If you’re looking for an experienced and accredited removals company for your removals to Montreal, look no further than 1st Move International. As members of many recognised trade bodies and regulated customs brokers, we only provide a high-quality service.
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An estimated 600,000 British expats live in Canada, with many of those calling Montreal home. Offering a lower cost of living compared to other Canadian cities, many Brits are attracted to the city’s strong cultural appeal and high quality of life.
Our innovative packing technique and additional benefits guarantee a first-class removals to Canada experience. Simply fill out our quick and easy form to get a free, tailored quote for your move to Montreal.
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Moving to Montreal in 2024 will cost £1,264 on average for a small (shared container) move from the UK. International removal costs for a larger move (20ft container) start from £3,900. These costs should be used as a guideline for your removals to Montreal. True costs will depend on the volume and destination of your move.
| Move Size | Shipping Method | Cost (GBP) |
|---|---|---|
| Small Move | Shared Container | From £1,264 |
| Medium Move (3-bed house) | 20ft Container | From £3,900 |
| Large Move (4-5 bed house) | 40ft Container | From £5,850 |
Prices shown are port to port freight costs and do not include UK collection or packing costs.
To get a precise fee for your removals to Montreal, request a quick free quote, or give us a call on 0117 9828 123.
We do things differently to other removal companies so we can provide a first-class overseas removals.
Your items will be shipped via sea freight when moving to Montreal. We offer two main methods of shipping; Shared Container or Full Container Shipping.
Our Shared Container Shipping service is the most cost-effective method of moving to Montreal. It's ideal for smaller moves or individual items, such as transporting the contents of a 2-3 bedroom home. You share container space with other customers and only pay for the space you use. Our innovative packing techniques allows us to ship your items alongside commercial goods to guarantee weekly shipping.
Full Container Shipping, or FCL, guarantees that your belongings are the only items in your 20ft or 40ft shipping container. This will minimise handling and gives you peace of mind of the security of your belongings door-to-door from the UK to Montreal. Choose this option if you’re moving a large number of items, such as the contents of a 3+ bedroom household.
We are the only removal company to use our shrink-fast packing method, making us one of the safest shippers of items to Montreal.
Your removals to Montreal comes with so much more than just shipping.
Find out what our Montreal movers have to say about our service.
Lucas
London to Montreal QC, CanadaSo I moved to Canada, and needed to move all my stuff, including computers/screens/audio equipment and guitars. Overall they were really great! They came to my flat in London, took all my stuff in 15 minutes, and 45 days later, all my stuff was at my door, perfectly packed. Extra care was taken for my guitars and I really appreciate. Not a single item was damaged! I would recommand them to anyone! For me, not a single penny had to be paid over what we agreed.
T Gallini
St Leonards On Sea to Montreal QC, CanadaMy experience with 1st Move International was great. I am based in Canada and needed to have some items shipped over from the UK. 1st Move International worked with my family member to get the insurance and packing done. Tessa was really helpful. It was also great to see a photo of the package on Facebook, because I was using my own transport to pick up the shipment and it helped with planning. And the ship they gave me to track was the right one (unlike another moving company I used previously). Overall 1st Move International were great to work.
It takes just 10 days to ship your items from the UK to the port in Montreal. This is the time it takes from port-to-port and does not include the time it takes to pack, get through customs and further delivery in Montreal. 1st Move International offer weekly guaranteed shipping to Montreal for a faster, safer and smarter move.
On average, it’ll cost £1,264 to ship a small shipment from the UK to Montreal. For larger moves via Full Container, costs start from £3,900. Your furniture shipping costs will depend on the amount of furniture you’re shipping and the final destination.
Get a tailored free quote for your international removals to Montreal. Alternatively, call us on +44 117 9828 123 or .
Due to the more manageable weather, Spring and Autumn are the best times to move to Montreal. The Summer months will provide longer daylight to help you settle in, but prices may be higher as it’s usually a busy time to move. Rest assured, we are here to move you to Montreal any time of the year with our guaranteed weekly shipping.
You’ll need to get a Canadia visa to work and live in Montreal if you are moving from the UK. The Express Entry is used by many UK citizens looking to gain permanent residency as skilled workers. Spousal/common-law Sponsorship and Business Immigration are other visa options available. To find out more, read our guide on moving to Canada from the UK.
We will need the following documents to ship your items to Montreal:
All documents are securely uploaded via our document transfer page.
Read our detailed customs guide for Canada to find out more.
Yes, all shipments from the UK can be tracked as soon as they’ve left. Enter your tracking number into our free container tracking tool to live track your shipment. You can also ask your move manager for any further updates.
We can also ship your car to Montreal via our other company Autoshippers. They can ship vehicles from the UK inside a container or by specialist Ro Ro (Roll on Roll off) services from Southampton. You’ll need to obtain prior permission and apply for Vehicle Import Approval. Autoshippers has over 25 years of experience and are one of the UK’s largest shippers of private vehicles.
Montreal’s cuisine and architecture make it feel like a European country, something that most Brits resonate with. Popular job sectors include aerospace, technology, finance, and healthcare, the city provides excellent job opportunities. With a working and living visa option available that favours skilled workers, Montreal makes for a great destination for British expats.
An ideal area for working professionals, Downtown Montreal is the home of the business and commercial district. The residential area of Outremont boasts proximity to parks and the Downtown area, making it best suited for families. Mile End is one for the creatives, known for its vibrant nightlife and artistic boutiques.
It’s considerably cheaper to live in Montreal compared to the UK (London), with the cost of living being 38.3% cheaper in the Canadian city.
Whilst the cost of groceries are higher in Montreal by 7.8% , property prices are more affordable in the city. The average monthly salary in Montreal after tax is $3,590.63 (£2,023.93) with London offering a higher salary at £3,732 . The cost of living in Montreal is also lower than in Manchester, Edinburgh and Bristol.
Below we compare the cost of living in Montreal with the UK by looking at London prices.
| Item | Montreal | UK (London) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in city centre | $1,692.26 (£953.88) | £2,170.83 |
| Price per m2 to buy apartment in city centre | $9,913.99 (£5,588.22) | £13,403.96 |
| Monthly salary after tax | $3,590.63 (£2,023.93) | £3,732 |
| 3 course meal for 2 people, mid-range restaurant | $120 (£67.64) | £80 |
| 1 litre of milk | $2.99 (£1.69) | £1.33 |
| 1kg chicken fillets | $17.79 (£10.03) | £7.41 |
| Monthly travel pass | $97 (£54.68) | £200 |
| Utilities (electricity, heating, cooling, water, garbage) for 85m2 apartment | $111.10 (£62.62) | £281.33 |
| Monthly gym membership | $46.16 (£26.02) | £45.33 |
| Monthly private preschool | $933.13 (£525.98) | £1,815.85 |
Data taken from Numbeo.
Rental prices in Montreal are more affordable than other Canadian cities, making it over 50% cheaper to rent in Montreal than in Toronto . In 2024, rental prices in Montreal average at $1,692.26 to rent in the city centre , making it 56% cheaper than in London . It’s also 58% more affordable to buy property in Montreal compared to London . Below is a comparison of rental and buying prices in Toronto compared to London.
| Item | Montreal | UK (London) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in city centre | $1,692.26 (£953.88) | £2,170.83 |
| Monthly rent for 1-bedroom apartment outside of centre | $1,296.81 (£730.97) | £1,630.26 |
| Price per m2 to buy apartment in city centre | $9,913.99 (£5,588.22) | £13,403.96 |
| Price per m2 to buy apartment outside of city centre | $5,817.47 (£3,279.13) | £7,956.99 |
Data taken from Numbeo.
Children attending public schools in Montreal are expected to go to French language schools, however, there are English language schools available. French will be the main language in Montreal schools, but parents can apply for their children to be taught in English. International schools are also on offer in Montreal, but they will charge a fee.
The job market in Montreal is competitive and Quebec is boasting the lowest rates of unemployment for 43 years. The technology sector is prominent in Montreal, with software development and artificial intelligence being key areas. Aerospace, finance & insurance and healthcare are also significant sectors in the city. Looking at platforms like Indeed, Linkedin and local websites such as Emploi-Québec will help kick start your job search in Montreal.
Check out our guide on moving to Montreal for a more in-depth look at everything you need to know, from the best neighbourhoods to settle in and the cost of living, to the local culture and essential moving tips.
Discover our full door-to-door removals services from the United Kingdom to Canada with fast weekly shipping and safer packing.
Everything you need to know about shipping furniture & personal effects from the UK to Canada.
Customs Guide for Shipping Personal Effects to Canada
We cover all the legalities of shipping household goods from the UK to Canada.
Check out our in-depth guide on everything you need to know about moving to Montreal!
Container Shipping Costs UK to Canada
Get the latest information on UK to Canada container shipping costs and container ports.
Canada Container Shipping Schedules
We post up-to-date sailing schedule information and as part of our weekly shipping promise we'll tell you in advance what ship we can get your personal effects on.
Our experts provide a wide range of guides, tips and advice on moving to and living in Canada.
Get more information on our car shipping services to Canada.
Your life, carefully wrapped, beautifully packed, and protected for the journey ahead.
We are extremely proud of our unique packing process. We are the only international removals company in the UK that uses this tried and tested method to ship your treasured personal possessions overseas.
Visit our Facebook page to find a snapshot of each shipment captured as the final pallet is wrapped.
