD$3.35-$4.00

All information crowd-sourced from Numbeo

Learn about Ontario’s Provincial Nominee Program

 

4. Markham, ON

Markham is a suburb north of Toronto that is easily accessible from Toronto by transit or highway; it’s right nextdoor to Richmond Hill. Markham has the second highest percentage of immigrants of any large city in Canada, with well over 50% of the population having been born overseas. The city boasts a high apartment vacancy rate and the rent is comparable to the other suburbs of Toronto. Markham is a pretty wealthy place too, meaning that it is a safe place to start your new life.

Restaurant Purchase Average Price Price Range
Meal at a Cheap Restaurant CAD$10.00 CAD$8.00-CAD$12.00
Three Course Meal for 2
at a regular restaurant
CAD$75.00 CAD$50.00-$100.00
Combo at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) CAD$8.50 CAD$8.00-$9.00
Domestic Beer (draught pint) CAD$7.00 CAD$5.00-$9.00
Imported Beer (333ml bottle) CAD$6.00 CAD$4.00-$8.00
Cappuccino (regular) CAD$3.00 CAD$2.00-$4.00
Coke/Pepsi (333ml bottle) CAD$2.00 CAD$1.00-$3.00
Water (333ml bottle) CAD$1.00 CASD$1.00
Groceries Average Price Price Range
1% Milk (1 litre) CAD$1.32 CAD$1.00-$1.60
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) CAD$2.19 CAD$2.00-$2.40
White Rice (1kg) CAD$1.00 CAD$0.50-$2.00
Dozen Eggs CAD$3.29 CAD$2.75-$3.50
Local Cheese (1kg) No data available No data available
Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts (1kg) CAD$10.15 CAD$9.85-$10.30
Apples (1kg) No data available No data available
Oranges (1kg) No data available No data available
Tomatoes (1kg) No data available No data available
Potatoes (1kg) No data available No data available
Head of Lettuce No data available No data available
Water (1.5 litre bottle) No data available No data available
Average Bottle of Wine No data available No data available
Domestic Beer (pint bottle) No data available No data available
Imported Beer (333ml bottle) No data available No data available
Pack of Cigarettes (Marlboro) CAD$10.00 CAD$9.00-$11.00
Transportation Average Cost Price Range
One-way YRT Ticket CAD$4.00 CAD$3.75-$4.25
YRT Monthly Pass (Regular) CAD$131.50 CAD$98.00-$165.00
Taxi Starting Fare CAD$4.25 No Range
Taxi Fare Per 1km (Normal Traffic) CAD$2.25 CAD$1.50-$3.00
Taxi 1 hour Waiting No data available No data available
Gasoline (1 litre) CAD$1.09 CAD$0.88-$1.30
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline
(Or Equivalent New Car)
No data available No data available
Utilities (Monthly) Average Cost Price Range
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment CAD$350.00 CAD$300.00-$400.00
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) CAD$0.25 CAD$0.20-$0.30
Internet (6 Mbps, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) CAD$76.00 CAD$72.00-$80.00
Sports And Leisure Average Cost Price Range
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult CAD$40.00 CAD$20.00-$60.00
Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour on Weekend) No data available No data available
Movie Ticket CAD12.50 CAD$11.99-$13.50
Clothing And Shoes Average Price Price Range
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) CAD$46.67 CAD$30.00-$60.00
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store CAD$70.00 CAD$49.99-$100.00
1 Pair of Nike Shoes CAD$75.00 CAD$49.99-$100.00
1 Pair of Men’s Leather Shoes CAD$120.00 No Range Available
Rent Per Month Average Rent Rent Range
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre CAD$1,800.00 No data available
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre CAD$1,400.00 No data available
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre CAD$3,000.00 No data available
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre CAD$2,500.00 CAD$No data available
Condos Average Rate Rate Range
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment
in City Centre
CAD$7,534.74 No data available
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment
Outside of Centre
CAD$4,843.76 No data available
Salaries And Finances Average Salary Salary Range
Average Monthly Disposable Salary (After Taxes) CAD$7,200.00 No data available
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly 2.99% No data available

All information crowd-sourced from Numbeo

 

3. Burlington, ON

 

If you’re looking for an apartment, Burlington is the city to check out. Though it is now considered one of the richest in Canada, the city boasts an apartment vacancy rate and low average rent equivalent to the much less clean, much less appealing, and much less rich city of Hamilton, located nextdoor. Plus Burlington is closer to Toronto than Hamilton and has lower unemployment. It is also safer than Richmond Hill – and Hamilton too, obviously. And it takes about half as much time to save up to buy a house in Burlington as it does in Richmond Hill. Burlington lacks a large immigrant community but that is changing as the city continues to expand.

Restaurant Purchase Average Price Price Range
Meal at a Cheap Restaurant CAD$14.10 CAD$10.00-CAD$25.00
Three Course Meal for 2
at a regular restaurant
CAD$70.00 CAD$65.00-$75.00
Combo at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) CAD$10.00 CAD$10.00-$10.00
Domestic Beer (draught pint) CAD$5.00 CAD$5.00-$6.00
Imported Beer (333ml bottle) CAD$6.00 CAD$5.00-$7.00
Cappuccino (regular) CAD$4.05 CAD$3.50-$5.00
Coke/Pepsi (333ml bottle) CAD$2.12 CAD$1.99-$2.25
Water (333ml bottle) CAD$1.70 CASD$1.25-2.50
Groceries Average Price Price Range
1% Milk (1 litre) CAD$3.00 CAD$3.00-$3.00
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) CAD$2.42 CAD$2.25-$2.50
White Rice (1kg) CAD$3.00 CAD$1.00-$5.00
Dozen Eggs CAD$3.58 CAD$2.75-$4.00
Local Cheese (1kg) CAD$20.50 CAD$16.00-$25.00
Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts (1kg) CAD$14.26 CAD$11.02-$17.50
Apples (1kg) CAD$4.79 CAD$3.86-$5.51
Oranges (1kg) CAD$3.73 CAD$3.50-$3.97
Tomatoes (1kg) CAD$6.83 CAD$3.97-$11.02
Potatoes (1kg) CAD$4.96 CAD$3.31-$6.61
Head of Lettuce CAD$1.60 CAD$1.50-$1.70
Water (1.5 litre bottle) CAD$3.50 CAD$3.00-$4.00
Average Bottle of Wine CAD$15.25 CAD$14.50-$16.00
Domestic Beer (pint bottle) CAD$2.38 CAD$2.25-$2.50
Imported Beer (333ml bottle) CAD$3.50 CAD$3.00-$4.00
Pack of Cigarettes (Marlboro) CAD$10.50 CAD$10.00-$11.00
Transportation Average Cost Price Range
One-way Burlington Transit Ticket CAD$3.25 CAD$3.00-$3.25
Burlington Transit Monthly Pass (Regular) CAD$95.00 CAD$95.00-$250.00
Taxi Starting Fare CAD$3.75 CAD$3.50-$4.00
Taxi Fare Per 1km (Normal Traffic) CAD$2.00 CAD$1.99-$3.00
Taxi 1 hour Waiting CAD$32.40 CAD$30.00-$60.00
Gasoline (1 litre) CAD$1.38 CAD$1.35-$1.40
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline
(Or Equivalent New Car)
CAD$25,000 CAD$24,000-$25,000
Utilities (Monthly) Average Cost Price Range
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment CAD$155.00 CAD$110.00-$200.00
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) No data available No data available
Internet (6 Mbps, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) CAD$57.00 CAD$45.00-$70.00
Sports And Leisure Average Cost Price Range
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult CAD$47.50 CAD$45.00-$50.00
Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour on Weekend) No data available No data available
Movie Ticket CAD12.00 CAD$11.50-$20.00
Clothing And Shoes Average Price Price Range
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) CAD$66.67 CAD$50.00-$100.00
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store CAD$66.67 CAD$45.00-$95.00
1 Pair of Nike Shoes CAD$120.00 CAD$100.00-$140.00
1 Pair of Men’s Leather Shoes CAD$115.00 CAD$85.00-$135.00
Rent Per Month Average Rent Rent Range
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre CAD$1,233.33 CAD$1,000.00-$1,500.00
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre CAD$900.00 CAD$750.00-$1,000.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre CAD$2,067.67 CAD$1,500.00-$3,000.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre CAD$1,583.33 CAD$1,250.00-$2,000.00
Condos Average Rate Rate Range
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment
in City Centre
CAD$3,201.73 CAD$2,903.46-CAD$3,500.00
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment
Outside of Centre
CAD$2,192.02 CAD$1,184.03-$3,200.00
Salaries And Finances Average Salary Salary Range
Average Monthly Disposable Salary (After Taxes) CAD$2,670.50 CAD$1,800.00-$3,541.00
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly 5.00% No data available

All information crowd-sourced from Numbeo

 

2. Calgary, AB

 

Calgary has recently gained a reputation for being an expensive place to live but the numbers say otherwise. Compared to other large, immigrant-friendly cities in Canada, Calgary’s rent is relatively reasonable. Moreover, there are jobs a plenty as the unemployment rate is quite low. The high wages mean that you can afford to buy a house sooner than any other major city in Canada, despite the fairly high real estate prices. Living in the city also means that you can save on gas and use transit. The problem? The apartments go very, very fast.

Learn about Alberta’s Provincial Nominee Program

Restaurant Purchase Average Price Price Range
Meal at a Cheap Restaurant CAD$15.00 CAD$12.00-CAD$20.00
Three Course Meal for 2
at a regular restaurant
CAD$67.50 CAD$60.00-$78.00
Combo at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) CAD$8.00 CAD$7.96-$9.63
Domestic Beer (draught pint) CAD$6.00 CAD$4.50-$7.00
Imported Beer (333ml bottle) CAD$7.00 CAD$5.99-$8.00
Cappuccino (regular) CAD$4.20 CAD$3.99-$5.00
Coke/Pepsi (333ml bottle) CAD$2.21 CAD$2.00-$2.50
Water (333ml bottle) CAD$1.70 CASD$1.96-2.50
Groceries Average Price Price Range
1% Milk (1 litre) CAD$1.92 CAD$1.25-$2.50
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) CAD$2.42 CAD$2.25-$2.50
White Rice (1kg) CAD$2.77 CAD$2.49-$3.00
Dozen Eggs CAD$3.35 CAD$3.00-$4.00
Local Cheese (1kg) CAD$10.28 CAD$8.00-$12.50
Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts (1kg) CAD$15.44 CAD$12.00-$20.00
Apples (1kg) CAD$3.61 CAD$3.00-$4.41
Oranges (1kg) CAD$3.29 CAD$2.18-$4.00
Tomatoes (1kg) CAD$4.04 CAD$3.00-$5.00
Potatoes (1kg) CAD$2.41 CAD$2.00-$3.25
Head of Lettuce CAD$2.28 CAD$1.50-$2.99
Water (1.5 litre bottle) CAD$2.16 CAD$1.49-$2.99
Average Bottle of Wine CAD$15.00 CAD$15.00-$20.00
Domestic Beer (pint bottle) CAD$2.00 CAD$2.25-$5.50
Imported Beer (333ml bottle) CAD$3.18 CAD$2.25-$6.00
Pack of Cigarettes (Marlboro) CAD$12.50 CAD$11.00-$13.99
Transportation Average Cost Price Range
One-way Calgary Transit Ticket CAD$3.00 CAD$3.00-$3.15
Calgary Transit Monthly Pass (Regular) CAD$96.00 CAD$95.00-$99.00
Taxi Starting Fare CAD$3.50 CAD$3.50-$5.00
Taxi Fare Per 1km (Normal Traffic) CAD$1.55 CAD$1.55-$2.00
Taxi 1 hour Waiting CAD$31.30 CAD$30.00-$35.00
Gasoline (1 litre) CAD$1.11 CAD$0.95-$1.23
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline
(Or Equivalent New Car)
CAD$22,600 CAD$20,000-$24,900
Utilities (Monthly) Average Cost Price Range
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment CAD$193.64 CAD$150.00-$251.84
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) CAD$0.32 CAD$0.20-$0.45
Internet (6 Mbps, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) CAD$64.00 CAD$50.00-$80.00
Sports And Leisure Average Cost Price Range
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult CAD$62.10 CAD$50.00-$80.00
Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour on Weekend) CAD$20.23 CAD$10.00-$27.89
Movie Ticket CAD13.25 CAD$12.99-$15.00
Clothing And Shoes Average Price Price Range
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) CAD$72.43 CAD$50.00-$85.00
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store CAD$41.67 CAD$30.00-$50.00
1 Pair of Nike Shoes CAD$101.62 CAD$80.00-$125.00
1 Pair of Men’s Leather Shoes CAD$117.67 CAD$90.00-$150.00
Rent Per Month Average Rent Rent Range
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre CAD$1,371.43 CAD$1,200.00-$1,600.00
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre CAD$1,143.75 CAD$1000.00-$1,400.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre CAD$2,377.78 CAD$1,800.00-$3,000.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre CAD$2,042.86 CAD$1,500.00-$2,500.00
Condos Average Rate Rate Range
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment
in City Centre
CAD$4,535.08 CAD$4,000-CAD$5,381.96
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment
Outside of Centre
CAD$3,079.76 CAD$2,800.00-$3,444.45
Salaries And Finances Average Salary Salary Range
Average Monthly Disposable Salary (After Taxes) CAD$3,978.49 CAD$3,200.00-$5,652.00
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly 3.16% 2.99%-3.69%

All information crowd-sourced from Numbeo

 

1. Richmond, BC

 

Richmond, a suburb of Vancouver and only a 30 minute drive from downtown, is probably the best city in the country to settle: nearly 60% of the city has immigrated to Canada. The rent isn’t as high as some other areas of Vancouver – one of Canada’s most expensive cities – and the average salaries are higher than the city itself. You can take transit to work to save money and the Greater Vancouver Area is notorious for the warmest weather of any major city in Canada. What’s not to like?

Learn about British Columbia’s Provincial Nominee Program

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