Areas and suburbs in Montreal

The best places to live in Montreal

Montreal is home to many areas and suburbs, each with its own unique culture and atmosphere. Some have large English-speaking and multicultural populations, while others are almost entirely French.

Depending on their lifestyle and preferences, expats have the choice to live on or off the Island of Montreal. The commute off the Island of Montreal tends to be quite long and congested, so expats moving into the neighbourhoods off the Island should consider this.

Below are some most popular areas and suburbs in and around Montreal.

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Island of Montreal

City centre

Expats looking to live in the city centre will find a wide range of accommodation available. Most of the housing in the city centre is in the form of apartments and lofts. The prices are equally varied, from some relatively affordable buildings to exorbitantly priced deluxe apartments.

Plateau Mont-Royal

Plateau Mont-Royal is a predominantly French-speaking neighbourhood, and expats keen on learning the language quickly would do well to find an apartment here. The area is popular among students and young working professionals, thanks to its proximity to some of the city's best restaurants and cafes.

Old Montreal

Old Montreal is an exciting cultural hub, with beautiful architectural buildings dating back to the early colonial days of New France. Expats can find exquisite upmarket lofts in this area, while Notre-Dame Basilica and the Montreal City Hall contribute to its sense of grandeur.

Westmount

Westmount is an affluent suburb with grand, pricey homes and access to highly sought-after amenities. Many wealthy individuals live in this enclave and enjoy the area's exceptional schools, Westmount Park and the public library.

Ahuntsic

Thanks to the variety of property types and sizes, Ahuntsic is the perfect suburb for families from all walks. This area has beautiful parks and good schools, and the commute to the city centre is also fairly reasonable.

West Island

The West Island is the unofficial name for the area that includes the suburbs of St-Anne-de-Bellevue, Beaconsfield, Lakeshore, Pointe-Claire, Dorval, Kirkland and Dollard-Des-Ormeaux. These are all family-friendly neighbourhoods, and accommodation is usually in the form of detached single-family homes and townhouses.

Most houses in this area have spacious gardens, and the neighbourhoods boast plenty of parks and playgrounds. With the Ecomuseum Zoo and Bois-de-la-Roche Agricultural Park around the corner, expat families will never run out of exciting things to do.

The West Island is also home to one of Quebec's largest English-speaking populations. The commute to the city centre is about 40 minutes by train, but the trip is well worth it for the tranquil, suburban lifestyle.

Notre-Dame-de-Grace

Located 15 minutes from the city centre, Notre-Dame-de-Grace is a multicultural family-friendly neighbourhood chock-full of indie shops, playgrounds and long-running restaurants. Although, housing in the area tends to be quite expensive. Those looking to settle in the suburb need to budget well for this cost.

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Off the Island of Montreal

There are two main cities off the Island of Montreal: Laval sits to the west and Longueuil to the east. These neighbourhoods are perfect for expats who value tranquillity but still want to be within a cosmopolitan area. The only downside to living off the Island of Montreal is the long and stressful daily commute across the bridge and into the city, which is inevitable as most expats work in Montreal's centre.

North Shore

Situated in the Laval area, North Shore offers a large variety of accommodation options for expats. Laval also has good schools and plenty of green spaces for children to enjoy.

South Shore

Known for its good schools, security and outdoor lifestyle, The South Shore is a haven for families. The area consists of several suburbs, including Longueuil, St Hubert and Brossard.

The only downside to living in the South Shore area is the long commute into the city. On a bad day, it can take over two hours, expats should therefore carefully consider the proximity of their chosen suburb to their place of work.