Pros and cons of living in the Canadian outback

In Canada, more than 80% of the people live in cities, and almost all immigrants seek metropolitan areas such as Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, or Calgary. Nevertheless, a large part of the country is uninhabited areas or small villages. What are the advantages of immigrating to the outback? There are, but first the downsides. Unfortunately, there are many.

Disadvantages of the Canadian countryside

There is usually a higher rate of unemployment in the outback. Workplaces are often taken by locals, and new ones rarely appear, because nothing develops. On the other hand, people often try to leave the countryside, so there is still a chance of getting a job, especially if you look for it beforehand, rather than relying on fate.

In addition, you will have a lobusiness opportunitiesiness, but it requires a serious approach, a large capital, and a plan. If you don’t have these, you first need to work, save money, find out what niches are in demand in your town and then act.

The second disadvantage you may encounter is loneliness. Village people are friendly, but if you have lived your whole life in a big city, you have a certain mindset and way of life. And if you get to another country, and moreover, to the countryside, you may simply have little in common with the inhabitants, and you will not be interested in each other.

We should also mention communication with compatriots. In a large city, you are likely to find people from your country. In the countryside, there will probably be none. So, if communicating with compatriots is important for you, you better consider larger cities.

The next disadvantage is the high price of food and transportation. On the one hand, it is cheaper to rent or buy a house in a small town. Also, you may spend less money on entertainment, just because there is not much of it, and this is rather a con, too. However, prices are higher in local stores because there is no competition. It is even worse in the northern communities because it is difficult and expensive to deliver goods and products there.

The fourth disadvantage is a higher crime rate. According to police statistics, the crime rate in rural areas is about 23% higher than in cities. Perhaps people are driven to crime by unemployment, poverty, worse living conditions than in the city, or maybe even boredom plays a role here.

Next is gossip. If you move to a small town, be prepared for everyone to know your every move. People simply have nothing to do, and discussing neighbors is a way of having fun.

The sixth disadvantage is related to services. First, some services may simply not be available. For example, you will not be able to have your favorite phone fixed or get a manicure. And in general, there may be no entertainment in the countryside, and you will not be able to watch new movies on a big screen or eat a croissant with coffee.

In addition, people in the villages live at their own pace. For example, if your internet breaks down or the lights went out, no one knows how soon it will be fixed. Qualified specialists may not be available either, this applies to everything from a good plumber to a doctor. But don't get your hopes up for metropolitan areas, everything is done at a measured pace everywhere in Canada.

The next drawback is the lack of infrastructure. There is not much to tell here. There can be no good roads and you will have to use a quad bike. There are settlements in Canada with very few residents, and there is only a pier, fire department, hotel, store, church, and school.

The cons probably end here. Maybe somebody is not afraid of them, for example, if you have lived your whole life in the countrysidr in a small town. Or maybe the above are no disadvantages for you. Now about the pros.

Advantages of the Canadian countryside

The first and very important thing for immigrants is that moving to the countryside is easier because there are special simplified programs for Canadian villages as few people settle there. For example, there is a Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Program that allows you to move to 11 small communities, and they are not in the north, despite the name.

And in February of this year, the province of Alberta launched a similar program, not one, but two — for skilled workers and entrepreneurs. The programs also allow candidates to move to small towns but within one province.

The next advantage of the Canadian countryside is the kindness of the locals. Don’t think that people in big cities are mean, it's just that people are usually more open in villages. You can be sure that they will always help and support you.

The third advantage of small towns over big cities is cheap housing. Apartments and houses have always been expensive in metropolitan areas, and this year prices have skyrocketed even more. If Toronto has an average real estate price of around $1 million CAD, somewhere in the countryside it can be twice cheaper, and so does the rent. By the way, if you think the wages in small towns are also twice lower, you’re wrong. The income levels are quite similar across the country. Also, some Canadians work remotely for some companies in Toronto and live in some villages in Nova Scotia.

The last pro of living in the countryside is ecology. Of course, far away from big cities, the environment is better, the air is cleaner, the water tastes better and the grass is greener. Surely there is still some beauty, so if you like walking in the woods, climbing mountains, and just being close to nature, it may be your option. However, there is plenty of nature in Canadian cities, too. In Ottawa, for example, there are very green areas, and if you take a short drive, you can get to parks, forests, trails, and so on.

Conclusion

This is probably the end of the pros. We hope we were able to help you decide whether to live in the Canadian countryside or not. Don't let the disadvantages scare you, because everyone has different needs. Also, if you can't immigrate to a metropolis or if you realize that you can’t afford to live in a city at first, it might be a good idea to consider moving to the outback.

Don't know where to start your immigration? Book a consultation at our company. Our specialist will assess your situation, develop an individual relocation strategy, select the suitable program and help you submit your documents.