Hi,

Currently I am living in Montreal and it's been 5 years since I have not found a job in my field - Accounting.

There are opportunities in Ottawa and Toronto in particular.

I am wondering which city is better (or any other cities)? I loved the city Birmingham in U.K because it was not slow; fashion forward (compared to COrnwall where I grew up), lot of asians (like me) and so many things to do (e.g. restaurants, fashion shows, shopping). So I want somewhere vibrant but ok to raise a family and not to live a hard way.

Thanks

Toronto being the financial centre is obviously the place that will have the most jobs. Ottawa is only about 1/5 the size of Toronto, so it's much smaller. You might have some luck with the bigger accounting firms (Big4 plus others like Baker Tilly and such) that have offices in Ottawa as well, but TOronto generally will have more of a selection.

Both cities would be vibrant, Ottawa would be cheaper, Toronto has a bit more than Ottawa just as it's bigger... raising a family and not living in a hard way sort of depends on your budget and such. Living right in Toronto is quite pricey, but living in the suburbs is cheaper but then further away from Toronto...

Honestly, I think you should visit both places and do a bit more research into both the job markets and what living there would mean - house prices, commute times, distances from the city, and so on.

Hope that helps.

Thank you SchnookoLoly.

The same accounting firm has offices in Toronto and Ottawa. So therefore, the job isn't an issue. It's the living condition. If I was to live in Toronto, it would probably be Scarborough since I have some close relatives there, so I guess that's less pricy since it;s not downtown.

Yes that's a good point about the financial district. However, the Ottawa branch of the firm is brand new, so maybe there are high prospects of career advancement.

Thanks

If you already have a job, then I'd say visit the two cities and see what you think. Spend at least a week in each, and try to stay where you might be living, and travel to the city as you would if you were commuting.

For example, when you go to Toronto, try to find a hotel in Scarborough close to where you might be living, then take transit into the city and do it during rush hour so you can get a feel for how the commute might be. Have a look at mls.ca at real estate listings to see what house prices (both purchasing and renting) might set you back.

Then do the same for Ottawa. There's places right in Ottawa plus suburbs like Kanata... do the same thing. Find a hotel where you think you might like to live, then live like you were living there, commute, drive, park, whatever.

That should help you get an idea of which of the cities might be better suited for you and your family.

Thank you so much

I think Toronto will be the place for you. As SchnookoLoly said, it is the financial centre of Canada and since you want a job in accounting you will have more chances of finding one there. I work in the financial field, as a mortgage lender. I am not so sure about job opportunities in financial field at Ottawa. But if you look at the cost of living, Toronto is much higher than Ottawa. So accept a job offer at Toronto only is the salary package is really good or else you will have to struggle.