Living In Montreal As An American (Tips & Tricks)

Montreal is one of the premier cities in North America.

It’s well-regarded for its French-influenced architecture, world-class nightlife, and unique feel in comparison to other North American cities.

For those wanting to live in a new city, Montreal is a wonderful option coming from America. It’s different, vibrant, and offers a fascinating look into Canadian culture.

Living in Montreal as an American is a wonderful idea as long as you are well-prepared for it.

This is not the same as visiting Montreal as a tourist. You will be more than exploring once you are a resident of Montreal. This includes learning more of the language, seeing a variety of sights, and also appreciating the natural way of living in Quebec.

This comprehensive guide will help Americans wanting to live in Montreal.

Benefits Of Living In Montreal

Good Transportation System

One of the advantages of living in Montreal would have to be the Metro. The transportation in Montreal is world-class and you can tell they have put in a lot of effort to make sure it’s seamless, easy-going, and well-connected from one end to the other.

It’s recommended to get a monthly pass and use the transit system to your heart’s content. It’s the best way to make sure you are dealing with a solution that’s straightforward and is going to allow you to push past the snowy conditions during the winter months.

Great Nightlife

The nightlife is one of the biggest plus points of living in Montreal.

You are going to adore moving to Montreal as an American because it’s a fun city. The people here love to party and this happens regardless of the weather.

Even during the winter, the nightclubs are going to be in full flow along with the bars and anything else you can think of. This is a fascinating city and one you are going to cherish once you settle in.

Free Healthcare

The healthcare system is unique in Canada and is different from what you would find in America.

This is due to it being a public healthcare system, which is free for the most part. You are going to want to sign up with a family doctor and then have access to these facilities once you have officially moved to Canada with the appropriate documentation.

It’s a plus point for those who don’t want mounting medical bills in the future.

Decent Job Opportunities

What about the job market in Montreal?

If you are an American that’s moving to Montreal, you will have one eye on the job market. After all, you are going to want to get a job in hand as soon as possible.

For the most part, Montreal has a good job market that is going to provide you with ample opportunities as long as you are persistent.

Do you need to know French for these jobs? It can help open up more opportunities but there are numerous English-only jobs in the city too. Don’t lose hope if you don’t know French assuming that’s all you are going to need in Montreal.

Best Places To Live In Montreal

Old Montreal

Old Montreal has a quaint aura to it and offers some of those traditional architectural designs people associate with a French city such as this one. Old Montreal is blossoming with a wide array of historic buildings along with a beautiful view of the water.

It’s common for people to spend time in this part of the city, strolling around, and taking in the scenes including spending time at the various landmarks in the area.

Notre-Dame-De-Grace

This is one of those areas where you can end up with a reasonably sized property at a good rate. You are going to see a diverse community in Notre-Dame-De-Grace and it’s a good starting point for those who just want an affordable place to stay.

It’s well-connected to the rest of the city, easy to live in, and is a good place for those who want a good deal on their rent or the property they are buying.

Downtown Montreal

Want to be right in the middle of the action?

Well, Downtown Montreal is the only place you are going to want to be then. This is the core of the city as it would be in any major city, which is why you are going to be intrigued by it.

Does it have the best houses? No, you are going to find condos in the area and they will be overpriced for the size you are getting.

This is only useful for those who are working in the area and want to be close to work.

Le Plateau

Le Plateau is a unique part of the city and is close to the mountain. This makes it an appealing solution for those who are mountain lovers and want to go with something far more luxurious. The luxury homes in the area are easy on the eyes and it’s common for people to want to live here as they continue to earn more.

You might want something like this and it offers a unique selection of architectural designs to choose from as soon as you begin to take a look around.

This is a neighborhood that has a lot of sophisticated elegance to it.

Verdun

Verdun is one of those regions of the city that is going to be a new addition to the list.

It is a good one because it has continued to develop with time and is going to provide a cost-efficient opportunity for you to live in.

It’s common for people to talk about the crime rate here and it might be a concern depending on the time of year. It’s best to pick and choose where you reside in Verdun if you do go down this route but it will be affordable.

Tips For Living In Montreal

Get A Winter Wardrobe Right Away

It’s important to remember that the winter months are always around the corner.

If you come in the summer, don’t get fooled.

It is going to get cold as soon as October rolls around and it will only get colder from this point. This means you need to be prepared beforehand.

This includes getting boots, jackets, gloves, hats, and anything else to keep you warm. You are going ot be using these clothes and that’s a guarantee.

Sign Up For A Family Doctor

The public healthcare system is great but it’s important to be prepared.

You will want to get a family doctor as they will know more about your health and will offer a standardized solution every time you book an appointment.

It’s not always ideal going to one of the many walk-in clinics in the area. There are numerous options but a family doctor is the best way to go.

Don’t Be Afraid To Learn French

This is one of the bigger questions a person is going to have when moving to Montreal from America.

Do you need to learn French?

No, Montreal tends to deal with both languages well because it is full of people that only speak English. This not only includes the locals but also the tourists that come to the city throughout the year. This means English is commonly accepted throughout Montreal.

However, it’s never a bad idea to learn the lingo. It will only make your life easier and that doesn’t hurt.

Cost Of Living In Montreal

Living in Montreal is going to come down to where you are residing. This will dictate the amount of money you are paying towards living in Montreal.

For example, a person in Le Plateau is going to be paying far more than someone in Vardun.

The most common price point for a rental in the downtown core is going to be around $1,100 per month. This is going to include all of the facilities a person needs.

However, you are going to be paying a lot more in other places such as Le Plateau.

You can end up paying up to $3,000 in these parts of the city.

As you can imagine, it will dictate your quality of life and your cost of living.

Final Thoughts

This is the information you are going to want to consider when moving to Montreal as an America.

Montreal is a vibrant city with a great nightlife and it is well worth moving to. However, it’s best to look into how you are going to live in Montreal as an American and where you are going to live before completing the move.

We also recommend reading our guides on living in British Columbia, the value of moving to Vancouver, and how Vancouver compares to Toronto.