The views expressed in this Opinion article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.
Toronto-born and raised, I always thought living in Canada’s biggest city was the obvious choice. It was the metropolitan area I was most familiar with and I’d never ventured outside of Ontario except to visit major cities in the U.S. Still, I’d never considered living elsewhere until I met my partner.
He’s a Montrealer who moved to Toronto for university. We started visiting Montreal to see his family and I soon discovered that Montreal is unlike any other city in Canada. It has rich culture and historic buildings. Every neighbourhood has its own unique charm and it almost feels like you’re in a different town every time you walk a few blocks.
When I was considering making the move to Montreal from Toronto, I wrote a pros and cons list. Unsurprisingly, the benefits far outweighed the drawbacks.
Here are some of the biggest (and best) differences between Montreal and Toronto.
The cost of rent
As a twenty-something only a few years out of school, the price of rent was one of the biggest benefits of moving to Montreal. According to the Rentals.ca September 2024 report, the average one-bedroom apartment or condo in Toronto costs $2,445 per month, while in Montreal it costs $1,741 per month.
Someone walks past “For Rent” signs in Montreal.Marc Bruxelle | Dreamstime
During my apartment hunt, I was astonished by the space I could get for less than what I was paying in Toronto. An added bonus was the architectural character of available units. I was happy to say goodbye to the soulless new-build shoe boxes to which I had become accustomed.
Green space
The number of parks in Montreal is astonishing compared to Toronto. It feels as if every street you turn down has a fountain and shaded benches to sit on. Parc La Fontaine, Mont-Royal, Parc Jarry, Parc Westmount, and the Montreal Botanical Garden all allow Montrealers in any neighbourhood to go for a nice walk and escape traffic.
Even in the downtown core, small squares break up the congestion. Toronto has two major green spaces, one far west and the other far east with a highway running through it so to say I was excited by the thought of going for a nature walk without smelling gas fumes was an understatement.
People sit by a water fountain in Montreal’s Old Port.Bobhilscher | Dreamstime
Walkability
I can say truthfully that walking in Montreal is a treat, even if five months out of the year there is snow on the ground. As someone who doesn’t own a car, I rely heavily on transit and walking to get where I need to go. The old tree-lined streets, beautiful architecture, and traffic-calming measures the city has installed make you feel much safer than walking in Toronto.
I was also pleasantly surprised to learn that lots of streets close to car traffic during the summer months. That allows restaurant terrasses (patios, for any Torontonians reading this) and pedestrians to roam through beautiful neighbourhoods that would otherwise be high-traffic zones.
These are some of Montreal’s most walkable streets:
- Avenue du Mont-Royal from boulevard Saint-Laurent to rue Saint-Denis, and rue Saint-Denis to avenue De Lorimier
- Rue Wellington from avenue la 6e to rue Régina
- Rue Sainte-Catherine Est from rue Saint-Hubert to avenue Papineau
- Rue Ontario Est from boulevard Pie-IX to rue Darling
- Avenue Duluth Est from boulevard Saint-Laurent to rue Saint-Hubert
- Rue Saint-Denis from rue Sherbrooke Est to boulevard De Maisonneuve Est – as well as rue Émery
- Rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest from rue De Bleury and boulevard Saint-Laurent – as well as parts of rue Balmoral and rue Clark
- Place du Marché-du-Nord (Jean-Talon Market) from avenue Casgrain to avenue Henri-Julien
- Avenue Bernard from avenue Wiseman to avenue Bloomfield
- Rue De Castelnau Est from rue Saint-Denis to avenue De Gaspé
People sit on a Mont-Royal terrasse while the street is closed to car traffic. Marc Bruxelle | Dreamtime
Montreal Restaurants & Cafés
One of the other benefits of moving to Montreal from Toronto was the number of beautiful independent cafés and restaurants I’ve gotten to try. No matter which neighbourhood you live in, you’re guaranteed that a trendy local spot is just around the corner.
In Toronto, I found that there were a lot of coffee or restaurant chains that took up real estate on the main streets. I was almost always heading into a chain as opposed to a local business simply because they were more convenient to find. Now, I have an infinite list of new places I want to try in my neighbourhood that I’m sure I will be working through for years to come.
Culture
I’ve heard many people compare Toronto to a knockoff of New York, and I feel like for the most part, this is very true. Toronto is Canada’s largest city but doesn’t have any single unique feature about it that lets you know you’re in Canada.
Meanwhile, Montreal is definitely a city with its own culture and personality. From the historic streets of the Vieux-Port to winding staircases in the Plateau, to Art Deco architectural gems, Montreal has a distinct character that no other city in North America can replicate.
Colourful homes in the Plateau.Martine Oger | Dreamstime
I also have fallen in love with how the city embraces winter. Although the snow that never seems to disappear is one of the downfalls of Montreal, the city and the people in it are always up to the challenge of having fun in the cold.
There’s an ice rink down the street from where I live and no matter the day or time, there always seem to be groups of people skating. Each time I walk by, I smile — even if it’s -10 C and I am trudging through the snow.
Toronto past, Montreal present
Whether it’s enjoying lower rent or walking outdoors, Montreal provides a quality of life that’s hard to beat. In comparison to Toronto’s fast-paced lifestyle, Montreal offers a slower, more relaxed lifestyle without sacrificing the excitement of city living.
Moving to Montreal from Toronto was definitely the right choice for me. If you’re considering the same move, don’t hesitate to embrace the change. And if you already live here, hopefully, you appreciate your city a little more.
This article’s cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.
This article has been updated since it was originally published on March 2, 2024.
