Looking for Swiss Expats in Canada?

If you’re a new or soon-to-be expat in Canada, you probably aren’t quite sure yet what it will be like. That’s why we gathered the answers to some key questions you may have about life in Canada. If you want to ask more specific questions — or even share your own tips — join InterNations! You’ll be part of a community of new and experienced expats who love to help each other out.

What are the most common nationalities in Canada?
As an expat in Canada, you'll meet people from many different cultures (especially if you're an InterNations member!) The top nationalities in the InterNations Communities in Canada currently are:

• Indians
• **French **
• British
• Americans

Which cities are most popular among expats in Canada?
Some cities attract more expats than others. These are the cities with the largest expat communities in Canada:

• Ottawa
• Montreal
• Vancouver

How much rent do expats pay in Canada?
Your personal situation plays a role here. Single expats spend on average 1176 USD on their accommodation per month, while expat families spend around 1.911 USD. And of course, rents can also vary greatly depending on the location and city within Canada.

To give you an idea of what to expect, here are some rent averages for the most popular cities in Canada.

Average rent in Ottawa

• Single expats: 1.249 USD
• Expat families: 2.058 USD

Average rent in Montreal

• Single expats: 1.051 USD
• Expat families: 1.882 USD

Average rent in Vancouver

• Single expats: 1.935 USD
• Expat families: 3.309 USD

How safe is Canada?
You may be wondering about safety. In general people perceive their personal safety situation in Canada as safe. People rate the risk of falling victim to petty crime (such as pickpocketing or minor theft) as moderately high.
They consider the chance of being the victim of violent crime (including mugging) low. And, they rate confidence in the police force and related local authorities as very high.

How safe is Canada for women?
Female expats rated the safety situation in Canada as very safe. This is based on the feedback of expat women living in Canada (rather than actual crime statistics). So obviously this can be highly subjective and depends on factors such as where people live.

Every year, we publish one of the biggest global surveys among expats — asking them about various aspects of their life, from work to leisure. Learn what motivated our Swiss members to move abroad, what keeps them there, and what they struggle with or miss about home.

Of course, expat living in Canada is not just about shipping your belongings and filing in some bureaucratic papers. Regular socializing with fellow Swiss is an essential part of expat life and helps getting accustomed to the Canadian way of life and mentality. InterNations helps you connect and meet up with other Swiss in Canada, residing in Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver and many other places throughout the country. Just take a look at our group of Swiss in Toronto or Swiss in Montréal.

If you ever wish to have a chat in your native language, discover where to shop for Swiss food or discuss your favorite sports team's latest match, become a member of the Canadian InterNations Community:

• Look up our top quality network to get to know open-minded expats from Switzerland in Canada.
• Obtain and share insider tips in our Canada Expat Forums – e.g. how to hire a babysitter fluent in your native tongue for your children or where to get rösti in Montreal.
• Search the InterNations Places database for Canada to get information on institutions from your home country, including the Swiss embassy.

From the sublime Canadian Rockies to French-speaking Québec, with its strong provincial identity, we’ll help you connect with supportive and friendly Swiss expats in Canada.

Moreover, please feel free to attend our regular expat events and activities in Canada. Our get-togethers are very diverse and range from a cozy gathering to enjoy the traditional Canadian maple pancakes, to big expat celebrations with hundreds of participants in Ottawa’s best locations. You can also participate in one of our expat trips to go and see B.C.'s pristine wilderness as well as other beautiful landmarks in Canada.

Our meet-ups and activities are a great opportunity to mingle with expats from Switzerland and various other countries in a casual setting. Interested? Just sign up and you’ll soon be receiving a cordial Grüezi, salut, buongiorno, bainvegni from our Swiss living in Canada!