montreal apartment prices and areas?

Question

I am an electrician in Seattle looking to relocate to Montreal. I make about $850 U.S. a week here and pay about $1000 U.S. a month in rent which I split with my girlfriend. I am not sure about the electricians wage in Montreal though. I will be receiving my Canadian citizenship at some point also (my father is Canadian). I also speak some french. so where would be the best spot to start living.

Answer 1

I vote Mile-End, nice mix of people. You should be able to get a decent place for less than 1000 (is your girlfriend moving too?). The wiring's bad around there so try to find a landlord who owns a lot of apartments and see if he'll give you a deal if you fix up a few units for him.

Answer 2

You might want to try downtown. There is more variety there and a mix of people who speak French and English. Another area that has more English speakers is Westmount, N.D.G, Montreal West and the West Island, to name a few. As to what an electrician makes I am unsure and for sure they do not make as much as you do in the states. However, rent here is cheaper but can be quite expensive too. My rent is $368 a month for a bachelor but that is kinda rare. You can find a place anywhere from $500 a month for a one bedroom up towards the few thousands for a very nice upscale apartment or condo. Good luck and welcome to Montreal :)
PS. don't let any one who wrote here persuade you from coming here,everyone has the right to go where they want. But of course there are some who are racist angainst English speakers... see below...

Answer 3

In Montreal, you can find a reasonable apartment in a reasonable location from 500 to 600 a month. Of course this price range is more applicable to the areas in and around downtown Montreal. As you go further out on the island (away from the downtown) you'll find that this price range will lower slighlty.

Here is a general search on apartments on Montreal's Craiglist (which is usually a reliable website - I found my apartment on there): http://montreal.craigslist.org/apa/

And here is an article on some general wages in Canada (electricians make about $20 Canadian per hour): http://www.livingin-canada.com/work-salaries-wages-canada.html

Hope you find a wonderful apartment and job in Montreal! I know you will love it here!

Answer 4

don't know what kind of electrician you are but this site concerning "red seal trades' might healp you in getting idea of the work in canada in regards to
working as a construction electriction and an industrial electrician ... since you already work as an electrician it should not be too difficult - I think- ?- to qualify for these trade certifications if it interests you.check out the whole site for more info.

http://www.red-seal.ca/Site/trades/analist_e.htm

As for areas to live check out St.Henri and Pointe St.Charles. Somewhat depressed in some parts but up and coming and nice places to be had if you look.
the weekly arts papers, Voir, ici, Hour and Mirror all have apartment listings to check out:
http://www.voir.ca/une.aspx?zone=1
http://www.icimontreal.com/
http://www.montrealmirror.com/2007/062107/upfront.html
http://www.hour.ca/

here is a new site in which tenants rate landlords, i think there are listings;
http://www.munzer.ca/en/

try to get a heated apartment or one that is on the second floor at least- it is not the rent that gets you so much here as the heating bills!

Welcome and Bienvenue!

Answer 5

You speak some French?

How good are you exactly?

Do you want to immerse yourself in the French-Canadian culture if and when you're relocating to my beautiful hometown or would you rather stay close to your own (we call the English-Canadians "square heads", in case you didn't know, lol!)?

If you'd rather live in an English neighborhood, stick to the West side of Montreal (anything West of Saint-Laurent Boulevard) but if you don't mind mixing with us "froggies", come and join us on the East side, okay buddy?

Good luck finding a place and a job and see you soon, lol!






P.S. Can I ask you why you wish to relocate to Montreal? Of all the cities within Canada, why Montreal, a predominantly French-speaking city within a very French-speaking Canadian province? And your girlfriend, is she American? Does she speak French at all? How does she feel about moving to Montreal? All your idea, I bet, huh?