Toronto and Montreal remain the best-known destinations for Latin Americans moving to Canada, but choosing either city automatically can be an expensive decision. Housing costs, competition for entry-level jobs and the challenge of rebuilding a professional career have pushed many newcomers to look elsewhere.
Several Canadian cities offer a different equation: growing labour markets, respected universities and colleges, established newcomer services and, in some cases, significantly lower housing costs. The right choice depends on what you studied, the kind of work you are willing to do during your first months and whether your priority is career growth, education or affordability.
These seven cities deserve a closer look in 2026.
1. Calgary, strong for professionals, trades and technology
Calgary should be high on the list for Latin Americans with backgrounds in engineering, energy, finance, logistics, technology and skilled trades. The city’s economy is still closely connected to oil and gas, but employment opportunities now extend into life sciences, film, financial services, transportation and digital industries.
For newcomers who need Canadian credentials, the University of Calgary and SAIT are two important options. SAIT is particularly relevant for people looking for applied programs connected with technology, construction, business and technical occupations.
Housing remains expensive, but the situation is less punishing than in Toronto. The average rent for a two-bedroom purpose-built apartment rented by a new tenant was C$1,836 in 2025, compared with C$2,547 in Toronto.
Best suited for: engineers, IT workers, technicians, logistics professionals and newcomers interested in skilled trades.
2. Edmonton, one of the strongest affordability options
For a family arriving with limited savings, Edmonton deserves serious consideration.
Health care, retail, services, hospitality and real estate account for a substantial part of local employment, while construction, energy and public-sector jobs also play important roles. Edmonton’s 2025 business census found that health care and social assistance was among the city’s five largest sectors by number of establishments.
The University of Alberta offers the traditional university route, while NAIT is especially attractive for applied technology and trades.
Housing is another advantage. A two-bedroom apartment taken by a new tenant averaged about C$1,600 in 2025, making Edmonton considerably cheaper than Toronto, Ottawa or Halifax.
The trade-off is obvious: long, cold winters and a city where owning a car can be more useful than in denser Canadian centres.
Best suited for: families, tradespeople, health workers and newcomers trying to control expenses during their first years.
3. Ottawa, especially interesting for bilingual Latinos
Ottawa offers something few Canadian cities can match: English and French can both translate directly into professional opportunities.
Public administration is a major employer, but the local economy also includes technology, health care, education, finance, manufacturing and construction. Ottawa for Latin Americans who already speak French—or are willing to develop it—bilingualism can substantially expand the range of jobs available.
Education is another strength. The University of Ottawa operates in English and French, while Carleton University, Algonquin College and La Cité provide very different academic and professional pathways. Algonquin and La Cité also offer employment and bridging services for newcomers with international qualifications.
Ottawa is not cheap. New tenants paid an average of C$2,155 for a two-bedroom purpose-built unit in 2025.
Best suited for: bilingual professionals, students, technology workers and people seeking careers connected with government or public services.
4. Kitchener-Waterloo, study, work and build a tech career
Latin American students and technology professionals should look carefully at Kitchener-Waterloo.
The University of Waterloo has one of Canada’s best-known co-op systems. In computer science, for example, students can accumulate as much as two years of paid work experience while completing their degree. That matters for newcomers because the first Canadian work experience is often one of the biggest barriers to entering a professional field.
Conestoga College provides another route, particularly for applied programs and technical training.
The region also has a dense technology and startup ecosystem. Software developers, engineers, data specialists and entrepreneurs can find an environment very different from Canada’s traditional corporate centres.
Housing costs have risen sharply, so moving there simply because it is “cheaper than Toronto” is no longer enough. The stronger argument is access to education, co-op programs and technology employers.
Best suited for: international students, programmers, engineers and startup-minded newcomers.
5. Hamilton, a practical entry point into Southern Ontario
Hamilton sits close enough to Toronto to benefit from Southern Ontario’s enormous economy without requiring newcomers to live in Toronto itself.
Health care is a major source of employment, anchored by hospitals and medical institutions. Manufacturing remains important, while construction, education, logistics and public services provide additional possibilities.
For study, McMaster University is one of Canada’s major research universities, while Mohawk College offers more applied and career-focused programs.
Housing is still a major expense, although average rents in purpose-built apartments remain below Toronto levels. In 2025, the average two-bedroom rent in Hamilton’s purpose-built market was C$1,656.
Hamilton also offers settlement services covering language training, employment support and newcomer integration.
Best suited for: health professionals, students, manufacturing workers and families that want access to the Greater Toronto economy.
6. Winnipeg, lower costs and an underrated job market
Winnipeg rarely appears near the top of international newcomers’ destination lists, yet its labour market deserves more attention.
The metropolitan area added 50,000 net jobs between October 2022 and August 2026, according to the city. Aerospace is particularly important: Manitoba has Canada’s third-largest aerospace sector, with major employers including Boeing Canada Winnipeg, StandardAero and Magellan Aerospace.
Other opportunities exist in transportation, manufacturing, agribusiness, finance, information technology and health care.
The University of Manitoba and Red River College Polytechnic provide strong study options, particularly for students interested in applied careers.
Winnipeg’s winters are severe, but housing and everyday costs can make it easier for newcomers to build financial stability than in Canada’s largest cities.
Best suited for: families, manufacturing and aerospace workers, logistics professionals and newcomers prioritizing affordability.
7. Halifax, opportunities in health care and the ocean economy
Halifax has become one of Atlantic Canada’s most important immigration destinations.
Health care and social assistance became its largest employment sector in 2025 and added around 3,100 jobs in a single year. Professional, scientific and technical services also expanded. Halifax additionally has strong niches in ocean industries, IT, gaming, financial services, logistics and life sciences.
Dalhousie University is the major university option, while Nova Scotia Community College offers career-oriented programs across the province.
There is one important warning. Halifax is no longer a low-cost Canadian city. A two-bedroom apartment rented to a new tenant averaged C$2,058 in 2025.
For newcomers with qualifications in nursing, health care, technology or specialized services, however, the labour market can compensate for some of that housing pressure.
Best suited for: health professionals, university students, IT workers and people interested in maritime industries.
Choosing a Canadian city requires more than comparing rent
A newcomer with an engineering degree may find Calgary more useful than a cheaper city with fewer opportunities in that profession. A student interested in technology may gain more from Waterloo’s co-op ecosystem. Someone who speaks French and English can extract far more value from Ottawa than a newcomer who works only in English.
For Latin Americans planning a move, the most useful comparison is therefore not simply Toronto versus a cheaper alternative. It is the relationship between your profession, the local labour market, the education available to upgrade your credentials and the amount of money you need to survive while building a Canadian career.
Canada’s opportunities are spread across a much wider map than its two most famous immigrant cities.
Portrait photo: Depositphotos.com
