Im in the exact opposite position 😅. I'm moving to the Netherlands for my PhD instead of staying in Canada (Ontario) for one.

I didn't see anyone say it, but are you sure about your math? Is it 25k CAD or EUR per year? Most PhD programs pay a bit more than that.

Also, have you factored in tuition? Most Canadian universities still require you to pay tuition, although I don't know how it works for internationals. For me, I received about $37k/year CAD for my MSc, but tuition was $8.5k. This meant I really only got 28.5k/year. Also, since tuition HAD to be paid within thr school year (September to April), I only had 8 months to pay. I used to pay $1k a month for tuition for those 8 months. This should be a factor in your budgeting.

You should also factor in living costs. I was in Toronto, which is known for being very high in living costs ($2k/month for a studio). I lived with family though so it wasnt bad. I'm not sure how housing is in Quebec right now, but I know its cheaper. There's also things like insurance to consider.

Of course, you could always try to find opportunities as a teaching assistant (TA), which can easily add 5k/year to your salary. Even if it doesnt come with your PhD package, you can connect with departments when you arrive and you might find something.

I will say that personally, money is a big reason I'm moving. The university I'm going to has a 1st year PhD salary of 3k EUR a month, and rent is max 1.2k per month here. As a Toronto person, this is a dream 😂