10 Reasons Why Not to Move to Canada

While you may find on the internet (and from other people who’ve briefly been there), there are seemingly a lot of reasons to move to Canada. But what those sources might omit are the downsides of the cold (pun intended) reality of living in the “Great White North.”

In this post, we’re going to cover some of those downsides.

The weather

Canada’s affectionate name, the Great White North, gives away one of the reasons why people from other countries might find it hard to settle in.

It’s white. It’s to the north. It’s very cold. ❄️ ❄️ ❄️

How cold exactly is Canada? Let’s answer that succinctly:

Canada is extremely cold in winter, with average temperatures ranging from 14°F to –22°F (–10°C to –30°C) in most provinces. Northern regions drop below –40°F (–40°C) for weeks. Coastal areas stay milder at 23°F to 32°F (–5°C to 0°C), but wind chills make conditions feel significantly colder.

Now, depending on where you’re from, this could or could not be a big deal. For example, if you’re moving in from someplace like Greenland or Alaska…the cold is probably something you’ve dealt with already.

However, if you’re coming to Canada from a warmer and tropical country, like Angola or Brazil or Jamaica, etc., you will definitely feel the cold quite a bit. That’s why it is the reason not to move to canada.

The job market

To be clear right from the beginning: this take isn’t to bash Canada’s job market as pathetic or insufficient.

You can find a job in Canada, sure. According to TD Economics (a website), the unemployment rate in Canada fell to 6.9% in October 2025. Statistically, that means that only about 7 people in 100 are without work.

But, with all that glitter, the bitter truth of the Canadian job market, due to which it is one of the reasons of not to move to the country, is that it is difficult to find a well-paying job in the same type of role that you held in your home country even if you have the qualifications for it.

We’ll delve into that in more detail in the next section. But let’s explain it a bit more in the meantime.

How challenging is Canada’s job market?

Pretty challenging, especially if you’re hoping to continue in your exact professional field right away.

Canada’s job market is highly competitive, and many newcomers quickly notice:

• You may work in the same industry, but
• It often takes time, patience, and Canadian work experience to regain your previous level or seniority.

Why is it so competitive?

When you go for a job interview, you’ll likely see:

• A large pool of candidates
• Many of them overqualified
• All competing for the same well-paid positions

This can make the hiring process feel tough, even if you’re very experienced.

What about your credentials?

This is where many newcomers get surprised.

Your qualifications may qualify you to immigrate to Canada but they do not automatically qualify you for the same professional role within Canada’s job market.

That is where we can transition nicely to the topic of Why Not to Move to Canada

Canadian credentials

Another important point to consider before moving to Canada is the need for Canadian credentials. This often surprises newcomers who arrive with strong qualifications and years of experience.

What does “Canadian credentials” mean?

It means that even if you are fully qualified in your home country, your background may not be recognized right away in Canada. Employers often want to see that you understand Canadian standards, workplace expectations, and industry practices.

What might you need to do?

To work in your field, you may need to:

• Revalidate your existing credentials
• Complete a Canadian certification process
• Gain local work experience
• Adapt your skills to Canadian requirements

The exact requirements depend on your profession, your previous experience, and the province or territory you move to.

Is it easy?

Not usually. Many newcomers find that the Canadian job market is demanding and that entering their field can take time and persistence.

Overall, adjusting your qualifications to meet Canadian expectations can be one of the more challenging parts of settling in.

Transportation

Another important point to consider when thinking about moving to Canada is transportation. Many newcomers assume that public transit will be as extensive or convenient as what they’re used to in major U.S. or international cities. But that isn’t always the case.

How reliable is Canada’s public transportation?

It depends heavily on where you live.

Canada’s largest cities, like Toronto, Montréal, and Vancouver, do offer public transit networks that include buses, subways, light-rail, and commuter trains. In dense downtown areas, you may find it easy to get around without a car. However, once you step outside those urban cores, things change quickly.

Why can transportation be challenging?

Several reasons:

• Public transit coverage is limited in many suburbs.
• Transit frequency drops the farther you get from city centres.
• Some routes don’t operate late at night or on weekends.
• Certain neighborhoods may not have stops within walking distance.

This creates a situation where many residents, including newcomers, end up relying on personal vehicles simply because daily life becomes inconvenient without one. In fact, about 4 out of 5 commuters in Canada use a car, truck, or van for work, according to this article: https://www.climatescorecard.org/2025/04/canadas-vast-expanses-of-wilderness-and-long-distances-between-cities-towns-and-rural-communities-create-challenges-for-public-transport-systems.

What if you’re coming from a city with strong public transit?

This is where some people experience real adjustment.

If you’re used to places like New York City, Chicago, London, Singapore, or any city where you can comfortably live without a car, Canadian transportation can feel like a step backward. Even in major regions like the Greater Toronto Area or Greater Vancouver, you may find that you can’t reach every workplace, store, or appointment by transit alone.

Do you have to get a car?

Not always.

If you live in a well-connected downtown neighborhood, you can manage with public transit. But for many newcomers, especially families or anyone moving to suburban communities for affordability, a car becomes more of a necessity than an option.

To sum it up…

Canada’s transportation system isn’t “bad”. It is simply car-dependent in many areas. Understanding this before you move can help you plan where to live, how much to budget, and what kind of lifestyle adjustments you may need to make.

Cell phone bills

One more thing that people don’t think about when deciding whether to move to a new country. Your cellphone bill.

That applies to Canada more aptly than most other countries in the world.

The fifth reason not to move to Canada is that you’ll pay some of the highest wireless prices in the world.

How expensive are Canadian mobile plans?

Quite expensive. According to HelloSafe, which publishes global telecom comparisons, the average cost of mobile data in Canada was CA$7.36 per gigabyte as of September 2023. That puts Canada near the top when it comes to pricey data. The situation is made even more noticeable because the market is dominated by only a few major providers. With less competition, prices tend to stay high.

For newcomers trying to manage housing, transportation, and daily expenses, this becomes another bill to worry about.

Does the high price mean better service?

Not necessarily. You might assume that paying more guarantees exceptional coverage or extremely fast speeds. In reality, service quality varies depending on where you live. Urban centres usually have strong networks. Suburbs and smaller cities can be inconsistent. Rural areas often deal with slower speeds or weaker signals.

So the higher cost does not automatically translate into top-tier Wi-Fi or flawless mobile data.

Are things improving?

Yes, a little. Wireless prices in Canada have begun trending downward, and some newer plans are more affordable than they used to be. This does not erase the fact that Canada still ranks among the more expensive countries for mobile data, but it does show that the market is gradually shifting in a better direction.

Bottom line

You will likely pay more for your cellphone plan in Canada. You may also have moments where the service quality feels underwhelming, especially considering the price.

While improvements are happening, the cost is still high enough that many newcomers find it surprising. Knowing this ahead of time helps you understand what to expect and avoid one more “surprise” expense after you arrive.

Missing your family

Well, this is something that you will have to face regardless of where you go, but it remains, nevertheless, a reason that you should not move to Canada.

You’ll miss your family. Your loved ones won’t get to see you as often as they can when you’re living close by.

It’s not easy to fly back every month or so.

People who’ve moved away from their families will tell you that even though they might not feel as “connected” with the folks while living with them, they definitely feel the absence afterward.

There’s not much to say on this other than that, really.

Distance between cities

Another thing worth keeping in mind when thinking about moving to Canada is the distance between major cities.

Now, to be fair, not everything is far.

If you live in the Greater Vancouver area, places like Burnaby, Richmond, and Surrey are close enough that your commute might only take 20 to 40 minutes. The same is true in Toronto, where Mississauga and Brampton are practically next door.

However, that convenience can be misleading. Most of Canada’s major cities are nowhere near each other, and this is where many newcomers get surprised.

How far apart are Canada’s big cities?

Let’s take a look. Toronto to Montréal is about a 5 to 6-hour drive. Montréal to Halifax takes 12 to 13 hours. If you live in Calgary and want to visit friends in Edmonton, that is still a 3-hour drive.

And if you decide to travel from Vancouver to Edmonton, you’re looking at an 11 to 12-hour trip through mountain ranges.

These distances can feel extreme if you’re used to places where large cities are tightly packed.

Source: Google Maps (In the image above, the red line is connecting Edmonton to Vancouver. This small line is over 1,100 KM in reality.)

For example, you can drive from Atlanta to the Florida border in under 4 hours. From New York City, you can reach Philadelphia in about 90 minutes, or Washington, D.C. in roughly 4 to 5 hours.

In the northeastern United States, you pass through multiple major cities in the time it takes to go from Montréal to Toronto. In Canada, you often pass forests, mountains, or prairies instead.

What does this mean for you?

City-to-city travel can be long and sometimes expensive. Flights become the more practical option, but even domestic flights can add up. If you’re the kind of person who likes weekend trips or has friends spread across the country, you’ll probably notice quickly how far everything feels.

Bottom Line

Overall, even though some local cities are close together, the major population centres are separated by vast distances. This can make travel feel less convenient, and it's something many newcomers only discover once they’re already here.

High housing costs

Let’s talk about housing, because this is another reason you may want to reconsider moving to Canada. Whether you decide to buy or rent, you should know that the market here is not friendly to newcomers. It is one of the biggest financial hurdles people face after arriving.

How expensive is the housing market, really?

According to Tradingeconomics.com, the average price for a home in Canada was 688,800 CAD in October 2025.

That number alone gives you a sense of what you are walking into. Even if you choose to rent instead of buying, those high prices influence everything. Rents can be quite steep and availability can be scarce.

Does this mean there are no affordable options at all?

There are smaller towns where prices are lower.

However, most newcomers move to the larger cities where the jobs and opportunities are, and that is where housing costs are at their worst. Toronto, Vancouver, and parts of Calgary have rental and purchase prices that take a significant portion of your income.

Many people feel forced into compromising on space or quality just to make things work.

Is this something you will notice right away?

Yes, of course. Housing is one of the first challenges you deal with when arriving in Canada. It affects your cost of living and budget. The housing cost may even drive you to change your decision regarding which city to live in.

High cost of living

We’ve talked about the cost of housing. Let’s talk about the general cost of living, because that is also a reason why you should not move to Canada.

What kind of monthly budget should you expect?

According to Bright!Tax, a single person living in a Canadian city can expect to spend around CAD $2,500–$4,000 per month, depending on where they live and how they live.

That range already tells you something: the lower end may feel manageable, but the higher end is not far off what many Americans pay in big U.S. metros.

Does the cost really vary that much by location?

Yes, it does. And quite dramatically.

Big cities like Vancouver or Toronto push you toward the upper end of that budget range. Smaller centres and less-dense regions might fall closer to the CAD $2,500 mark. But if you’re headed to a major job market, expecting the low-cost scenario could lead you into a budget trap.

When we say cost of living, are we just talking about the housing?

No, housing is a big piece of it, but the cost of living encompasses groceries, utilities, transportation, and everyday goods.

What should you take away from this?

If you move to Canada without budgeting for a somewhat elevated cost of living, you may find you are spending more than you planned. It does not mean you cannot live well. You can. However, if you assume costs will be lower or comparable to those in smaller U.S. cities, you will likely be surprised.

In short, the overall cost of living in Canada is a meaningful downside to consider. If you are relocating, factor in not just housing but the collective impact of all expenses and choose your city accordingly.

Language barriers

Language is something many people underestimate when thinking about moving to Canada. On paper, the country has two official languages, English and French, which seems straightforward. In reality, the experience can be more complicated depending on where you live and how prepared you are.

Is English enough to get by everywhere?
In most provinces, yes. Daily life, work, and communication are handled almost entirely in English. However, the moment you enter Québec, the dynamic changes. French is the primary language, and many services, documents, and workplaces operate in French first. Even in bilingual regions, the expectation is that you can function comfortably in both languages.

Does this create challenges for newcomers?
Often, it does. If you do not speak French and you settle in Québec, you may struggle with simple tasks such as opening accounts, understanding local regulations, or communicating with government offices. Even outside Québec, certain roles in the federal government and public sectors require bilingual ability. You may find that opportunities are limited if you do not meet those requirements.

What about immigrants who speak neither language?
For newcomers arriving with a different language entirely, the adjustment can be steep. English and French classes are available, but the learning curve takes time. Until then, tasks that seem basic become stressful. Everything from apartment searches to job applications depends heavily on language comfort.

How much should this influence your decision?
If you are moving to Canada, language should not be treated as a minor detail. It affects your work options, your integration, your ability to navigate daily life, and in some cases, even your access to certain communities. The challenge is manageable, but only if you acknowledge that it exists and prepare for it.

Wrapping it Up

And that about sums it up.

There are a lot of reasons not to move to Canada. The place can feel very cold for people who aren’t used to it. The transportation can be inefficient at times, and the general cost of living is quite high.

If you’re thinking of moving to Canada, make sure to consider and weigh these downsides before finalizing your decision.