More U.S. residents are considering a move to Ontario: report

After a change to Canada’s citizenship policies, many U.S. residents are considering a move to Ontario.

Curiosity about moving to Canada has been building for years, but 2025 and 2026 marked a shift from search‑bar daydreaming to action, a new report from real estate brokerage Zoocasa states.

Searches for “moving to Canada” have repeatedly spiked by more than 5,000 per cent during major U.S. political moments, and the underlying interest has persisted between those spikes, the report states.

Another wave of U.S. residents could come with changes to the immigration policy. Under the new legislation, which came into effect in December 2025, children and grandchildren of a Canadian resident may be able to claim Canadian citizenship.

Immigration lawyers have been reportedly “overwhelmed” by U.S. residents interested in Canadian citizenship, Zoocasa noted.

Zoocasa found a few city “translations” for people looking for a comparable Canadian city.

Toronto is Canada’s New York, the financial hub and cultural powerhouse, the report stated.

Vancouver can best be described as the Los Angeles equivalent, oceanside, pricey, and ideal for West Coast lifestyles.

Montreal feels like a walkable, bilingual Chicago with an incredible food scene and affordable rents, while Calgary defies “just like Montana” expectations with a booming energy‑tech economy, and the Rockies are just an hour’s drive from the city.

The report looked into the differences in rent between major cities and found that, in most cases, housing costs are lower in Canada.

San Francisco renters pay $4,469 CAD/month compared to Vancouver’s $2,715 CAD/month, a savings of over $20,000/year, the report found.

March 2026 U.S. rental market data, provided by Apartments.com. Exchange rate as of April 26: $1 USD = $1.37 CAD. Chart: Zoocasa

Boston renters moving to Montreal could cut their rent nearly in half, from $4,732 CAD/month to just $1,938 CAD/month, a potential savings of $33,500/year.

Exchange rate form Apr 26: 1 USD = 1.37 CAD. Chart: Zoocasa

New York renters pay $5,583 CAD/month versus Toronto’s $2,474 CAD/month, a saving of roughly $37,300/year.

Of course, Americans employed in Canada would likely earn an income in Canadian dollars, so they would need to consider that in their budgeting.

See the full report from Zoocasa here.

Lead photo: Thomas K