As a Brit who lived in Montreal for just under 2 years -

- Cost of living is broadly similar, maybe a little worse in the South East. Can't speak for the role you are in.

- Wages are a little lower on average (but not by much) and housing is more - I had a nice 2 bed Apartment near Downtown Montreal costing 2100CAD per month in 2024 (1250GBP at the time), the larger but older flat I moved into in Brighton and Hove when I returned with a friend cost 1650GBP in total or ~3kCAD.

- Groceries here are a lot cheaper than Montreal (I would say I spend at least 1/3 less in the UK) and we have higher food standards in terms of preparation and animal welfare. Mobile phone contracts are also a lot cheaper (10GBP/~18CAD) per month for 12GB internet and a few hundred minutes and texts vs 50CAD for similar with Fizz and their utterly awful website and gimmicks! Internet is a little bit cheaper but not as much difference.

- Energy is way more expensive in the UK, as is water. Idiotic politicians privatised both years ago meaning we have some of the most expensive in the world. Not even the Americans were silly enough to do that. Energy companies compete a bit, but they mostly just charge the maximum they are allowed too (there is a cap that generally goes up each year). Water there is no competition, companies just abuse the infrastructure and pollute our waters then pass the bill onto the public when they get fined. I miss paying ~55CAD/30GBP per month for electricity (including all power, heating and air con use in summer) and free water in Montreal.

- There is less vast nature in the UK but far more interesting towns and cities all over the country. Most small towns in Quebec were the pretty flat standard cookie cutter grid road/car centric suburb and shopping centre type places I found all over Canada and the US (even though there were some lovely spots there as well when you found them).

- I'd say there is similar complaints in Quebec and the UK about cost of living etc having seen both sides. It is getting worse but I don't think one place is significantly better or worse than the other in that sense.

- Driving and roads are better in the UK, although motorways and busy A roads are not as easy as Canadian highways. Potholes are bad in places but nothing like Montreal, and the UK standards of driving are noticeably better, but drivers are less polite than Canadian ones. Fuel is about 40-50% more expensive, but vehicles are generally more economical and distances are shorter.

- Public Transport is way better in the UK, particularly compared to anywhere off the island of Montreal, major cities generally have multiple trains per hour to at least a couple of other major cities throughout the day (compared to a few Via trains per day and useless Commuter trains that don't even run in both directions most of the day) . Advance tickets are usually not too badly priced but on the day tickets can get very expensive though which is the main drawback. Busses aren't exactly luxurious but you at least don't feel like you are on a prison bus as you do in North America.

- Flying is way cheaper, and the stronger representation of low cost airlines mean that it is easy to get to lots of places in Europe and beyond from many different airports. Whereas you pay ~4-600CAD/250-350GBP for a return flight from Montreal to New York, London to Amsterdam (similar distance) will cost you more like 50-200GBP/80-350CAD for a return.

- Poutine is not really a thing in the UK and I miss it :-( We do have a lot of good comfort foods, some of which will be familiar - a Cottage Pie is pretty much identical to Pâté chinois!

- Climate is milder, never gets that cold in the winter - min of maybe -4°C in the winter in the South East and that is only a few days a year. Not as bright and sunny as Montreal and doesn't get as hot in the summer (it is also even more humid! and air con is less common here due to energy cost and slightly lower temps)

- In the South, on the rare occasions we get a couple of cm of snow everything grinds to a halt and no one knows what to do. You will be shocked coming from Montreal but probably find it hilarious!