The Largest Number of Homes for Sale
2025 Quebec moving trends, based on MovingWaldo data
A lot has changed over the past few years in the real estate and moving sector. The pandemic and its aftermath impacted how Quebecers live, with many moving away from urban centres or opting for housing better suited to spending more time at home.
MovingWaldo and Centris have teamed up to combine their data. This article maps evolving trends over time and identifies where Quebecers really want to live in 2025.
Highlights of moving trends in Quebec
- In 2025, 24.69% of total moves in Quebec took place within Montréal (from one Montréal address to another), compared to 12.71% in 2024.
- Ontario is still the top destination for people moving out of Quebec, accounting for 58.62% of moves in 2025, compared to 51.67% in 2024.
- In 2025, according to the MovingWaldo sample, 12.07% of people leaving Quebec moved to Alberta, down from 20% in 2024.
- Moves within Québec City are down to 6.17% in 2025 compared to 10.92% in 2024.
According to MovingWaldo, more Quebecers have chosen to stay and live in Montréal this year than last year. Although the pandemic prompted something of an exodus to the suburbs, with more Montréal households purchasing single-family homes off the island , this trend has since abated.
Neighbouring Ontario remains the most popular destination for Quebecers moving out of Quebec in 2025. Moves from Quebec to Ontario are slightly up in 2025, although the overall volume remains relatively stable compared to last year.
The second-largest group of people moving out of Quebec chose to settle in Alberta. Alberta is known for its spectacular Rockies and job opportunities in the energy sector, particularly oil and gas. However, the proportion of people moving to Alberta is down from 2024.
Moves within Québec City are also down compared to last year, suggesting that people are increasingly choosing to stay put this year.
2025 Montréal moving trends
MovingWaldo data shows that the majority (63.90%) of Montrealers moving out of their home are staying... in Montréal! Toronto is the second most popular destination, accounting for 3.19% of moves, the same as Laval.
It is interesting to note that for people moving out of Montréal, the most popular destinations also include cities outside Quebec, such as Toronto. This raises the question of why anyone would relocate to a much more expensive city. Factors such as a new job may influence the decision to move to Toronto.
2025 Top destinations for relocation from Montréal
- Montréal, QC – 63.90%
- Toronto, ON – 3.19%
- Laval, QC – 3.19%
- Longueuil, QC – 1.92%
- Sherbrooke, QC – 1.28 %
- Québec, QC – 1.28%
- Ottawa, ON – 1.28%
Breakdown of moves from Montréal
2025 Trends in relocation outside Quebec
The MovingWaldo database indicates that 89.12% of Quebecers moved within the province in 2025, while 7.45% left or are planning to leave the province. The others moved to Quebec from another province or country.
Most of those who moved out of Quebec relocated to Ontario (58.62%). This province, especially in big cities like Toronto, is often more expensive than Quebec.
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Destination |
2025 Percentage of moves out of Quebec |
2024 Percentage of moves out of Quebec |
|
Ontario |
58.62% |
51.67% |
|
Alberta |
12.07% |
20.00% |
|
British Columbia |
6.90% |
20.00% |
|
New Brunswick |
6.90% |
5.00% |
|
Nova Scotia |
5.17% |
1.67% |
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New York |
3.45% |
- |
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Florida |
1.72%* |
- |
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Massachusetts |
1.72%* |
- |
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Manitoba |
1.72%* |
- |
|
Saskatchewan |
1.72%* |
1.67% |
* Some percentages are equal because they correspond to the same number of moves in the sample used.
2025 Moving trends and property prices
According to MovingWaldo data, most moves in 2025 took place within Montréal. This is consistent with the dynamism of Quebec’s largest city, where people often move without leaving it.
Similar trends are seen elsewhere: Moves within Québec City, and moves within Laval. These large urban centres attract and retain an active population, accounting for the high volume of moves within the same city.
The data also reveals movement from Montréal to Laval. The latter’s appeal may lie in its more affordable properties, with homes selling for an average of 22% less than in Montréal. People may also want to live where they have access to more space while still remaining close to downtown services and opportunities.
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Moves |
Percentage of total moves |
Median property price – City of origin |
Median property price – Destination city |
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Montréal → Montréal |
24.69% |
House: $765,000 |
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Québec → Québec |
6.17% |
House: $441,000 |
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Laval → Laval |
2.22% |
House: $595,000 |
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Montréal → Laval |
1.23% |
House: $765,000 |
House: $595,000 |
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Montréal → Toronto |
1.23% |
House: $765,000 |
- |
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Longueuil → Longueuil |
0.99% |
House: $594,000 |
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Toronto → Montréal |
0.99% |
- |
House: $765,000 |
|
Lévis → Lévis |
0.86% |
House: $370,500 |
|
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Trois-Rivières → Trois-Rivières |
0.74%* |
House: $385,500 |
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Sherbrooke → Sherbrooke |
0.74%* |
House: $460,000 |
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Montréal → Longueuil |
0.74%* |
House: $765,000 |
House: $594,000 |
|
Laval → Montréal |
0.74%* |
House: $595,000 |
House: $765,000 |
|
Gatineau → Gatineau |
0.74%* |
House: $470,000 |
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* Some percentages are equal because they correspond to the same number of moves in the sample used.
Quebecers are moving, but staying close to home
Based on MovingWaldo data, it appears that most Quebecers choose to stay in the province rather than leave it. Montréal remains the top moving destination, confirming the city’s central role in residential choices. Québec and Laval, along with Ontario and Alberta are among the most frequent destinations for people moving out of Quebec. Are you planning to move? Start shopping for your next property and book a mover worry-free through MovingWaldo.
Methodology
To analyze 2025 regional moving trends, MovingWaldo used data from 809 move requests submitted by actual users through the online mover comparison tool between January 1 and April 8, 2025. 2024 data is from the same period of January 1 to April 8, and is based on 1,006 move requests.
Given the small sample size, the results obtained may not be reflective of broader trends. They are therefore intended for reference purposes only.
The property price data presented is from the first quarter of 2025 and derived from Centris.ca real estate statistics .
Article written in collaboration with:
MovingWaldo is a technology company that specializes in simplifying the moving process for individuals and families. Our comprehensive suite of services includes booking trustworthy movers, comparing internet plans, and automating administrative tasks, which can save users hours of paperwork.
See also:
First time renting an apartment: a step-by-step guide
How to plan your residential move effectively
What moving expenses can you claim?
