Montreal vs. Calgary Vs. Vancouver (best city, to rent, how much)

[dreamz05]

I am 24, single and planning to setup my own business after 4-5 years of a proper job. My major in college was marketing. I am also looking to play sports and hit the health club in my spare time. Also I love driving so I would love to be at a place where the roads are clear, well paved and empty. I have lived in Toronto for 2 years and hated it. what should be my destination of the three?

If I am earning 35 grands in Toronto, what salary can I expect at each of these places?

I have been to Montreal and loved it as a tourist. It has great people and really beautiful girls who are friendly and helpful. Also there are lots of locations to go around and hang out. But there was a lot of French Influence and I could being from English culture could barely communicate with my broken French.

Calgary I have researched is the most American city of Canada. They have their own cowboy legends and Edmonton's mall is nearby. Also read that jobs have been good but mostly in temporary jobs like Tim Hortons and Pizza Pizza. It's also been coined as the driver's city. I dont mind the winters.

Vancouver has been rated the best city to live. But housing has risen to be the most expensive after Toronto. Lots of activities year round. I would also love to own a jet-ski and surf making me look at this as a destination.

[Acajack]

[SIZE=3]If well-paved roads are a big concern for you, then you might want to consider Vancouver or Calgary.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Setting up a business in Montreal without knowing hardly any French will be a major hassle. Especially if you are dealing with the public, you are pretty much obliged by law to provide service in French, which includes signage and any staff that deal with customers. [/SIZE]

[ZX14TJ]

Calgary would have the lowest tax rates of your three options and is probably best for new ventures.

What type of business?

[dreamz05]

probably something in computers or event management.

If I am currently earning 35 grands in Toronto, How much can i expect in Calgary or Vancouver?

How far is the closest sea shore from Calgary?

[RalphKNS]

The ocean is at least 500 miles away (by driving) from Calgary; probably more.

[Vichel]

Great dreams, but I think they might be just that - dreams. Especially on $35k/yr. Montreal would be the more affordable, especially for housing, but you absolutely need French.

Also I love driving so I would love to be at a place where the roads are clear, well paved and empty.

All three cities would meet that criteria. As long as you do your driving at 3 a.m.

And Edmonton's mall is in Edmonton, not near Calgary.
Surfing - Vancouver Island, not in Vancouver. And wear a wet-suit as it's ice-cold.

Lots of luck.

[dreamz05]

I am currently earning $35K/yr but I expect to be better off in 5 years.

and you didnt give a conclusion to your post.

[Vichel]

and you didnt give a conclusion to your post.

I don't believe in giving such conclusions. Choosing a place to live is a very personal decision. I don't know you, you don't know me, we might have some similar ideas/tastes, but we will have many different ideas/needs too.

Ask specific questions about cities, people will answer, then you take those answers, weigh them and make your own decision. And hope that it's right, but also accept it may be wrong and you'll have to either adjust or move again.

I know it's very difficult, very confusing, especially when considering a country as vast as Canada, a country that is so different on so many levels, from one city to the next, from one coast to the other. I can tell you 'X city/town', you move there, but then say "that Vichel, what the he!! were they thinking saying this dump was a good place to live!"

If you want my personal opinion - I adore Montreal but could never live there. I lived in Vancouver for many years but loathe the weather, the traffic, the high cost. I would only live there again if I could afford to live in West Vancouver again, for only 6 months of the year, and some place sunnier and warmer the rest of the year - big bucks. Calgary, I'm so-so about, but haven't visited enough to really make up my mind about it.

All the best. You are young, don't put down any roots yet, try them all. Live.

[TazmanianDevil]

I live in Vancouver, and quite frankly, I don't want to live here anymore.

Don't get me wrong, Vancouver has a lot of good things, but because I no longer want to rent a place to stay and don't make enough money to buy property here, I found it necessary to move elsewhere.

i make 50 grand a year and I find hard to get by, but then again, I want to buy a house really soon. That being the main reason why I want to leave.

Alberta or Ontario for me.

[dreamz05]

That sounds damn expensive. What is so good about calgary?