- Andrey Vasilyev
When moving to a huge city such as Vancouver, InterNations made it easy for me to find fellow expats and the network that I needed.
Finnish Expats Living in Canada: Your Questions, Answered
If you’re a new or soon-to-be expat in Canada, you probably aren’t quite sure yet what it will be like. That’s why we gathered the answers to some key questions you may have about life in Canada. If you want to ask more specific questions — or even share your own tips — join InterNations! You’ll be part of a community of new and experienced expats who love to help each other out.
What are the most common nationalities in Canada?
As an expat in Canada, you'll meet people from many different cultures (especially if you're an InterNations member!) The top nationalities in the InterNations Communities in Canada currently are:
- Indians
- French
- British
- Americans
Which cities are most popular among expats in Canada?
Some cities attract more expats than others. These are the cities with the largest expat communities in Canada:
- Ottawa
- Montreal
- Vancouver
How much rent do expats pay in Canada?
Your personal situation plays a role here. Single expats spend on average 1176 USD on their accommodation per month, while expat families spend around 1.911 USD. And of course, rents can also vary greatly depending on the location and city within Canada.
To give you an idea of what to expect, here are some rent averages for the most popular cities in Canada.
Average rent in Ottawa
- Single expats: 1.249 USD
- Expat families: 2.058 USD
Average rent in Montreal
- Single expats: 1.051 USD
- Expat families: 1.882 USD
Average rent in Vancouver
- Single expats: 1.935 USD
- Expat families: 3.309 USD
How safe is Canada?
You may be wondering about safety. In general people perceive their personal safety situation in Canada as safe. People rate the risk of falling victim to petty crime (such as pickpocketing or minor theft) as moderately high.
They consider the chance of being the victim of violent crime (including mugging) low. And, they rate confidence in the police force and related local authorities as very high.
How safe is Canada for women?
Female expats rated the safety situation in Canada as very safe. This is based on the feedback of expat women living in Canada (rather than actual crime statistics). So obviously this can be highly subjective and depends on factors such as where people live.
Meet other Finns at our events in Canada
Attend our monthly events and activities for Finns expatriates to get to know like-minded expatriates in real life.
Want to meet other Finns at our events?
Why Finnish expats move abroad (& how they like it)
Every year, we publish one of the biggest global surveys among expats — asking them about various aspects of their life, from work to leisure. Learn what motivated our Finnish members to move abroad, what keeps them there, and what they struggle with or miss about home.
Meet other Finns in Canada
Our Global Partners
Pursue your hobbies with amazing new friends
Do you want to continue with your hobbies — or discover new ones — while living abroad? There’s a variety of InterNations Groups you can join, including everything from sightseeing to hiking. These are run by dedicated Consuls with at least one activity each month, such as dinners in the cities finest restaurants, sports or outings with other expats to explore all that your new home has to offer.
Find other Finns to share your hobbies with
Tips and Advice on Canada from Your Fellow Finnish Expats
Obviously, expat life in Canada goes well beyond shipping your belongings and taking care of red tape. Socializing with fellow Finns is an important facet of living abroad and can be a huge stepping stone in getting to know the Canadian mentality and way of life. Finns in Canada are a part of our community, calling cities such as Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, and many others home. You can use InterNations to look for fellow Finns in Ottawa, for example.
Wondering where to shop for Finnish delicatessen, want to discuss your national team's latest match, or simply talk to someone in your native language? Become a member of the Canadian InterNations Community!
- Our network is the best place to meet expats from Finland.
- On the Canada Expat Forums, you can get competent answers to all your expat-related questions: how to find a babysitter fluent in your mother tongue, where to get poronkäristys in Ottawa, etc.
- The InterNations Places database for Canada has information on the nearest Finnish embassy and many other institutions.
From the sublime Canadian Rockies to French-speaking Québec, with its strong provincial identity, you can meet supportive and friendly Finnish expats in Canada on InterNations.
Meet and Mingle with Fellow Finns in Canada
Additionally, InterNations hosts regular expat events and activities in Canada. Our get-togethers are sure to cater to your taste as well: as a member, you can partake in cozy gatherings to enjoy some Canadian maple pancakes, join one of our huge expat celebrations with hundreds of participants in Ottawa’s best locations, and much more. Want to discover Canada? Go on a weekend trip with your fellow expats to see Prince Edward Island and other beautiful landmarks.
Our meet-ups and activities offer many wonderful opportunities to mingle with expatriates hailing from Finland and dozens of other countries in a casual setting. Just sign up for your InterNations membership and you’ll soon hear a cordial Hyvää päivää from our Finns living in Canada!
- Andrey Vasilyev
When moving to a huge city such as Vancouver, InterNations made it easy for me to find fellow expats and the network that I needed.
- Amarilis Castillo
InterNations make networking in such a large city so much easier with their events and extensive information.
