Discover Canada

Housing in Canada is modern and comfortable but like moving to any new country, finding a home can take time. Research the market before you move and be prepared to take a short-term lease while you look for something more permanent. Expat families will often rent houses in the suburbs or a satellite town.

Houses come with heating systems and sometimes air conditioning. You may need to pay a deposit of up to two months’ rent. Leases are normally for 12 months. Utilities aren’t usually included in your rent.

If you’re looking to buy property in Canada, it’s best to buy through an estate agent – and they may be able to recommend a good lawyer to oversee the paperwork.

The cost of living in Canada does come with some expense – especially if you’re living in one of the bigger cities like Vancouver or Toronto.

Housing will most likely be your biggest outgoing, and utilities can also be high – heating your home during the long, cold winters can be costly. Food and transport costs can also quickly add up, so budgeting can be important.

Canada’s schools are run by each province or territory. Children must attend school until they’re 16, but some provinces have extended this to 18. The school year runs from September to June.

If you’re a permanent resident, it’s free to send your children to a public school in your area. Classes may be taught in English, French or a mixture of both. Most expats are happy to use the free public education system. There are also plenty of private schools and in the bigger cities, you may find international schools. Fees at private schools and international schools can very high.

With so many remote areas, homeschooling is popular in Canada. Like the public education system, it’s provincially controlled, and there are support structures in place for parents who want to educate their children at home.

Medicare is a government-funded national insurance scheme that’s administered provincially, giving people access to public and private hospitals, clinics and GP practices. Not all expats are eligible for the scheme, as this can depend on your visa. 

Also, while Medicare covers a lot of basic treatments at public hospitals, you may still have to pay for things like medication, ambulances, dental work and sight tests.

Most healthcare facilities in Canada are privately run. If you aren’t covered by Medicare, you may need to take out medical insurance.

You’ll find pharmacies in most Canadian towns and cities. Medicines can be expensive, but you should be able to reclaim most costs through Medicare or your insurance provider.

Adjusting to Canada’s size and the remoteness of some towns may take a while. Canada has a large network of highways if you’re wanting to travel around by car. You may be able to use your driving licence from home or an international driving permit when you first arrive, but eventually you may need to take a test for the province or territory you live in.

Buses are efficient and can get you to a number of destinations, especially if you don’t have a car. You can get bus passes by calling or visiting your local bus station. There’s also a rail service which runs across the country.

Cities can be a long way from one another, and a lot of the north isn’t accessible by road so flying is a popular way to travel across the country. There’s a wide choice of independent regional and local airlines, including more affordable options that serve the remote regions.

Ferries are another integral part of Canada’s public transport network. Cities like Toronto, Vancouver, Quebec City and Halifax use ferry services to transport pedestrians, cyclists, vehicles and goods.

Towns and cities also have taxi services you can use. Taxi drivers will have their official ID card to show they are licensed by the city displayed on the dashboard. You can book a taxi in advance or go to a taxi rank. If you want to know how much your journey will cost, ask the taxi driver before you set off or consider using a ride-share app.