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Looking to make your dream of moving to Canada a reality? For all the little details on how to move to Canada from the US, we’ve developed this handy guide. From visa applications to expected living costs, learn all you’ll need to know before strapping on your winter coat and making the big move to the Great White North!
It’s no secret that moving abroad costs a pretty penny –even if you’re only moving to our ‘Neighbor to the North‘. It’s only natural that the first thing to come to mind when moving to Canada is how much it will actually cost.
Generally speaking, there are multiple factors associated with international moving costs. However, the transport of your belongings tends to be the biggest expense, which is largely influenced by the size of your move.
Sirelo Tip! Having trouble figuring out the size of your move to Canada? We got your back! Our trusty moving space calculator is super simple to use and will automatically give you the estimated size of your move in cubic feet!
If this all sounds a little vague, we get it! That’s why we compiled the average costs of moving to Canada for a three-bedroom household from the East Coast to Canada below.
| Destination | Sea-freight | Road Transport |
| Toronto, Ontario | $5,400 – $7,300 | $2,400 – $3,300 |
| Montreal, Québec | $5,300 – $7,200 | $2,000 – $2,800 |
| Vancouver, British Columbia | $6,700 – $9,100 | $9,800 – $13,200 |
| Calgary, Alberta | $8,600 – $11,400 | $7,900 – $10,800 |
Disclaimer: Please are that the above rates are based on estimates and prices will vary depending on your point of departure.
Moving to Canada from the Pacific side of things? Below you can find a list of the average moving costs for a three-bedroom household:
| Destination | Sea-freight road | Road Transport |
| Ottawa, Ontario | $7,200 – $9,700 | $9,100 – $12,200 |
| Montreal, Québec | $6,800 – $9,200 | $9,300 – $12,600 |
| Victoria, British Columbia | $5,500 – $7,500 | $4,500 – $6,200 |
| Edmonton, Alberta | $7,400 – $10,100 | $6,000 – $8,200 |
Disclaimer: Please are that the above rates are based on estimates and prices will vary depending on your point of departure.
Are you searching for movers to Canada? You’re in the right place. Take a look at the 3 best international removal companies from America to Canada:
By now you’ll have noticed that the price ranges for moving to Canada are not quite exact (and sometimes quite large). This makes it all the more important to find the best price from the right moving company for your particular move. Otherwise, you may begin your new life in Canada off on the wrong foot.
Want to make sure you get the most accurate price possible before moving to Canada? By filling out the form below, you’ll be able to receive up to five free moving quotes!
If remembering a move’s every little detail seems like an easy task for you, then you’re definitely one of the lucky ones. But just in case you want to give your memory an extra hand, we recommend noting the following points to make sure you’ve got it all covered when moving to Canada.
Sirelo Tip! Interested in a longer and more detailed checklist? Our moving abroad checklist is here to help. 😉
Besides mere costs, another crucial point in this ‘How to Move to Canada‘ guide is the visa and residency application process. Depending on your reason for moving to Canada, you will have to apply for either a work visa or a permanent residency.
Make sure to check first if you’re eligible to apply for these permits before starting any process!
To legally work in Canada, foreign workers must have a work visa. Work visas come in two ways: open work permits and employer-specific permits.
With an open work permit, you’d be allowed to work for any employer in Canada. Easy-peasy! An employer-specific permit, on the other hand, only allows you to work for a particular employer. Obtaining a Canadian work visa costs around $155 CAD ($117 USD).
In Canada, work visas are issued to different types of workers –temporary workers, business people, students, and caregivers. You must keep in mind that there are specific requirements for each type of worker, which can even make us a little dizzy… As well, eligibility requirements differ depending on whether you apply from inside or outside of Canada.
Good news! If you’re moving to Canada from the US as a skilled immigrant, you’ll eligible to apply for Express Entry. This is only applicable if you’re planning to become a permanent worker rather than just a temporary one. Score!
Planning on making the Great White North your forever home? Then you’ll need to apply for full permanent residency. There’s three main ways you can obtain a permanent residency:
To ensure you have a long and happy life in Canada, it’s important that you familiarize yourself with the healthcare system before moving to Canada.
Equally important is to arrange health insurance (the not-so-glamorous part of moving abroad…). Because Canada offers universal healthcare, if you’re a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident then you’re entitled to public health insurance. Hallelujah!
In every province, most basic medical services are generally covered by this insurance. But it would be too easy if there weren’t extra little details to it, so it’s important that you research local health ministries about your coverage.
Private insurance is also there to boost your coverage for blind spots in the universal healthcare system (Canada would be too perfect without a few blind spots, right?). This is particularly effective for:
If you’d prefer, you can also take out international health insurance in the United States before or after moving to Canada. With it, you’ll enjoy added coverage for medical emergencies and routine healthcare work. One less worry!
Even though it goes without saying, when moving to Canada it might be smart to open a Canadian bank account. Here’s the set of documents you’ll need to open an account with most banks:
Now for everyone’s favorite topic… taxes! We recommend that you check out the Canadian Government’s website for further information about personal taxes, business taxes, and much more.
Do keep in mind that as a US citizen, your income is still subject to U.S. income tax regardless of where you reside (and they’ll come to find you…). Therefore, it’s important to understand the tax implications of a US citizen moving to Canada.
How hard is it to find a job in Canada? In many cases, it’s no easier or harder than back home. As we mentioned before, you’ll need a work permit in order to legally work in Canada. In case you’re planning on moving to Canada without a specific job, you’ll need to apply for an open work permit.
When looking for a job in Canada, many online job boards will be familiar to many of you already:
As of 2022, the average salary in Canada for full-time workers is about $65,775 (and on a year-over-year upswing). Region has a big impact, however, as industry and opportunity are not distributed evenly.
For example, the highest average salary in Canada is in the Northern Territories at over $80,000 due to the timber and petroleum industries (with those icy winds, you better be paid good money to live there!). Nova Scotia, on the other hand, has a fishing, and shipping-based economy, that is as low as $50,000.
For American families considering moving to Canada, much of the Canadian education system will appear familiar. Education levels in Canada span kindergarten through the 12th grade, and typically follow a similar academic calendar as in the US.
However, certain details vary per province, such as the school starting age or if late elementary/early secondary school years are grouped into middle (or junior high) schools.
Because access to education in Canada is free and funded through local taxes, the quality of education in affluent communities is often reflected in property prices.
| Age | School type | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| 5-6 | Kindergarten | |
| 6-7 | Elementary school | 1 |
| 7-8 | Elementary school | 2 |
| 8-9 | Elementary school | 3 |
| 9-10 | Elementary school | 4 |
| 10-11 | Elementary school | 5 |
| 11-12 | Elementary school | 6 |
| 12-13 | High school | 7 |
| 13-14 | High school | 8 |
| 14-15 | High school | 9 |
| 15-16 | High school | 10 |
| 16-17 | High school | 11 |
| 17-18 | High school | 12 |
Children are eligible to start in public schools between ages 4 – 5. Many parents choose to wait until their child is five years old, especially if their four-year old’s birthday lies close to the ‘cut-off’ date for enrollment. There are certainly things you can start too soon!
Canadian law mandates that all children attend elementary school, with grade-level skipping or withholding an accepted but not so common practice.
Elementary education in Canada is noted for the early introduction of second-language learning, with an emphasis on French as other of Canada’s two official languages.
Secondary education in Canada (or high school) may or may not include grades six through eight, which would be separated into middle (or junior high) schools. This varies by province and school district.
In Canada it is compulsory for students to attend school until age 16, or the 10th grade. However, in certain provinces this mandatory age is 18 (such as in Ontario, Manitoba, and New Brunswick).
Because public education in Canada is so well funded, there is little need for private schools at the secondary level. As a result of the standardized curriculum of Canada’s public schools, Canadian school children receive a uniformly high-quality education. Smart to be smart!
University students in Canada enjoy a wide range of top universities. In fact, of Canada’s 98 total universities, 26 rank among the top 100 in the world! The University of Toronto and McGill University top the list as the two highest ranking among these.
While post-secondary education in Canada is not free, it is significantly more affordable than in the US. On average, tuition at Canadian universities costs $5,000 per year for a standard four-year program– in contrast to the $32,000 American average!
However, this tuition rate is only available to Canadian citizens and residents, as international students are subject to higher tuition rates. Bummer…
Like many American universities, those in Canada utilize a campus model and provide on-campus housing for students. In some cases, however, securing a spot can be competitive and there is a growing popularity of students leasing independent apartments (especially in larger cities).
You may be asking yourself, is living in Canada expensive? Well, we’ll ask you, when moving to Canada where will you go? The cost of living in Canada will vary depending on the city that you live in as well as on the number of people in your household (and all those mouths to feed).
Excluding rent, the average cost of living in Canada living costs for a 4-person family per month is around $3,800 CAD. Generally, the most expensive cities to live in include:
When we say the above cities are the most expensive to live in, we mean it. To live a comfortable life, the cost of living in Canada varies wildly all because of rent. Take a look at these average rent prices per city:
| City | One-bedroom Apt. | Two-bedroom Apt. | Single Family Home |
| Toronto | $1,500 | $2,500 | $4,500 |
| Vancouver | $1,300 | $1,800 | $4,000 |
| Montreal | $700 | $1,000 | $2,500 |
| Winnipeg | $800 | $1,300 | $2,000 |
Why such a difference? Canada has relatively few major urban centers compared to its enormous landmass, so wherever it’s ‘happening’ a heavy price tag follows. In addition, both opportunity and quality of life factor big into these inflated rents.
Canada is sometimes referred to as a European country across the Atlantic. Some go as far as calling it ‘Candinavia’, because living in Canada includes so much public welfare and progressive values. Score!
For many Americans, living in Canada will be much the same as living back home, only different. While cities and towns look largely the same, Americans moving to Canada will doubtlessly experience some uncanny moments. Canadians are famous for their politeness, and often express deep concern and attention for others even in casual scenarios, which may require an adjustment period.
As you look ahead to moving to Canada, know that there are also a bunch of other Americans moving to Canada too. Or they’ve already moved!
There’s always been a lot of movement across these borders, and in recent years this has only increased. Populations of American expats tend to gather around major cities, with Ottawa, Vancouver, Edmonton, Oakville, and St Albert being the top 5.
Therefore, if you ever get homesick, it shouldn’t be too hard to find other Americans living in Canada to connect with via popular expat networks!
There’s many reasons why you could be moving to Canada from the US. Whatever your reason may be, it doesn’t hurt that there are some added benefits to living in Canada! Of course, with any upside comes a downside, so we also include some negative points as well for the pros and cons of moving to Canada:
We hope we’ve managed to give you a better understanding of how to move to Canada. In case you need some extra assistance, at Sirelo we got your back! Check out the articles we have linked below for you –they’ll be of great help!
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