One of the first things that surprises Latin Americans in Canada is the geography. Cities here are spread out in a way that's fundamentally different from LATAM. Toronto is physically larger than Mexico City but feels less walkable. Calgary is enormous and almost impossible to navigate without a car. Montreal has excellent transit but confusing streets.
How you get around in your first 90 days depends heavily on which city you're in — here's everything you need to know.
Public transit by city
Toronto (TTC + GO Transit)
The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) runs the subway, streetcars, and buses. It's functional but crowded and slower than you'd expect from a city of this size.
PRESTO card — this is your transit card. Get one at any subway station, Shoppers Drug Mart, or online. Load it with money and tap it every time you board. It works across TTC, GO Transit (regional trains and buses), and other regional systems in the Greater Toronto Area.
Cost: $3.25/ride as of 2024. Monthly pass: $156 CAD.
Vancouver (TransLink)
Vancouver has the best public transit system in Canada — the SkyTrain (rapid transit) is fast, frequent, and connects most of the city and suburbs. Buses cover the gaps.
Compass Card — same concept as PRESTO. Get one at any SkyTrain station. $6 card deposit, then load credit.
Cost: Zones 1–3 depending on distance, starting at $3.15/ride. Monthly passes available.
Montreal (STM)
The Metro (subway) is clean, frequent, and covers most of the island of Montreal well. Montreal is also the most cycling-friendly major city in Canada — the BIXI bike-share system has 12,000+ bikes across the city.
Opus Card — Montreal's transit card. Get one at any Metro station for $6.
Cost: $3.75/ride. Monthly pass: $100 CAD — significantly cheaper than Toronto or Vancouver.
Calgary and Edmonton
Both cities have LRT (light rail) systems but they're limited. Most of Calgary and Edmonton is designed for cars. If you're moving to either of these cities, having a car significantly improves your quality of life and job options.
Calgary Transit: $3.60/ride. Monthly pass: $114 CAD.
Ottawa
The O-Train (light rail) and OC Transpo buses cover the city. Manageable without a car if you live and work near transit lines.
Getting your transit card: step by step
- Go to any major transit station in your city
- Purchase the card at a ticket machine or customer service desk ($6 deposit)
- Load credit with cash or debit/credit card
- Register the card online — this protects your balance if you lose it
Some cards (PRESTO, Compass) can also be added to Apple Pay or Google Pay for tap-to-pay directly from your phone.
When you need a car
Be honest about whether you need a car based on where you live and work:
You probably don't need a car if:
- You live in Toronto, Vancouver, or Montreal near transit
- Your workplace is accessible by subway or bus within 45 minutes
- You do your groceries at stores within walking distance
You probably need a car if:
- You're in Calgary, Edmonton, or any city without strong transit
- You live in the suburbs (many newcomers end up here due to lower rent)
- Your job requires travel or is in an industrial area
- You have children who need to get to school or activities
Getting a Canadian driver's license
Your Latin American driver's license is valid in most provinces for 60–90 days after you establish residency. After that, you need a local license.
The process varies by province:
Ontario
Ontario uses a Graduated Licensing System (GLS) with two stages:
- G1 — written knowledge test ($159 fee). Once you pass, you can drive with a fully licensed driver beside you.
- G2 — road test after 12 months with G1 (or 8 months if you take a driving school course). You can drive alone with some restrictions.
- G (full license) — road test after 12 months with G2.
Good news for experienced drivers: If your home country has a reciprocal agreement with Ontario, you may be able to skip directly to the G2 road test. Mexico and several other LATAM countries qualify. Check the MTO website for the current list.
British Columbia
BC has a similar graduated system. The knowledge test costs $15. Experienced foreign drivers can apply for a License Exchange if their country is on the approved list.
Alberta
Knowledge test + road test. Alberta recognizes licenses from many countries for direct exchange — you might just need to pass the knowledge test and a vision test.
Quebec
Quebec has a reciprocal agreement with several countries. For most LATAM drivers, you'll need the knowledge test (in French or English) and then a road test.
Buying or renting a car as a newcomer
Renting
Car rentals in Canada require a credit card (not debit). If you don't have a Canadian credit card yet, use your international card — most work, but call your bank first to notify them of the Canadian purchase.
Apps: Turo (peer-to-peer car rental), Zipcar (hourly rentals for city driving), Enterprise/Avis for longer periods.
Buying
When you're ready to buy, budget for:
- The car price (used cars $8,000–20,000 CAD for something reliable)
- Provincial sales tax on the purchase
- Car insurance — expensive in Canada. Budget $150–350 CAD/month depending on province, car, and your driving history
- Registration and plates: $75–150 CAD/year
Note on insurance: Canadian insurance companies will ask for your driving history. Get a letter of driving experience from your home country's insurer before leaving — it confirms how many years you've been insured and your claims history. This can significantly lower your insurance rates in Canada.
Cycling
Canada's major cities are increasingly cycling-friendly. Montreal leads, followed by Vancouver and Ottawa. Toronto has bike lanes but cycling there requires confidence in traffic.
Most cities have bike-share programs:
- Montreal: BIXI
- Toronto: Bike Share Toronto
- Vancouver: Mobi by Shaw Go
- Calgary: Lime
Annual memberships run $100–130 CAD and are worth it if you plan to cycle regularly.
Walking and apps
Google Maps works extremely well in Canada for transit directions, walking, and driving. It shows real-time bus/subway schedules and will tell you exactly which stop to get off at.
Transit App — better than Google Maps specifically for public transit. Shows when the next bus or train arrives in real time.
Waze — for driving, especially good for avoiding traffic in Toronto and Vancouver.
Your first week, take a walk around your neighborhood even if you don't need to go anywhere. Canada's cities reward people who understand their immediate area. The transit system, the grocery store within walking distance, the park nearby — knowing these things makes the first 90 days considerably less stressful.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.