Much nicer than people would have you think. Too many locals seem to be under the impression that it's the busiest most expensive city in the world. These people clearly haven't travelled much. Not saying it's cheap, but for a big city in an English speaking country it's about what you'd expect, if not cheaper. Pros: - Hot humid summers, gorgeous orange autumns, cold snowy winters. If you like distinct seasons this is a great place to be. Winter is about 4-5 months, from Nov-Mar. Ignore everyone telling you it's 7+, total lie. - Lots of cool little neighbourhoods - Nice beaches that are actually in the city - Legal weed - Insanely multicultural - Great tenant rights (no security deposits and landlords can't stop you having pets) - Public transport is decent by North American standards - Good local salaries (though still way less than the US) - Cottage country - Loads of events going on - If you embrace winter you can have a lot of fun in the snow, ice skating, skiing etc. Cons: - People are pretty cold and hard to connect with - Big issue with people with serious mental health issues roaming the streets, like pretty much every city in NA - Everywhere outside of the downtown core is insanely boring - Nightlife is tame. If you like a few drinks in a bar it's good. If you like a proper night out you're better off visiting Montreal - Groceries are expensive as hell - Public transport is bad by European standards - Job market is extremely competitive due to mass immigration
