Expats moving to Montreal will find themselves in a microcosm of Canada quite unlike the rest of the country. As the second largest city in the nation and the largest in the province of Quebec, a former fur-trading post originally founded by the French, Montreal marries a unique cultural spirit with the mainstays of Canada’s social development programs, like universal health insurance and free education. 
 

The official language is French; over 60 percent of residents speak French in their homes; and nearly 25 percent of the population are immigrants that have relocated to Montreal from France.
 

Needless to say, Montreal is arguably more Francophone than Anglophone, and this fact is often the root of the largest challenges faced by English-speaking expats. Those who have no knowledge of the language can certainly live, and live well, in Montreal, but the activities you participate in, the extent of the job market and even the people with whom you interact will be greatly limited. 
 

What’s more, in order to immigrate to Montreal and work legally, the permit application and approval process takes into consideration your language ability. Unlike the rest of Canada, it’s only possible to get a residence or work permit for Quebec if you’ve passed provincial requirements.
 

On the other hand, those who do speak French will find themselves in an economically stable, manageable city that’s been credited as both the “cultural capital of Canada” and “Paris without the jet lag”. In short, life can be très bien. 
 

Age-old architecture in Vieux-Montreal (the historic centre of the city), a long-lasting tradition of jazz and rock, and countless distinguished theatre, music and art performance centres are part of the metropolis’s most powerful allure. 
 

Not to mention, accommodation is much more affordable in Montreal than in comparable Canadian commercial centres, like Toronto and Vancouver. It’s not nearly as difficult to find suitable housing, and the average price of rent for a two-bedroom flat in 2011 was just over 700 CAD.
 

In that vein, expats will also find the cost of living in Montreal much more reasonable overall. The Mercer Cost of Living survey ranked it well behind Vancouver, and more closely on par with the likes of many Middle Eastern hubs, like Dubai.  
 

On the downside, it’s been said that salaries are also lower in the city. Though Montreal claims the largest inland port in the world, and it used to be Canada’s primary commercial centre, it’s fallen behind Toronto in terms of productivity, and earning seems to have made a similar drop. 
 

Gaming and aerospace are huge industries, and film, finance, world affairs and commerce are also well-represented. International firms are aplenty in the city, but again, employment opportunities will be limited with no knowledge of French.
 

Otherwise, expats moving to Montreal will find one of the most difficult elements to adapt to is the brutal winter. Summer can be hot, humid and generally pleasant, but from December to March the temperature can hover well below freezing, and snow, sleet, rain and ice make regular appearances. 
 

The good news is that the city’s underground Metro, which has been cited as an attraction in itself, is warm and incredibly comprehensive – linking up even some of Montreal’s far flung suburbs with its central backbone. Expats won't necessarily need a car, and chances are if you do choose to purchase a vehicle, you'll have to deal with the infuriating traffic and congestion that characterises life in a city situated on an island. 
 

On the whole, expats moving to Montreal may find the distinctly Quebecois brand of nationality and politics takes a bit of time to settle into, but once you’ve made an attempt to do so, one can look forward to a rich life in one of Canada’s more interesting metropolises.