@amusicated
Montreal resident here, taxes are very high. What you save in rent elsewhere will go toward the government here.
@keboane6843
Out-of-work mid-level SWE/Dev here from Vancouver, you've hit the nails on the pros cons of West Coast life. This vid's giving me better insights on the Canada tech landscape outside the PNW. Thank youuuu. Finding mid-levels are hard outside of the traditional tech companies; it's either junior or senior that are mostly available. It's staggering on the entrepreneurial disparity between US & Canada. I knew Canada lacks that support but didn't realize it's that much. I can imagine how much EU tech can gather outside of state investments. You earned another subscriber! EDIT: The downside of Quebec for me, apart from French-language regulations and more-brutal-winters, is [family] doctor shortage, theirs having worse than Ontario. That's a dealbreaker. Hope that gets sorted out in the following years because Quebec is really beautiful!
@LaidOffLegends
As someone building a support network for laid-off professionals, I can’t thank you enough for putting this series together. So many in our community are exploring global options, especially in Canada, for career recovery and better life balance. Your honest breakdown of the culture, cost of living, and opportunities in each city is incredibly helpful.
@incarnateTheGreat
Fantastic summary! Thanks! I'm a Senior Dev living in Toronto. When you say salaries are FLAT and cost of living is going UP, that basically sums up living here. Not to mention the great influx of people, the rise in crime, and the lack of quality that we get from our tax dollars. I've pondered the move to Montreal for years. What you said about taking a step down financially was always the main issue. There is tons of room for growth there, though. I agree that their tech scene isn't something to ignore; it has been busy for years.
@dhruvbhatia7
As someone in tech who's lived in Canada for 6 years, this video is spot on!
@zalmykarimi5255
Incredible insights and 100% accurate. Really appreciate the thorough research and clear presentation.
@rizztunes
Quebec gives massive subsidies so that "being poor" in Montreal doesn't feel so bad. I heard a report by an economist mentioning that someone with a 29K salary received the equivalent of 25K in subsidies and services over a year so that you live a life as if you'd be making in the 50Ks. However, if you're a high income earner and single, you'll get high taxes in income and capital gain and see your money get redistributed around. Quebec is the absolute best province in Canada to be a low wage earner.
@pddnew
Excellent work! The BEST description of current Vancouver tech market, and in general — 100% accurate! Tough times in the mid-term (or even long-term 5-10 years)!
@MichaelMurkovic
Thanks for this video. Very informative and as Canadian here in Toronto (well, GTA) the descriptions match up
@amitdey5903
I have been living in Toronto for about three months now, and I feel exactly the same way about the city. You summed it up precisely.
@jorgezozaya5049
I landed in Montreal a month ago after relocating from Vancouver, and I couldn’t be happier with the move. So far, I’ve noticed people seem genuinely content—less caught up in money and more present in life. Spring is unfolding, and the vibe is just right. I’m currently building context-aware video editing tools—tech that turns any folder of assets into a narrative using natural language. The goal is to bridge the gap between raw footage and compelling stories, powered by AI. My background is in launching ML-powered web and mobile apps for the advertising industry, wearing both Fullstack Engineer and Creative Director hats. Now, I’m channeling that experience into something I care deeply about: the dance industry. I want to work closely with dancers, choreographers, and studios to launch tools that enhance movement analysis, storytelling, and visibility. I’m looking for a Product Manager and a Creative Director to help shape and scale this. If this resonates with you—even just a little—let’s talk.
@luckylz6417
100% resonate what you commented on Toronto -- from my first-hand professional working experience
@mathieug6136
Hard days ahead for Canada. I decided to leave for a few years at least. The low salaries, high taxes/no healthcare, few job opportunities and the crippling housing cost makes it an unattractive place to live currently.
@silenthill1035
I have worked in many cities in NA, such as Houston, Los Angeles, DC, Nashville, Toronto and Vancouver. You are absolutely right about the top notch talent available in Toronto. I worked on a health survey system during COVID19 pandemic and due to the high speed of releases, there were several rounds of hiring's and I was impressed every single time by the sort of talent available in Toronto. But the downside of so much talent is that Toronto is an insanely competitive place.
@shrutigee
Designer in tech here, i've lived in all the cities you've mentioned, this is by far very accurate! The other reasons for Mtl not scoring high is the quebec taxes and language requirements being enforced - but is by far the most wonderful city to live/ work in. Was wondering why Ottawa didn't feature in this breakdown?
@bohdankravchuk1331
I am an IT in GTA suburb. It was a great place to live some 10 years ago and earlier. However, it's becoming unbearably expensive - taxes are super high, real estate prices are crazy. $100K salary is just to barely survive. In addition to this, it is not safe anymore. Crime on the rise, transportation infrastructure horrible.
@fullfrost
Montreal GDP per capita ~$50k per year Calgary GDP per capita ~$80K per year Toronto GDP per capita ~$73k per year Vancouver GDP per capita ~$66k per year
@pascalforget2015
IT Director at a large financial institution here. From what I'm seeing, salaries in investment banking IT roles are currently (May 2025) on par in Montreal compared to Toronto. There are more people looking for jobs on Toronto right now compared to Montreal, due to the recent rounds of layoffs. In Montreal, recruiting for investment banking tech roles usually means making offers to people who are already employed elsewhere and are not going to make a move unless the base salary increase is worth it. You did not mention investment banking for Montreal in your video, but Morgan Stanley, BNP Paribas, National Bank, RBC, Desjardins and others employ thousands of people here.
@daodanwill
I just moved from TRT to SF for a year and this is SO ACCURATE!
@TechButMakeItReal