"Where should I move for my tech career?"
This is the question that haunts every new grad, immigrant, and career-changer considering Canada.
The honest answer: It depends on what you optimize for.
Let me give you the data so you can make an informed decision.
The Quick Answer (TL;DR)
| If You Want... | Best City |
|---|---|
| Most job opportunities | Toronto |
| Best salary-to-cost ratio | Montreal |
| Highest salaries | Toronto/Vancouver |
| Government stability | Ottawa |
| Lower competition | Calgary |
| Tech startup scene | Toronto/Waterloo |
| AI/ML research | Montreal |
| Gaming industry | Montreal/Vancouver |
| Work-life balance | Calgary/Ottawa |
The Rankings: Where Canada Stands
CBRE 2025 Scoring Tech Talent (North America)
| Rank | City | Change from 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| #3 | Toronto | ↑1 (was #4) |
| #7 | Waterloo | ↑11 (biggest jump!) |
| Top 15 | Vancouver | Stable |
| Top 20 | Montreal | Stable |
| Top 25 | Ottawa | Stable |
Source: CBRE 2025 Scoring Tech Talent Report
Toronto is now the #3 tech talent market in all of North America—ahead of Seattle, Boston, and Austin.
Job Opportunities: The Numbers
Tech Job Growth (5-Year Trend)
| City | Tech Jobs Added (5 years) | Growth Rate | Total Tech Workers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto | 95,900 | 44% | 285,000+ |
| Vancouver | ~25,000 | 31% | 75,000+ |
| Montreal | ~20,000 | 28% | 65,000+ |
| Ottawa | ~10,000 | 22% | 45,000+ |
| Waterloo | ~8,000 | 35% | 25,000+ |
Sources: CBRE Tech Talent Report, Invest Ottawa
Key insight: Toronto has more tech workers than Vancouver, Montreal, and Ottawa combined.
Major Employers by City
| City | Top Tech Employers |
|---|---|
| Toronto | Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Shopify, RBC, TD |
| Vancouver | Amazon, Microsoft, SAP, EA, Hootsuite |
| Montreal | Ubisoft, Epic Games, Google, Meta AI, Mila |
| Ottawa | Shopify, Nokia, Ciena, BlackBerry, Government |
| Waterloo | Google, OpenText, BlackBerry, Vidyard |
| Calgary | Benevity, Neo Financial, ATB, TC Energy |
Salary Comparison: The Real Numbers
Software Engineer Starting Salaries (2025-2026)
| City | Software Engineer | Data Engineer | DevOps/SRE | ML Engineer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto | $105,000 | $120,000 | $115,000 | $130,000 |
| Vancouver | $102,000 | $118,000 | $112,000 | $128,000 |
| Montreal | $89,500 | $100,000 | $95,000 | $110,000 |
| Ottawa | $95,000 | $110,000 | $100,000 | $120,000 |
| Calgary | $92,000 | $105,000 | $98,000 | $115,000 |
Sources: Robert Half 2025 Salary Guide, Levels.fyi
Wait—before you move to Toronto for that higher salary, read the next section.
Cost of Living: Where Your Money Actually Goes
The Affordability Reality
| City | Avg Rent (1BR) | Home Price | Monthly Expenses | "Real" Salary* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto | $2,300 | $1,009,400 | $2,800 | $71,000 |
| Vancouver | $2,400 | $1,205,800 | $2,900 | $66,000 |
| Montreal | $1,600 | $525,000 | $2,100 | $71,500 |
| Ottawa | $1,900 | $626,200 | $2,400 | $71,000 |
| Calgary | $1,700 | $550,000 | $2,200 | $72,000 |
"Real" Salary = Salary minus estimated annual living costs, divided by 12
Sources: WOWA.ca, Zumper, Numbeo
The Logic's Tech Salary Scale (2025)
The Logic created a "Tech Salary Scale" comparing salary to cost of living:
| City | Manager Score | Engineer Score |
|---|---|---|
| Montreal | 46 | 38 |
| Toronto | 32 | 25 |
| Vancouver | 28 | 22 |
| San Francisco | 35 | 12 |
| New York | 25 | 8 |
Source: The Logic: Canada vs US Tech Salaries
Montreal wins. Engineers in Montreal earn less on paper but keep more in their pockets.
Housing: The Elephant in the Room
Years of Net Salary to Buy a Home
| City | Years to Buy (Engineer) |
|---|---|
| Toronto | 8.6 years |
| Vancouver | 9.2 years |
| Montreal | 4.8 years |
| Ottawa | 5.5 years |
| Calgary | 5.0 years |
Based on median home prices and median software engineer salaries
If home ownership matters to you, avoid Toronto and Vancouver.
City-by-City Deep Dive
🏙️ Toronto, Ontario
Best for: Maximum job options, networking, career growth
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Most jobs in Canada | Brutal housing costs |
| All major tech companies present | Overcrowded job market |
| Best networking/meetups | Long commutes |
| Highest salaries (nominal) | High competition for roles |
| Diverse and multicultural | Cold winters |
Industry strengths: Fintech, AI, SaaS, Big Tech, Banking Tech
The verdict: Toronto is the "safe" choice—you'll find a job eventually, but you'll pay for it in rent and competition.
📖 Full Toronto Tech Jobs Guide
🌊 Vancouver, BC
Best for: Quality of life, outdoor lifestyle, Asia-Pacific connections
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Beautiful natural setting | Most expensive housing in Canada |
| Strong gaming/VFX industry | Lower salaries than Toronto |
| Mild winters | High taxes (BC + Federal) |
| Gateway to Asia-Pacific | Smaller job market than Toronto |
| Growing clean tech sector | Rain (so much rain) |
Industry strengths: Gaming, VFX, Clean Tech, SaaS, Amazon/Microsoft presence
The verdict: Vancouver is for lifestyle optimization, not financial optimization. Beautiful but expensive.
📖 Full Vancouver Tech Jobs Guide
🎭 Montreal, Quebec
Best for: Best value for money, AI research, creative industries
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Best salary-to-cost ratio | Lower nominal salaries |
| World-class AI research (Mila) | French can help (but not required in tech) |
| Affordable housing | Colder winters than Toronto |
| Strong gaming industry | Smaller English job market |
| European culture + vibe | Quebec taxes are high |
Industry strengths: AI/ML Research, Gaming (Ubisoft, EA), VFX, Startups
The verdict: Montreal is the hidden gem. Lower salaries but you save more. If you don't need to maximize resume prestige, this is the smart financial choice.
📖 Full Montreal Tech Jobs Guide
🏛️ Ottawa, Ontario
Best for: Stability, government work, security clearance roles
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Government job stability | Smaller private sector |
| Lower cost than Toronto | Less "exciting" tech scene |
| Security clearance = premium pay | Colder than Toronto |
| Good work-life balance | Fewer networking events |
| Bilingual opportunities | Smaller startup ecosystem |
Industry strengths: Government Tech, Telecom, Security/Defense, Shopify HQ
The verdict: Ottawa is for stability seekers. Less exciting but more predictable. Great for families.
🛢️ Calgary, Alberta
Best for: Emerging tech scene, low competition, no provincial tax
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| No provincial sales tax | Smaller tech scene |
| Lower housing costs | Less job variety |
| Growing fintech sector | Oil & gas still dominant |
| Less competition for roles | Fewer big tech offices |
| Mountains nearby | Very cold winters |
Industry strengths: Fintech, Energy Tech, Emerging Startups
The verdict: Calgary is the dark horse. Lower competition + lower costs = good value. Great for mid-career professionals tired of Toronto/Vancouver rat race.
📖 Full Calgary/Edmonton Tech Jobs Guide
🎓 Waterloo, Ontario
Best for: Startup ecosystem, new grads, Velocity/Y Combinator pipeline
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Google, Shopify presence | Smaller city lifestyle |
| Strong startup ecosystem | Limited nightlife |
| University talent pipeline | Less diverse than Toronto |
| Lower cost than Toronto | Fewer senior roles |
| Communitech network | Can feel "small town" |
Industry strengths: Startups, Quantum Computing, AI, EdTech
The verdict: Waterloo is for startup enthusiasts and new grads. Strong pipeline to YC/SV companies.
📖 Full Waterloo Tech Jobs Guide
The Decision Framework
Choose Toronto if:
- ✅ You want maximum job options
- ✅ Career growth is your top priority
- ✅ You can handle high rent
- ✅ You value networking and events
- ❌ Skip if: You want to buy a home soon
Choose Vancouver if:
- ✅ Lifestyle > salary
- ✅ You love outdoors/nature
- ✅ Gaming/VFX is your industry
- ✅ You have Asia-Pacific connections
- ❌ Skip if: You're focused on savings
Choose Montreal if:
- ✅ You want best bang for your buck
- ✅ AI/ML or gaming interests you
- ✅ European vibe appeals to you
- ✅ You're open to learning French
- ❌ Skip if: You need English-only environment
Choose Ottawa if:
- ✅ Stability is your priority
- ✅ Government/defense work interests you
- ✅ You have a family
- ✅ Work-life balance matters
- ❌ Skip if: You want exciting startup culture
Choose Calgary if:
- ✅ Lower competition appeals to you
- ✅ No provincial tax is attractive
- ✅ You're okay with smaller scene
- ✅ Mountains + outdoor access matters
- ❌ Skip if: You need big tech office presence
For New Grads: Specific Advice
| Situation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| No job yet, need options | Toronto (most jobs) |
| Have offer, comparing cities | Run the numbers (see framework) |
| International student | Toronto or Vancouver (more diverse) |
| Want startup experience | Waterloo or Toronto |
| Want research/ML | Montreal (Mila, McGill) |
| Want government path | Ottawa |
For Immigrants: Special Considerations
| Factor | Best Cities |
|---|---|
| Most diverse communities | Toronto, Vancouver |
| Easiest to find first job | Toronto (volume) |
| Best value for sponsorship | Montreal, Calgary |
| Most immigrant-friendly | Toronto, Vancouver |
| Provincial nominee programs | Check each province |
See: New Immigrant Job Search Guide
FAQ
Which city has the most tech jobs?
Toronto, by a significant margin. It has more tech workers (285,000+) than Vancouver, Montreal, and Ottawa combined.
Which city is best for new grads?
Toronto for job variety, but Waterloo if you want startup experience. Montreal if you want lower competition.
Is Vancouver worth the cost?
Only if lifestyle (nature, mild weather, outdoor access) is a top priority and you're not focused on home ownership.
Do I need French for Montreal?
Not required for most tech jobs, but it helps for career advancement and daily life. Many tech companies operate in English.
Which city has the best work-life balance?
Ottawa and Calgary have better balance than Toronto/Vancouver. Lower competition + shorter commutes + lower stress.
Can I work remotely from a cheaper city?
Yes, but many companies now adjust salaries based on location. A Toronto salary while living in Montreal is the dream—but increasingly rare.
Key Takeaways
- Toronto = Most jobs, most competition, most expensive
- Montreal = Best value, lower salaries but you keep more
- Vancouver = Lifestyle choice, beautiful but brutal on wallet
- Ottawa = Stability play, government + good value
- Calgary = Emerging dark horse, low competition + no PST
- Waterloo = Startup ecosystem, great for new grads
There's no universally "best" city—only the best city for YOUR priorities.
Related City Guides: - Toronto Tech Jobs Guide 2026 - Vancouver Tech Jobs Guide 2026 - Montreal Tech Jobs Guide 2026 - Ottawa Tech Jobs Guide 2026 - Waterloo Tech Jobs Guide 2026 - Calgary/Edmonton Tech Jobs Guide 2026 - Browse All Open Positions
Sources: - CBRE 2025 Scoring Tech Talent Report - Robert Half 2025/2026 Canada Salary Guide - The Logic: Canada vs US Tech Salaries - Invest Ottawa: Salary & Cost of Living Comparison - WOWA.ca Housing Data - Levels.fyi Canada - Staffing Journal: Canada Tech Skill Shortage 2025 - Numbeo Cost of Living