Moving from British Columbia to Quebec requires a lot of planning. This guide will go through some of the most important things you’ll need to consider.
The Moving Process from BC to Quebec
How Far is BC from Quebec?
British Columbia and Quebec are almost on the opposite sides of Canada. One facing the Pacific, the other toward the Atlantic, so you can just imagine how complicated the move could be.
For simplicity, we’ll assume that you’ll be coming from one of BC’s major cities moving to one of Quebec’s major cities.
The Vancouver to Montreal combination, is 4,557.9 kilometres away from one another, if travelled via Interstate-90. Flights from Vancouver to Montreal range from nearly 5 to over 6 and a half hours long. Might be far better than a 45-hour non-stop drive.
Another combination is Vancouver to Quebec City, which is 4,812.8 kilometers in between, also via Interstate-90. Flights generally go anywhere from around 7 to 8 hours long.
What is the Average Cost to Move From BC to Quebec?
Moving from BC to Quebec will run you between $6,500 to $10,500+, on average. Note that this is under the assumption that you find an honest moving company for this big move. Dealing with unreliable movers could easily bump your total costs up by over $5k+.
Actual moving costs may differ from these figures depending on factors such as how much stuff you are moving and if there will be anything that could affect load time (elevators, for example).
Take everything into account to get a quote that is as accurate as possible.
Do keep in mind that these estimates are under the assumption that you are moving between main cities. Expect extended driving distances to significantly affect the final cost.
Average Cost to Move a Studio
If you live in a studio, the average move from BC to Quebec should cost about $6,500.
Average Cost to Move a 2 Bedroom
Moving a 2-bedroom home ranges between $8,000-$8,250 on average.
Average Cost to Move a 4 Bedroom
Finally, a 4-bedroom home move should go at an average of about $9,750-$10,500+.
Isn’t That Over-Priced?! I Got Quotes for Just $2.5k!
With a move like this, you have probably gotten a few quotes already. There’s also a pretty good chance that some “mysteriously cheap” quotes have landed on the table at one point.
You must not fall prey to these. It might even appear like a once in a lifetime deal. “$2.5k straight to Quebec? That’s a no-brainer! Sign me up!”
Fast-forward to moving day and you’re in for a surprise: That quote for $2.5 was only meant for 1,000 pounds.
Will this be a good time to book with another mover? No. It’s already too late. Good luck if you can find one. With everything already set up for this big day, you are likely not in a position that will allow for you to make last minute changes. If your stuff doesn’t weigh over 1,000 pounds, good for you.
What if it isn’t?
Unless you live in a small 400 square foot apartment, very likely it really isn’t. Why? Because an average room in a house has around 1,000 pounds worth of stuff. How many rooms do you have?
This is one of those infamous moving scams out there that easily inflates that attractive $2.5k quote into a $10k-$15k nightmare on your budget.
When we estimate our numbers for you, we do our best to let you know that you’ll pay all-in. No extra fees, taxes or surprise charges.
It’s really important to do extensive research on the moving company you’re considering working with. Check them on BBB, customer review sites such as Yelp, and anywhere else you can find reliable, honest customer reviews.
How Is BC Different From Quebec?
Cost of Living: BC vs Quebec
In general, the cost of living in Quebec is significantly lower compared to BC. It is also worth noting that the average salary in Quebec State ($2858 after taxes) is lower compared to the average salary in BC ($3235 after taxes).
For instance, a single person will spend about $2527 a month in Vancouver, 61% of which goes to rent and utilities. That same person will only spend $1881 living in Montreal, with only 49% of that going to rent and utilities.
Crime Rates
According to these statistics, Quebec has a lower crime rate compared to BC- with the former having only 1,129 violent crimes per 100,000 population, while the latter having about 1,574 per 100,000 population.
It would be wise to do further research on the specific towns/cities that you are moving into so you can better evaluate your moving decision.
Public Transportation
It’s difficult to talk about how the public transport systems of the two provinces compare since it totally depends on which city you’re moving into.
For instance, Vancouver’s transit systems rank #2 according to this transit score ranking with 74 points, followed next by Montreal with 67 points at #3.
If you’re a heavy user of public transportation, we highly recommend checking your destination city’s public transport options online. A few google searches on how to get from point A to B should reveal some recommendations written by locals who use these transport methods.
Weather/Climate
If you’re used to the mild rainy oceanic climate of coastal BC, you might need to consider updating your wardrobe, as Quebec’s climate can often be described as quite extremely hot or cold depending on the season – sometimes may even be extreme.
Southern and Western Quebec, including most of the major population centres generally have warm (sometimes hot), humid summers and very cold winters.
Central Quebec, however, has short, warm summers, and long, very cold, and snowy winters. Northern Quebec has very short, cool summers, with very cold winters.
It is a great idea to invest in heavy winter clothing if you plan on moving from BC to Quebec.
Quebec City, for example, is often described as a “winter wonderland”. While the climate may be colder than what you were used to, it wouldn’t be referred to as such for no reason. It’s all about making the best out of what you getting.
Where to Move in Quebec?
Quebec has a picturesque landscapes and towns that can become your new home. Here is a list of a few recommended communities by Maclean’s:
Deux-Montagnes
Ranking as 48th best community in Canada, Deux-Montagnes enjoys an affordable average housing price of around $286,000. The municipality has two commuter train stations – Deux-Montagnes and Grand-Moulin. The average rent for a single bedroom apartment as of April 2017 is $680 based on RentJungle.
According to SalaryExpert, the average annual salary in Deux-Montagnes is $64,467 (CAD).
Blainville
Just like Deux-Montagnes, Blainville is one of the Greater Montreal suburbs. It is a fast-growing community that gains 7.4 percent more residents over the past five years. According to Livingcost.org, the average rent and utilities expense for a single person is $788. The median after-tax salary is around $2938.
Blainville ranks as 51st best community in Canada.
Westmount
If community and culture matters a lot to you, Westmount is a great place to be. Around 5 percent of its population work in the arts. It also has the highest level of community engagement in the country.
The average cost of living for a single person in Westmount is $1812, with $787 of that going to rent and utilities. Interestingly, homes tend to be larger and more expensive toward the top of the mountain.
The median after-tax salary is around $2881.
Trois-Rivières
Ranking as Number 67 in Canada, Trois-Rivières is a winner when it comes to affordability. According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, there was no increase in the rental rates from last year. Livingcost.org reveals that the average expense of a single person on rent and utilities is at $392. If you are seeking to buy a home, the average price is about $212,000.
The median after-tax salary of $2692 is well enough to cover most basic expenses, and if you’re well-disciplined with your finances, it wouldn’t be difficult to grow your savings.
Sherbrooke
Immediately following Trois-Rivières, Sherbrooke (ranking at Number 68) is one of the top cities in the commuting category. That’s because a large chunk of the population take the public transport to work.
According to livingcost.org, the average cost of living for a single person in Sherbrooke is around $1217, with $398 going to rent and utilities. As for the median after-tax salary, it is around $2803. Just like Trois-Rivières, this is very attractive if you plan on building your savings.
Selling Your Property in British Columbia
Now that you’ve finally decided on moving to Quebec, one of the things you may need to get sorted out is to have your property in BC sold. Work with a great realtor so that you can get the best value for your property. If you need help getting an excellent realtor, we recommend getting in touch with Josh KepKay of Vancouver Real Estate Today.
Josh has an extensive network and can definitely help get your home sold. You can speak to him at (604) 313-9805.
Securing A New Job In Quebec Before Your Big Move
One important thing you need to do before you’ve fully moved to Quebec is to get a new job.
According to Abhinav, Quebec has a need for different kinds of managers, and other skilled personnel such as financial analysts and human resource officers.
City Jobs
As you might have seen in Abhinav’s list, Quebec offers numerous job opportunities. Available opportunities depend on which city you’re moving into. Here are some of the job pages for some some of the major cities in Quebec: Quebec City, Montreal, and Sherbrooke.
If your new city isn’t listed above, simply Google “city of *your city* jobs” and you should find their jobs page on the first results page.
Indeed
Being the largest jobs website in Canada, Indeed lists over 62,000 jobs as of November 2020 – and it’s still growing as more and more companies exclusively post on Indeed. This should be your go-to website for exploring job opportunities.
Word of Mouth
If you work for a highly-specialised industry, word of mouth could be an instrumental method in your quest for a new job. Your personal and professional network may know of somebody who is in need of your skills. It would be a great idea to update your LinkedIn profile and do a quick post about your job search. This will also let your connections know about your move.
Moving from BC to Quebec Checklist
1. Moving from BC to Quebec covers a long distance – so it’s can be, unsurprisingly, pretty costly. Consider the number and weight of the items that will need to be hauled over to Quebec. How much would the additional baggage costs be if you’re taking some of your items on your flight? Research the costs associated with your move and plan your budget thoroughly (see pricing section above!).
2. Reach out to as many movers and get as many quotes as possible. Get a quote for exactly how much stuff you have. Some moving companies may turn you down or charge an extra due to the distances involved. If that far exceeds your budget, you might have to check on more affordable alternatives such as a portable moving container or U-Haul. These, however, may prove tedious. But if you’re in a really tight budget, it might be worth the extra effort.
3. As mentioned earlier, Quebec has very cold winters and could have extreme weather conditions. Get your housing sorted out before your trip. This is very important, especially when you have kids. You wouldn’t want to find yourself without a home in freezing weather conditions.
If you need help buying a property in Quebec, you can reach out to Marie Paule Lancup, who has many connections in Quebec and can help you find you find the perfect home for the new chapter of your life.
4. If you have school-aged kids, settle everything that needs to be dealt with for your upcoming move. This includes the school your kids are currently enrolled in and the school that your kids will be attending in Quebec. Your choice of schools will depend on which city you will be moving into.
You can check this database of public schools in Quebec.
Alternatively, you can check out some of Quebec’s private schools here.
5. Use this Government of Canada website as a starting point to guide you with your change of address. You would also have to update your address with your other services – such as financial products and ongoing subscriptions.
6. Talk to everyone important in your life regarding your move to Quebec. It’s never a nice feeling when someone important to you moves away without you knowing about it. Besides, you’ll never know if you’ll need them again at some later point in your life.
Seek the advice of the people who truly have your best interests at heart. Weigh your options, the pros and the cons, and how will it affect your future. It never hurts to ask for help.
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