Various reasons exist why you might move to a new province, a new school, a new job, or just a change. Regardless of your reasons, this experience can be stressful, and you need to be prepared to ease the process. So, what should you consider when moving to Quebec from Ontario?
You need to consider the linguistic, social, and cultural differences when moving to Quebec from Ontario. You’ll also need to consider location and cost of living in Quebec, influenced by factors such as income taxes, tuition costs, utility costs, housing costs, and health care and insurance costs.
Beyond this, you’ll need to consider these factors independently and streamline them to your reasons for relocating. As such, in this article, we’ll explore the things you need to consider when moving to Quebec from Ontario.
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Things to Consider When Moving to Quebec from Ontario
Here’s a list of factors to consider when considering a move to Quebec from Ontario.
1. Linguistic Consideration
Language is of significant importance when moving from Ontario to Quebec. This is because Quebec is essentially a French-speaking province.
In fact, around 80% of individuals in Quebec speak French, and various documentation and communications occur in French. As such, unless you’re part of the 4.7% of francophone Ontarians, you might have some difficulties communicating with others.
Even more, you might find it difficult to get jobs in some industries if you only speak and understand English, especially if you live outside Quebec City or Montreal.
For instance, you need to speak and understand French if you’re a member of the service industry. As such, if you’re interested in moving to Quebec, you might want to learn some basic French.
You can also maximize Quebec’s government resources for working within the province.
2. Location
You’ll need to determine where you want to stay in Quebec when considering relocating from Ontario. To achieve this, you’ll need to consider the cost of housing, type of housing, your price range, and your employment preference.
This ensures your decision can meet all your needs and stay within your budget.
One good news is that Quebec has various cities that provide access to good employment opportunities, a lively student experience, and rich culture.
Even better, eleven of the 20 cheapest cities for apartment rentals in Canada are in Quebec. So, you should have little to no problem as long as you consider things carefully.
3. Cost of Living
The next thing you should consider is the cost of living in Quebec. Generally, the cost of living in Quebec is cheaper than the cost of living in Ontario.
For instance, the cost of living in Montreal is $1,773, with the average salary and house rent being $2,179 and $1,240, respectively. Similarly, the cost of living in Quebec City is $1,321, with the average salary and house rent being $2,544 and $765, respectively.
This is significantly lower than the cost of living in Toronto, Ontario’s Capital which is $3,098, with the average salary and house rent being $3,048 and $2,393, respectively.
Other factors that can influence the cost of living include:
Income Taxes
Living in Quebec attracts higher tax obligations compared to Ontario. For example, your tax obligation might reach as high as 48.87% of your annual earnings where it’s within the CAD 500,000 bracket.
For instance, If you make $52,000 a year living in Quebec, your total taxes for the year will be $13,572. This means that your salary after taxes will be $3,202 per month or $38,428 per year.
On the other hand, if you live in Ontario your total taxes for the year would be $11,432. Your salary after taxes would be $3,381 per month, a total of $2140 per year more than Quebec.
Transportation Cost
Transportation cost in Quebec is cheaper than Ontario, regardless of whether you opt for public or private transportation.
For instance, a person reported spending less than $650 to obtain a license plate and car insurance in Quebec. On the other hand, this would have cost around $1300 in Ontario yearly.
Utilities
Living in Quebec attracts a lower cost of electricity and water. For instance, the average cost of a kWh is $0.073 in Quebec compared to the $0.13 in Ontario, over a 40% increase.
You also don’t have to worry about paying for municipal water service in Quebec.
Education Cost
The cost of education is also favourable in Quebec compared to Ontario. For instance, university education is generally cheaper in Quebec, such that you can save as much as 25% of the cost associated with studying in Ontario.
4. Cost of Moving
You need to consider the cost of moving more, so determining this can be somewhat complicated. Usually, the cost of moving depends on factors such as family size, number of rooms, type of home, and specific city, among others.
You can always use a quote calculator of moving companies to determine or estimate the cost of moving. Alternatively, you can request an estimate from your preferred moving company to know your financial obligation.
5. Weather
Weather in Quebec is not the same as in Ontario. It is often colder, has more precipitation, and can be unpredictable with cold spells alternating with warm days.
One of the main benefits that Quebecers enjoy is skiing during the winter months which are usually between December – March depending on where you live.
Benefits of Moving to Quebec from Ontario
Moving to Quebec from Ontario comes with some advantages. Here are some things you can expect to enjoy from this change of location.
1. Lower Cost of Living
Moving to Quebec allows you to enjoy a lower cost of living. Generally, housing, electricity cost, health care, and insurance cost are lower than in Ontario. For instance, the cost of living in Quebec is around 25% lower than the national average.
There’s also access to high-paying jobs in urban cities like Quebec City and Montreal and rural towns like Levis. As such, you can easily flourish as a family or individual in this location.
2. Good Health Care
Whether public or private health care, moving to Quebec allows you to enjoy quality healthcare services. For instance, medical care is available to all residents thanks to the Quebec health insurance board. You can also access private insurance based on your preference as an employment benefit.
3. Access to Development Programs
Today, Quebec is home to lots of positive government-funded programs within Canada. These programs cut across areas such as agriculture, education, industry, and community.
These programs help develop various aspects of Quebec, laying a foundation for a successful experience for residents. Moving to Quebec allows you to enjoy them.
4. Celebrates Diversity
Quebec is renowned as an environment that recognizes the diversity and promotes people’s freedom. It celebrates ethnic, religious, and cultural freedom. As such, moving to Quebec allows you to enjoy an environment where you can dream, develop, and grow as an individual, family, and a member of the community.
5. Majestic Beauty
Quebec boasts of majestic sights that can leave you wowed. From various natural attractions to beautiful landscapes and historical sites, moving to Quebec allows you to enjoy a scenic environment.
You also get access to various sports attractions depending on the time of the year.
Can I keep my Ontario doctor if I move to Quebec?
It’s possible to keep this doctor if you are a valid status in Canada. Your Ontario-based doctor will give you referrals when needed until you have established a Quebec-based physician who can take over your care.
They will help you through the process of finding and evaluating doctors in your new place of residence.
It is always important to be careful when making big changes in life, but don’t worry about losing that doctor who seems like such an active part of your life at this time. Be patient as they find the best fitting physician for you.
The wait time for a family doctor in Quebec is about four weeks. The average wait in Ontario was around eight to twelve weeks last year, depending on where you live and what kind of service you are looking for (e.g.: urgent care).
How to Move to Quebec from Ontario
If you’re convinced that moving to Quebec is the right choice, then you’ll need to take the next step. This involves moving to Quebec. Usually, to do this, you’ll need to hire professional movers.
They’re experienced and fully trained people that offer moving services.
Once you hire them, they provide a crew and other resources that you need to pack and load your items safely. They then unpack and fit the items into your new home upon arrival at your destination.
They also ensure that every item is well accounted for while protecting you from unnecessary stress and hassles associated with moving.
The Bottom Line
Moving to Quebec from Ontario can appear daunting at first. However, by carefully considering the pros and cons of living in Quebec, you can decide.
Regardless, you’ll need to consider some factors when moving. Once you choose to move, all that’s left for you to do is get a professional to ease your relocation process.