Your Expat Community in Canada

With InterNations, you never stand alone. Whether you are moving to another country or going on a business trip somewhere — our communities around the world are there to make you feel at home wherever you are. Feel free to check out our vibrant InterNations Communities in countries like Spain or Bahrain.

Living in Canada: Your Questions, Answered

If you’re a new or soon-to-be expat in Canada, you probably aren’t quite sure yet what it will be like. That’s why we gathered the answers to some key questions you may have about life in Canada. If you want to ask more specific questions — or even share your own tips — join InterNations! You’ll be part of a community of new and experienced expats who love to help each other out.

What are the most common nationalities in Canada?
As an expat in Canada, you'll meet people from many different cultures (especially if you're an InterNations member!) The top nationalities in the InterNations Communities in Canada currently are:

• Indians
• French
• British
• Americans

Which cities are most popular among expats in Canada?
Some cities attract more expats than others. These are the cities with the largest expat communities in Canada:

• Ottawa
• Montreal
• Vancouver

How much rent do expats pay in Canada?
Your personal situation plays a role here. Single expats spend on average 1176 USD on their accommodation per month, while expat families spend around 1.911 USD. And of course, rents can also vary greatly depending on the location and city within Canada.

To give you an idea of what to expect, here are some rent averages for the most popular cities in Canada.

Average rent in Ottawa

• Single expats: 1.249 USD
• Expat families: 2.058 USD

Average rent in Montreal

• Single expats: 1.051 USD
• Expat families: 1.882 USD

Average rent in Vancouver

• Single expats: 1.935 USD
• Expat families: 3.309 USD

How safe is Canada?
You may be wondering about safety. In general people perceive their personal safety situation in Canada as safe. People rate the risk of falling victim to petty crime (such as pickpocketing or minor theft) as moderately high.
They consider the chance of being the victim of violent crime (including mugging) low. And, they rate confidence in the police force and related local authorities as very high.

How safe is Canada for women?
Female expats rated the safety situation in Canada as very safe. This is based on the feedback of expat women living in Canada (rather than actual crime statistics). So obviously this can be highly subjective and depends on factors such as where people live.

Embark on Your Expat Life in Canada

Canada’s stunning landscapes, mountains, and coastlines, abundance of natural resources of crude oil and gas reserves, as well as its vast forests, prairies, lakes, and sea life, continue to draw people from across the world to this beautiful country. Its resilient economic growth and skills shortages continue to provide a need for expats in Canada, as well as the necessary unskilled temporary workers for some of its industries. Unemployment numbers in places like the US and some countries in Europe are currently rising, while vacancies can still be found in Canada. Historically, Canada’s cities have grown originally from the hard work of European immigrants and today offer global expats even more opportunities. Expats are also attracted by Canada's affordable healthcare, free public school education, and jobs in the healthcare sector, as well as jobs in the financial, real estate, and communications sectors. Taxes may seem high in parts of Canada, but the standard of life there makes living there exceptionally rewarding. Taxes in some cities, like Calgary, are lower for some businesses, but expats who choose to stay in places like Calgary, in Alberta, or in a prairie province, will have to cope with the cold and snowy climates there, where temperatures in winter can drop to -40°C. British Columbia on the coast is far milder, as is Ontario. The resilient Canadians have built accordingly, to meet their challenges, and those expats who do choose Calgary will discover they can still shop comfortably when conditions are ice cold outside, by using Calgary’s Skyway network of heated pedestrian walkways that are built 15 feet off the ground and that link every building in the downtown area to every other.

InterNations is the largest global network for expatriates, with communities in 420 cities around the world. Meet fellow global minds in your city of residence or get to know local expatriates before you're moving or traveling abroad and never feel like a stranger. InterNations makes it easy for you to stay in touch with your expat friends, both online and offline, so you can grow your network of friends and contacts from all over the world. Whether they live in Malaysia or China, InterNations allows you to be close to them even if they are miles away.

Connect with Other Expats in Canada and Grow Your Network

A patchwork of geographic cultural diversity that is co-existent has been created by Canada’s warm and welcoming people, with reflections of Asian, European, and US influences that are surprisingly familiar. This makes it easier for expats to feel at home. Wherever you choose to put down roots in Canada, you can meet your fellow InterNations expats through one of the InterNations Groups. Held across Canada, InterNations Groups are hosted by expats. While the members of the DinnerNations Group in Edmonton are dining, professional expats may be networking in Vancouver. Whether your passion is dining, dancing, concerts, or climbing, you’re sure to find a group of like-minded expats.