Montreal is unlike any other Canadian tech hub. It's the global capital of AI research, home to the world's largest gaming studio, and offers rent that's 35-40% cheaper than Toronto or Vancouver. But there's one question everyone asks: Do you need French?
This data-driven guide answers that question and breaks down everything you need to know about Montreal's tech job market in 2026.
The French Question: Let's Address It First
Short answer: For most tech jobs, you can work without French. But it's complicated.
What the Data Shows
From Reddit discussions and job postings analysis (December 2025):
| Scenario | French Requirement |
|---|---|
| International tech companies (Google, Meta, etc.) | English only |
| Gaming studios (Ubisoft, EA) | Mostly English |
| AI/ML research roles | English only |
| Local startups | Often bilingual preferred |
| Banks and government | Usually required |
| Client-facing roles | Often required |
Real Reddit feedback: "I am in Alberta and looking to do a 1 year post grad diploma in CS from Concordia... Is it possible to work in Montreal's tech sector without knowing French?" The consensus: Yes, especially in gaming and tech startups.
The Changing Landscape (Important for Immigration)
Quebec is tightening French requirements for immigration: - December 2025: CAQ applicants with 3+ years in Quebec must demonstrate Level 4 spoken French - Immigration pathways: French proficiency increasingly mandatory for PR - Bill 96: May affect workplace language requirements in future
Bottom line: You can get a job without French, but learning French will help your long-term career and immigration prospects.
Montreal Tech Market: The Numbers
Workforce Statistics
From CompTIA's "State of the Tech Workforce Canada 2025":
| Metric | Montreal | Toronto | Vancouver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tech workforce concentration | 8.7% | 10.7% | 8.6% |
| Position in Canada | #2 | #1 | #3 |
Key Montreal stats: - Quebec has 500,000+ tech workers - Montreal accounts for ~61% of Quebec's ICT job postings - Tech workforce grew 88% from 2018-2023 - Hosts ~60% of Canada's AI jobs
Source: CompTIA State of Tech Workforce 2025, ICTC April 2025
Job Outlook
According to Government of Canada Job Bank: - Software engineers outlook: Good (rated 4/5 stars) - 10-year growth projection: 163% faster than overall employment
Salary Data: Lower Than Toronto, But Wait...
Overall Compensation (Levels.fyi)
| Percentile | Total Compensation (CAD) |
|---|---|
| 25th | $83,925 |
| Median | $105,082 |
| 75th | $138,430 |
Source: Levels.fyi Greater Montreal, January 2026
Comparison: Montreal vs. Toronto vs. Vancouver
| City | Median Tech Salary | 1BR Rent | Net After Rent (Monthly) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montreal | $105,082 | $1,750 | ~$5,000 |
| Toronto | $162,000 | $2,336 | ~$5,200 |
| Vancouver | $162,622 | $2,288 | ~$5,400 |
The takeaway: While Montreal salaries appear 35% lower, the cost of living advantage narrows the gap significantly. You keep almost the same amount after rent.
Top Paying Companies in Montreal
| Rank | Company | Level | Total Comp (CAD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meta | E4 | $340,712 |
| 2 | L5 | $217,000 | |
| 3 | L4 | $167,000 | |
| 4 | L3 (Entry) | $108,000 | |
| 5 | SAP | T4 | $121,000 |
| 6 | BCE | CP3 | $126,000 |
| 7 | CAE | â | $82,600 |
Source: Levels.fyi Montreal, January 2026
By Experience Level (Estimated)
| Level | Base Salary | Total Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| New Grad | $55K - $75K | $62K - $82K |
| Junior (1-2 yrs) | $65K - $90K | $75K - $105K |
| Mid (3-5 yrs) | $85K - $120K | $100K - $140K |
| Senior (5+ yrs) | $110K - $150K | $130K - $180K+ |
Cost of Living: Montreal's Secret Weapon
Rent Prices (2025)
| Unit Type | Montreal | Toronto | Vancouver |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Bedroom | $1,500 - $1,750 | $2,336 | $2,288 |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,930 - $2,200 | $2,690 | $3,170 |
| Studio | $1,200 - $1,510 | $2,050 | â |
Source: Zumper, Apartments.com, TenantPay (December 2025)
Rent by Neighborhood (1BR Unfurnished)
| Neighborhood | Average Rent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown (Ville-Marie) | $1,668 - $1,913 | Near offices, students |
| Plateau Mont-Royal | $1,817 | Hip, trendy, walkable |
| Verdun | $1,916 | Up-and-coming |
| Saint-Henri | $1,819 | Gentrifying |
| NDG/CĂŽte-des-Neiges | $1,567 | Student-friendly |
| Hochelaga-Maisonneuve | $1,395 | Most affordable |
| Saint-Laurent | $1,606 | Suburban feel |
Source: Centris.ca, liv.rent (2025)
The Affordability Math
Using the 30% rule:
| Salary | 30% Budget | Can Afford |
|---|---|---|
| $65,000 | $1,625/month | 1BR in most neighborhoods |
| $80,000 | $2,000/month | 1BR downtown comfortably |
| $100,000 | $2,500/month | 2BR or premium location |
Reality check: Unlike Toronto or Vancouver, a new grad earning $65-75K can actually afford a 1BR apartment alone in Montreal.
Monthly Budget: Single Professional
Income: $75,000 (~$4,400/month after tax)
| Expense | Amount |
|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | $1,700 |
| Transportation (STM) | $99 |
| Food & Groceries | $400 |
| Utilities | $80 |
| Phone/Internet | $100 |
| Entertainment | $300 |
| Savings | $1,200 |
| Miscellaneous | $521 |
| Total | $4,400 |
Note: Montreal's lower living costs allow for significantly higher savings rates compared to Toronto or Vancouver.
Montreal's Two Superpowers: AI and Gaming
AI Capital of Canada
Montreal is the undisputed AI capital of Canadaâand arguably North America:
Mila - Quebec AI Institute: - World's largest academic deep learning research center - 1,300-1,500 researchers in machine learning - Founded by Yoshua Bengio (Turing Award winner) - Partners: Université de Montréal, McGill, Polytechnique, HEC
Recent developments (2025): - $250 million Sovereign AI Research Hub announced (September 2025) - Partnership with BNP Paribas for AI research (November 2025) - Scale AI (Canada's AI supercluster) headquartered in Montreal
Major AI companies with Montreal offices: - Google DeepMind - Meta AI - IBM - Microsoft - Cohere - Samsung AI
Source: Mila.quebec, BetaKit, CompTIA 2025
Gaming Industry Powerhouse
Montreal's gaming sector is legendary:
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Gaming professionals in Montreal | ~20,000 |
| Quebec gaming workforce | 15,220 FTEs |
| Compared to Ontario | Nearly 2x larger |
| Tax credits | Up to 37.5% of labor costs |
Source: ICTC, CultMTL, Montreal International Game Summit 2025
Major Gaming Studios
| Company | Employees | Notable Games |
|---|---|---|
| Ubisoft Montreal | 4,000+ | Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, Watch Dogs, Rainbow Six |
| EA Motive | 400+ | Star Wars Squadrons, Iron Man |
| Warner Bros. Games | 600+ | Batman: Arkham, Gotham Knights |
| Behaviour Interactive | 1,000+ | Dead by Daylight |
| Eidos Montreal | 500+ | Deus Ex, Tomb Raider, Guardians of the Galaxy |
| Gameloft Montreal | 300+ | Mobile games |
Why Montreal? - Government tax credits up to 37.5% - Strong talent pipeline from local universities - English-French bilingual workforce - Lower operating costs than US studios
Top Tech Companies in Montreal
Big Tech
| Company | Focus | Montreal Presence |
|---|---|---|
| AI, Cloud | DeepMind lab, engineering | |
| Meta | AI research | Meta AI lab |
| Microsoft | Azure, AI | Growing presence |
| Amazon | AWS | Engineering office |
Canadian Tech Leaders
| Company | Focus | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify | E-commerce | Remote-first, Montreal talent |
| Lightspeed | POS/Commerce | Montreal HQ |
| Coveo | AI search | Quebec City + Montreal |
| Element AI (ServiceNow) | Enterprise AI | Acquired 2021 |
| Hopper | Travel tech | Montreal HQ |
Growing Startups
From LinkedIn and Wellfound tracking (2025): - Osedea - AI consulting - Altinity - ClickHouse cloud ($90-160K) - AlayaCare - Healthcare software - Cohere - LLM development
VFX and Animation
Montreal is a major VFX hub: - Framestore - Film VFX - DNEG - Visual effects - Rodeo FX - Academy Award-winning studio - Cinesite - Animation and VFX
Quebec Immigration: What's Changed
Major Changes in 2025
PEQ (Programme de l'expérience québécoise): - Officially abolished as of November 19, 2025 - Previously the fast-track for graduates and workers
AI/IT/VFX Pilot Program: - Ends January 1, 2026 - Was accepting 600 applications (300 AI, 300 IT/VFX) - French proficiency required for most spots
PSTQ (Skilled Worker Selection Program): - Now the main pathway to Quebec permanent residence - Point-based system via Arrima platform - Very competitive: only ~1.5% of applicants invited so far - Minimum ~700 points needed
Source: CanadaVisa, Immigration.ca, Quebec MIFI (November 2025)
What This Means for Tech Workers
| Pathway | Status | French Required? |
|---|---|---|
| PEQ (Graduate) | Closed | Was required |
| PEQ (Worker) | Closed | Was required |
| AI/IT/VFX Pilot | Ending Jan 2026 | Yes |
| PSTQ | Open, competitive | Highly weighted |
| LMIA Work Permit | Available | No |
Recommendation: If you're international and targeting Montreal: 1. Get a job first (LMIA or closed work permit) 2. Start learning French immediately 3. Monitor PSTQ draws via Arrima 4. Consider federal streams (Express Entry) as backup
Neighborhoods for Tech Workers
Plateau Mont-Royal
- Rent: $1,700-2,000 for 1BR
- Vibe: Hip, artsy, walkable, young professionals
- Commute: Metro accessible
- Best for: Creative types, those wanting urban lifestyle
Downtown (Ville-Marie)
- Rent: $1,668-$1,913 for 1BR
- Vibe: Business center, universities
- Commute: Walking distance to offices
- Best for: Those prioritizing commute
Mile End
- Rent: $1,800-2,200
- Vibe: Tech startup hub, cafes, bagels
- Commute: Good metro access
- Best for: Startup folks, creatives
Griffintown
- Rent: $1,900-2,300
- Vibe: New condos, young professionals
- Commute: Near downtown
- Best for: New grads wanting modern living
Verdun
- Rent: $1,700-1,916
- Vibe: Up-and-coming, waterfront
- Commute: Metro accessible
- Best for: Value seekers, families
NDG (Notre-Dame-de-GrĂące)
- Rent: $1,500-1,700
- Vibe: Residential, diverse, student-friendly
- Commute: Bus + Metro
- Best for: Budget-conscious, families
Hochelaga-Maisonneuve
- Rent: $1,395 average
- Vibe: Most affordable, gentrifying
- Commute: Green line metro
- Best for: Maximum savings
Why Choose Montreal?
Advantages
| Factor | Montreal Advantage |
|---|---|
| Affordability | 35-40% cheaper rent than Toronto/Vancouver |
| AI/ML Opportunities | 60% of Canada's AI jobs |
| Gaming Industry | Largest in Canada, major studios |
| Work-Life Balance | European-influenced culture |
| Culture | Festivals, food, nightlife |
| Transit | Excellent metro system ($99/month) |
| Savings Rate | Much higher on same income |
Challenges
| Factor | Consideration |
|---|---|
| Lower Salaries | 30-35% lower than Toronto/Vancouver |
| French for PR | Immigration increasingly requires French |
| Winter | Cold (-15°C to -25°C) from December-March |
| Fewer Big Tech | Less presence than Toronto |
| Language Barrier | Some social situations require French |
Montreal vs. Toronto vs. Vancouver
| Factor | Montreal | Toronto | Vancouver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Tech Salary | $105,082 | $162,000 | $162,622 |
| 1BR Rent | $1,750 | $2,336 | $2,288 |
| Tech Concentration | 8.7% | 10.7% | 8.6% |
| AI/ML Jobs | đ Highest | High | Medium |
| Gaming Industry | đ Largest | Medium | Strong |
| Affordability | đ Best | Expensive | Expensive |
| French Required | Sometimes | No | No |
| Immigration Path | Complex | OINP | BC PNP Tech |
| Culture | European | Diverse | West Coast |
Best for: AI/ML researchers, game developers, budget-conscious workers, those seeking European lifestyle.
Action Plan for New Grads
If You're Targeting AI/ML
- [ ] Research Mila internships and partnerships
- [ ] Apply to Google, Meta, Microsoft AI teams in Montreal
- [ ] Check Cohere, Scale AI, startup opportunities
- [ ] Build ML portfolio projects
If You're Targeting Gaming
- [ ] Apply to Ubisoft, EA, WB Games, Behaviour
- [ ] Build game portfolio (Unity, Unreal)
- [ ] Attend Montreal International Game Summit (MIGS)
- [ ] Network on LinkedIn with Montreal game devs
Immigration Strategy
- [ ] Start learning French NOW (Duolingo, Alliance Française)
- [ ] Target companies that sponsor (Ubisoft, Google, etc.)
- [ ] Monitor PSTQ/Arrima for invitations
- [ ] Consider PGWP strategy (study in Quebec first)
Housing
- [ ] Budget $1,500-1,800 for 1BR
- [ ] Look at Plateau, Mile End, NDG, Verdun
- [ ] Use Kijiji, Facebook groups, Centris for listings
- [ ] July 1st is moving day in Quebec (best time to find units)
Final Thoughts
Montreal offers something unique: world-class opportunities in AI and gaming at a fraction of the cost of Toronto or Vancouver. The salary numbers look lower on paper, but when you factor in rent that's 35-40% cheaper, the real purchasing power is comparable.
The trade-offs: - â Most affordable major tech hub in Canada - â #1 for AI/ML opportunities in Canada - â Largest gaming industry (Ubisoft, EA, Warner Bros) - â Higher savings rate on lower salary - â Vibrant culture, great food, festivals - â French increasingly required for immigration - â Lower absolute salaries - â Quebec immigration pathways becoming complex - â Cold winters
For new grads in AI/ML or gaming, Montreal is hard to beat. Just start learning Frenchâit'll help with both your career and your poutine orders.
Looking for Montreal tech jobs? Browse open positions in Montreal updated daily.
Data Sources: - CompTIA, "State of the Tech Workforce Canada 2025" (August 2025) - ICTC, "Quebec Tech Workforce" (April 2025) - Levels.fyi Greater Montreal Compensation Data (January 2026) - Zumper, Apartments.com - Montreal Rental Data (December 2025) - Centris.ca, liv.rent - Montreal Neighborhoods (2025) - TenantPay, "Average Rent in Canada 2025" - Mila - Quebec AI Institute Official Data - BetaKit, "Sovereign AI Research Hub" (September 2025) - CultMTL, "Future of Gaming in Montreal" (2025) - Montreal International Game Summit 2025 - Ubisoft Montreal Official - CanadaVisa, Immigration.ca - Quebec Immigration Updates (2025) - Quebec MIFI Official Documentation - Reddit r/montreal discussions (2025)