Best Cities in Canada for Software Engineers

Toronto — Canada’s largest tech hub and highest job density

Toronto consistently ranks as the top choice for software engineers in Canada. Home to big tech offices (Google, Amazon, Microsoft), a booming fintech sector, and a dense network of startups and scaleups, Toronto offers the broadest variety of roles — from backend and cloud engineering to data science and product development. Salaries tend to be the highest in Canada in Toronto, often complemented by strong benefits and equity opportunities at startups. Drawbacks include high housing costs and longer commutes in some suburbs, but the city makes up for that with unmatched networking events, meetups, and access to venture capital. If career growth, mentorship, and job variety are priorities, Toronto should be at the top of your list.

Vancouver — West Coast lifestyle with strong engineering demand

Vancouver blends outdoor lifestyle with a growing tech ecosystem that attracts companies in gaming, AR/VR, cloud services, and sustainability tech. Many U.S. tech firms maintain major engineering teams here, offering competitive salaries and often more relaxed culture than Toronto. Vancouver’s strengths include proximity to Silicon Valley, strong remote-work adoption, and a high quality of life for engineers who value nature and work-life balance. Costs for housing are high, but many firms offer compensation packages and flexible schedules to offset this. Vancouver is particularly attractive for developers in graphics, mobile, and cloud infrastructure, and for engineers who want a balance between ambitious projects and outdoor recreation.

Montreal — Affordability, research institutions, and AI leadership

Montreal has emerged as a global AI and research hub thanks to top universities (McGill, Université de Montréal) and renowned labs such as MILA. The city is well-suited to machine learning engineers, researchers, and startups focused on deep learning, natural language processing, and computer vision. Compared with Toronto and Vancouver, Montreal offers lower cost of living and a strong community of multilingual engineers. Salary levels can be slightly lower but are often offset by lower rent and a lively cultural scene. Montreal’s thriving startup accelerators, government incentives, and collaborative academic-industry programs make it a compelling destination if you prioritize cutting-edge research opportunities and affordability.