The pros and cons of 11 Canadian cities to help you decide on your working holiday adventure destination

Canada’s second-biggest city is a top destination for tourism in North America. Sometimes referred to as “Canada’s cultural capital,” it’s a no-brainer choice for many French speakers but also a tempting option for anyone looking to embrace a multicultural lifestyle in a vibrant city.

Why should I go to Montreal?

• Montreal never really sleeps! With unmatched cultural offerings and world-famous events, festivals and nightlife, you’ll never be bored. And it’s a very livable city despite the hustle and bustle too.
• It’s also an economically dynamic city with great work opportunities in many industries.
• Even though the cost of living is going up, Montreal remains much more affordable than Toronto or Vancouver.
• Montreal is ideally located at the crossroad of northern Quebec, eastern Canada and Ontario. It is also easy to fly to Western Canada or to Europe from Montreal.
• All kinds of cultural and ethnic communities are represented and everybody feels welcome in this thriving diversity.

Just keep in mind that…

• French is the official language in Quebec and a certain level of proficiency is required (or willingness to learn!) to find work, deal with all aspects of life and connect with the culture.
• Note that Quebec is the preferred destination for French-speaking Working Holiday permit holders, so you’ll face more competition for typical backpacker jobs.
• Skip Montreal if your main goal is to improve your English-language skills!
• Montreal tends to be humid—winters are cold and snowy, summers are hot and stuffy.
• Expect bumpy roads and year-round construction work everywhere.

For more info, read Everything you need to know about living, working or studying in Montreal.