The metropolis with a population of more than 4 million is none other than Montreal, the largest city in Canada after Toronto’s famous city. Over the past few years, the vibrant city of Toronto has surpassed Montreal as Canada’s commercial capital. However, Montreal is still an important center for trade, art, culture, and architecture in Canada.
Geographically, Montreal is located in eastern Canada and southwestern Quebec. Montreal is located 539 km northeast of Toronto and 190 km east of Ottawa.
Montreal has access to open waters. About 67% of its inhabitants are French-speaking, but English is also spoken in Montreal, and many residents use both languages. Montreal is a city with a collection of different cultures. The city of Montreal is one of the major centers for Iranian immigrants in Canada.
Weather in Montreal
Montreal has cold, snowy winters and hot, sultry summers. Montreal’s humid weather is varied and seasonal. In winter, from December to February, there is a lot of snow in this city, and sometimes in spring and autumn, it also snowy. In January in Montreal, Canada, the temperature was much lower than the freezing, with the average low temperature reaching 7 degrees Fahrenheit (-14 degrees Celsius) this month. The cold weather intensifies as the wind cools.
From June to August, sunny days and a pleasant climate are formed in summer, and the temperature rarely rises above 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius). It may rain all year in Montreal, but summer is the rainiest season of the year. One of Montreal’s weather characteristics is the possibility of heatwaves in late autumn, which is of the same quality as in Indian summers and occurs regularly.
Study in Montreal
Students in Montreal enter school at the age of 5 and, if they intend to pursue a college education, must complete a two-year college course (after completing an 11-year school course). The language of instruction at Montreal Public Schools is French. In Montreal, there are also English-language public schools for students whose parents are Canadian citizens and have completed their English studies.
English is taught as a second language in French-language schools. It should be noted that Montreal Private Schools and several other Quebec schools are bilingual. Many students choose private schools to study for, but they have an entrance exam (private schools are mostly for high school). Another option for non-French-speaking immigrants is to enroll in Montreal International Schools, with an average tuition fee of approximately C $ 25,000.
The requirements for enrollment vary from one (international) school to another. It also has Montreal, English-language colleges, and universities. McGill or Concordia universities are among the English-language universities that are good options for students who want to continue their English studies.
Although these universities’ courses are taught in English, it should be noted that it is necessary to learn French to live in Montreal.
Tourist Attractions in Montreal
As the most significant French city in Canada, Montreal has many cultural and artistic attractions. Montreal attractions include museums, art galleries, and historic buildings with beautiful architecture. Other attractions include the Royal Mountain, which attracts many visitors to Canada.
Other Montreal attractions for travelers planning to visit include museums such as the Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art, the Biodome, and the Olympic Park. The Biodome Museum, the Botanical Garden, and the Plantarium Museum are also among the museums of Montreal’s natural sciences. Among them, the Biodome Museum is one of the most famous museums for tourists.
There are also other places in Canada where tourists can visit the colorful butterflies and penguin’s habitat. The Olympic Park is also built for professional athletes for the Summer Olympics.
The cost of living in Montreal
According to the best Iranian Realtors, the cost of living in various Canadian cities is one of the most critical issues applicants for immigration to this country are always looking for. The cost of living varies from state to state in Canada. Awareness of these costs can affect the choice of city and state of residence. The city of Montreal, Canada, has always been famous for its low cost. The costs of Montreal’s Canadian city are discussed in detail below, but it should be noted that there will be many variables.
The cost of food in Montreal
- A meal in a popular area with a drink cost 17 Canadian dollars.
- A Canadian fast food meal cost 10 Canadian dollars.
- Five hundred grams of boneless chicken breast cost 7 Canadian dollars.
- One liter of milk costs 2.39 Canadian dollars.
- Twelve eggs cost 3.88 Canadian dollars.
- One kilogram of tomatoes costs 3.77 Canadian dollars.
- Five hundred grams of local cheese cost 10 Canadian dollars.
- One kilogram of apples costs 3.95 Canadian dollars.
- One kilogram of potatoes cost 2.40 Canadian dollars.
- 2 liter Coca-Cola is 2.36 Canadian dollars.
- Bread for two people per day cost 2.13 Canadian dollars.
Types of housing costs in Montreal
- The cost of monthly rent for a furnished house with an area of 85 square meters in expensive areas is 1663 Canadian dollars.
- The monthly rent of a furnished house with 85 square meters in typical areas is 1306 Canadian dollars.
- The monthly heating, electricity, and gas in houses with 85 square meters for two people are 145 Canadian dollars.
- The monthly rent for a furnished house with 45 square meters in expensive areas is 1298 Canadian dollars.
- The monthly rent for a furnished house with 45 square meters in common areas is 792 Canadian dollars.
- The monthly heating, electricity, and gas in houses with 45 square meters for two people are 74 Canadian dollars.
- The monthly internet cost is 8 megabytes is 43 Canadian dollars
- 40-inch LCD TV is 424 Canadian dollars
- Microwave 800 watts Bosch, Panasonic, LG, Sharp, is 140 Canadian dollars.
- Powder or washing liquid approximately 2 liters is 11 Canadian dollars.
- The cost of one hour of labor to clean the house is 18 Canadian dollars.
Cost of clothing in Montreal, Canada
- Jeans are 75 Canadian dollars.
- Summer clothes of Zara brands and similar are 56 Canadian dollars.
- A pair of Adidas sneakers and similar brands is 111 Canadian dollars.
- A pair of formal leather shoes is 113 Canadian dollars.
Shipping costs in Montreal
- The cost of one liter of gasoline is 1.33 Canadian dollars.
- Taxi fare on a working day (8 km) is 36 Canadian dollars.
- The cost of a monthly ticket is public transportation by subway, and the bus is 83 Canadian dollars.
Health costs in Montreal
- Cold tablets for six days are 10 Canadian dollars.
- A pack of antibiotic pills is 17 Canadian dollars.
- The cost of a private doctor’s visit (15 minutes) is 121 Canadian dollars.
- Body and clothing deodorant spray are 4.13 Canadian dollars.
- Shampoo (400 ml) is 5.54 Canadian dollars.
- Four rolls of paper towels are 2.42 Canadian dollars.
- Toothpaste is 2.65 Canadian dollars.
- The cost of a men’s hairdresser is 23 Canadian dollars.
The cost of Montreal entertainment services
- The cost of a meal for two people in the Restaurant is 44 Canadian dollars.
- Two cinema tickets cost 25 Canadian dollars.
- Two theater tickets in a particular place cost 144 Canadian dollars.
- Coffee costs in the coffee shop are 4.19 Canadian dollars.
- IPad 125 gig is 657 Canadian dollars.
- One minute of mobile traffic without a plan and a discount cost 0.36 Canadian dollars.
- The monthly fee for club membership in commercial areas is 48 Canadian dollars.
These are estimates as the day we are writing this article.
Where do we live in Montreal?
Each area and neighborhood in Montreal has its atmosphere and character. But before choosing a neighborhood to live in Montreal, it’s a good idea to consider your French ability.
Montreal’s neighborhoods, such as Hampstead, Notre Dame de Grace, and Westmount, are often English-speaking. But other Montreal areas, such as Rosemont, are French-speaking. You’ll find fewer English-language street signs, newspapers, and shops in these areas, and few people will be available to speak English in each neighborhood.
In the Plateau or Mount Royal neighborhoods near downtown Montreal, most English citizens are bilingual and can easily communicate with you in English and French.
Renting a home is the most popular option that encourages immigrants to live in downtown Montreal. It should be noted that the city of Montreal has the lowest rental rate among major Canadian cities.
Neighborhoods such as Plateau, Mount Royal, and Rosemont have small yet tall houses, and in appearance, each like a small town.
All of these areas and neighborhoods have affordable housing and low crime rates. The average rent for an apartment in these areas varies from $ 1,000 to $ 2,000 per month for a two-bedroom unit.
These neighborhoods have a variety of facilities for residents such as grocery stores, fruit and vegetable stores, home appliance stores, a variety of hospitals and clinics, boutiques and cafes, and bars and restaurants; At the same time, it has easy access to buses and subway lines.
According to Iranian Realtors in Montreal, the famous Notre Dame de Grace, Laval, and Kirkland neighborhoods on Montreal’s outskirts have an average price to buy a home.
Those who want to buy expensive property can go to the Westmount neighborhood with houses worth approximately 900,000 to 5 million dollars.
Meanwhile, St. Michel, Park Extension, and Montreal North are less prevalent in Montreal. They are considered one of the city’s weakest neighborhoods due to violence and criminal groups.
Advantages and disadvantages of living in Montreal
Advantages
- In 2010, Montreal’s city was ranked among the top cities in terms of quality of life.
- According to Iranian Realtors in Canada, renting and buying a home in this city is very affordable.
- Getting around the city is easy because of the advanced public transportation system and bike lanes on the streets. Montreal residents can easily travel around the city without a car.
- The province of Quebec offers some French classes for immigrants who want to learn the language and lower Quebec residents’ tuition fees than those living in other provinces.
- The city of Montreal is one of the cultural, artistic, and social hubs.
- According to statistics published in Canada, 94% of Montreal residents report that they are satisfied with their lives, which is higher than the Canadian average. And more than 80 percent of citizens reported being in good health.
Disadvantages
- People who are weak in French have difficulty finding work and being employed.
- Montreal winters are colder than in other Canadian cities.
- Due to the shortage of doctors, only 65% of Montreal residents have a family doctor.