Natural Beauty & High Costs for Expats in Canada in 2026

Canada makes the basics of expat life easy — but a weak job market and stubborn costs leave many feeling financially stretched.

➡️You’re welcome to use these 2026 Expat Insider results. Please remember to credit InterNations as the source, and where possible, include a link to www.internations.org.

In this article:

In Brief
A Tough Job Market
Nature Shines, Healthcare Strains
Easy to Settle, Harder to Bond
The Practical Side Is a Breeze
Money Worries Top the List
The Typical Expat in Canada
Further Reading

In Brief

Canada lands in the bottom third of the 2026 Expat Insider survey, ranking 27th out of 31 destinations. The country does well where day-to-day life is concerned, placing 14th in the Expat Essentials Index and 19th in the Ease of Settling In Index. But money is the sticking point: Canada finishes dead last in the Personal Finance Index (31st) and near the bottom in the Working Abroad Index (28th). The Quality of Life Index (25th) is a mixed bag, with a beloved natural environment offset by a struggling healthcare system.

All things considered, 64% of expats in Canada are happy with their life there — a touch below the global average (vs. 70% globally).

A Tough Job Market

Work is one of Canada’s weak spots, with it placing 28th in the Working Abroad Index. Expats are downbeat about job security (29th), where 43% feel secure (vs. 54% globally), and about the state of the economy (28th).

Work-life balance disappoints as well (29th): just over half (53%) rate it positively, below the 62% global average — even though the average full-time week, at 41.6 hours, sits below the global norm of 42.2 hours.

The Canadian job market (24th) leaves only 29% satisfied (vs. 38%), and the availability of suitable jobs was among the top pre-move concerns for close to a quarter of respondents (23% vs. 18% globally).

Nature Shines, Healthcare Strains

The Quality of Life Index (25th) splits sharply. Canada’s natural environment is a clear highlight: almost everyone (94%) rates it positively, well above the global 84%, helping the Environment & Climate subcategory reach 12th place. Expats also appreciate the urban environment (8th) and the government’s support for environmental policies (9th).

Opinion

I really enjoy the green spaces and how great Canada is for outdoor sports and activities. (Colombian expat in Toronto)

Opinion

The climate and weather receive less glowing reviews: fewer than two in five (39%) rate it positively (vs. 58% globally). And around a third (32%) were worried about the weather even before their move to the country (vs. 15%). Healthcare, though, is what really drags the index down (27th). Less than half of expats (48%) find healthcare easily available (vs. 71% globally), and not many more (52%) rate the quality of medical care positively (vs. 71%) — both among the lowest results worldwide.

Easy to Settle, Harder to Bond

Canada fares better when it comes to settling in (19th). Locals come across as welcoming — 63% of expats find them friendly toward foreign residents (14th), and a similar share feel welcome in the country (17th). Getting used to the local culture is relatively easy as well (15th).

Building a social life is the harder part. Canada ranks 29th for having a personal support network, with under half (48%) saying they have people to lean on (vs. 58% globally), and 28th for social life satisfaction.

The Practical Side Is a Breeze

Canada’s strongest area is the Expat Essentials Index (14th), driven by easy Admin Topics (9th). Opening a local bank account is especially painless — Canada ranks 2nd worldwide — and dealing with local bureaucracy is smoother than almost anywhere (53% vs. 38% globally). Getting a visa is comparatively difficult, though (24th).

Language is rarely a barrier: expats regard learning the local language(s) as easy (68% vs. 39% globally), with about four in five expats speaking it very well or as a mother tongue (81% vs. 42%).

Digital Life is solid too, from high-speed internet (14th) and the online availability of government services (13th) to cashless payment options (16th), where more than nine in ten (92%) find it easy to pay without cash.

The main blemish is housing: just 15% consider it affordable (26th), less than half of the — already low — global share of 32%.

Opinion

One of the biggest challenges about life in Canada is the high cost of living, especially housing. In many cities, it’s difficult to find affordable options, whether renting or buying. (British expat in Vancouver)

Opinion

Money Worries Top the List

Canada’s weakest result by far is the Personal Finance Index, where it ranks last of all 31 destinations.

Just over half of expats (51%) feel their disposable household income is enough or more than enough for a comfortable life — the lowest score worldwide, and well below the 71% global average.

Views on the cost of living are bleaker still: about two-thirds (66%) rate it negatively (vs. 40% globally). And just two in five (40%) say they’re satisfied with their financial situation (vs. 55% globally).

The strain shows up before arrival, too. High cost of living tops the list of worries expats have before moving to Canada (32% vs. 21% globally).

For all the financial pressures, Canada holds onto its appeal. About a third of expats (32%) say they want to stay forever, above the global 27%, and only 1% are looking to leave as soon as possible. A better quality of life is the top reason people move there in the first place (15% vs. 9% globally) — a sign that, despite the costs, Canada’s draw runs deep.