Dating back to the 17th Century, the ramparts of Quebec City are the only fortified city wall structures north of Mexico that remain intact in all of North America. But don’t let the fact that a wall encircles parts of the town fool you; the Quebec province’s capital city is one of the most welcoming and friendliest places in Canada.
Touting of blend a history, modern amenities, culture and spectacular scenery, Quebec City is a popular pick for people of all ages making a move. If you’ve been considering a move to “La Vieille Capitale,” you’ve come to the right place. Read on as we recap five reasons to move to Quebec City.
1) It’s one of the safest places to live
You should know that Quebec has repeatedly ranked as one of the safest provinces in all of Canada (if not the safest), with a crime severity index (CSI) score that falls well below other popular provinces like Alberta and British Columbia. CSI is a measure that takes into account how often a crime is committed and how serious the crime was, so it’s a good indicator of safety. Quebec City has also fared particularly well within the Quebec province when it comes to occurrences of crime. In fact, one report from 2019 found it to have the lowest CSI of all Census Metropolitan Areas, and the city has been named the safest metropolitan area in all of Canada to raise children in.
2) The cost of living is reasonable
When compared to other cities of its size and stature in North America, you’ll find that the cost of living in Quebec City is quite attractive. For example, the median selling price for a home in Quebec City is $263,947 (CA$), while that same metric is $346,272 in Montreal, $690,900 in Toronto and $1,327,500 in Vancouver. Average rental costs in Quebec City are also significantly less per month than in places like Calgary, Edmonton and Ottawa.
3) There is universal and free health care
As a Quebec City resident, you will become eligible for the province’s health care system, a plan administered by Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec. This provincial medical plan covers your essential care at no charge. However, you should know that there is a three-month waiting period before the plan kicks in. Province officials strongly suggest that anyone moving into Quebec purchase private insurance coverage during that waiting period. Without that, your out-of-pocket expenses could be pricey should you need care.
4) Transportation options are plentiful
Many people in Quebec City choose to own and drive an automobile, but a wide variety of alternatives exist for those who don’t. The city is a haven for cyclists with well-lit and well-defined bike paths in place for people to commute to and from parts of town. There’s also a local bus network, Réseau de transport de la Capitale, that’s affordable and offers routes throughout the metro area. Via Rail Canada provides train transport that’s efficient and connects Quebec City to other places throughout Canada. And should you need to fly, Jean Lesage International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the entire country, with service to destinations across the globe.
5) The economy is booming
Over the last 20 years, some 66,000+ jobs have been created in Quebec City, bolstering what has become one of the backbones of Canada’s national economy. In addition, unemployment has historically been below the national average. In terms of industries, public administration, manufacturing, commerce and tourism lead the way.
The five reasons listed here are just the start of what you’ll find in Quebec City. So, what else is waiting for you? There’s beautiful scenery, thriving culture, diversity, sports, stunning architecture and so much more.
