Canadians Are Leaving Canada in 2026: Where They’re Moving and Why Housing Is a Big Reason
For a long time, Canada was the country people dreamed of moving to.
Safe cities.
Good schools.
Healthcare.
Strong jobs.
A stable banking system.
A real chance to build a better life.
But now a different conversation is happening.
More Canadians are asking a question that would have sounded strange 10 or 20 years ago:
“Is Canada still worth the cost?”
That question is not only coming from retirees. It is coming from young professionals, families, skilled workers, entrepreneurs, new Canadians, homeowners, renters, and first-time buyers who feel like they are doing everything right but still falling behind.
The problem is not just one thing.
It is the full cost of life.
Housing is expensive.
Rent is expensive.
Groceries are expensive.
Insurance is expensive.
Mortgage payments are heavy.
Taxes feel high.
Daycare is painful.
And for many people, income has not kept up with the lifestyle they expected.
So now, some Canadians are looking outside Canada.
Not always because they hate Canada.
But because they want breathing room.
They want a home they can afford.
They want warmer weather.
They want lower monthly expenses.
They want more freedom.
They want a life where working hard actually feels like it is getting them somewhere.
And that makes this more than a travel story.
It is a housing story.
It is a mortgage story.
It is an affordability story.
Are Canadians Actually Leaving Canada?
Yes. Canadians do leave Canada, and the topic is getting more attention because affordability has become a major pressure point.
Statistics Canada tracks international migration, including emigrants, returning emigrants, and other migration components. Its latest international migration estimates include quarterly data through 2025.
The OECD’s latest Canada migration profile reported that emigration of Canadian citizens to OECD countries was about 39,000 in 2023, down slightly from 2022, with the United States, Mexico, and the United Kingdom as the top three OECD destinations.
That does not mean Canada is emptying out.
Canada is still a major immigration destination. People still want to come here. Canada still has massive long-term strengths.
But there is a very real shift in mindset.
Many Canadians are no longer asking:
“How do I buy a bigger home in Canada?”
They are asking:
“Can I build a better life somewhere else?”
That question matters.
Because once people start questioning the Canadian dream, housing confidence changes.
Quick Answer: Where Are Canadians Moving?
The top OECD destination for Canadian citizens moving abroad is the United States, followed by Mexico and the United Kingdom, based on OECD 2023 data. The OECD reported that approximately 48% of Canadian citizen emigrants to OECD countries moved to the United States, 8% moved to Mexico, and 7% moved to the United Kingdom.
Other countries that often come up in the Canadian relocation conversation include:
Australia.
Portugal.
United Arab Emirates.
India.
Dominican Republic.
Costa Rica.
Spain.
Thailand.
Caribbean countries.
Some of these are official migration destinations. Some are lifestyle, retirement, remote-work, or part-time living destinations.
But the pattern is clear.
Canadians are comparing Canada against places where life may feel cheaper, warmer, easier, or more financially rewarding.
Why Are Canadians Thinking About Leaving Canada?
The biggest reason is simple:
Canada has become expensive.
Not just Toronto.
Not just Vancouver.
Not just luxury homes.
Normal life has become expensive.
A regular family can make a decent income and still feel squeezed. A young couple can save aggressively and still feel far away from buying a home. A homeowner can renew a mortgage and suddenly feel like their old payment belongs to a different era.
That is why people are looking around.
Not because Canada has no opportunity.
But because the math has become harder.
1. United States
The United States remains the number one destination for many Canadians moving abroad.
The OECD reported that approximately 48% of Canadian citizen emigrants to OECD countries moved to the United States in 2023.
That is not surprising.
The U.S. is close.
It has a much larger job market.
It offers higher income potential in many industries.
It has warmer states.
It has more housing variety.
It has deep business and investment opportunities.
For Canadians in tech, finance, healthcare, sales, consulting, real estate, entrepreneurship, and corporate leadership, the U.S. can feel like a bigger playing field.
A software engineer may earn more.
A business owner may scale faster.
A professional may find more opportunity.
A retiree may want Florida or Arizona.
A family may find a market where detached homes feel more attainable.
But the U.S. is not automatically easier.
Healthcare is different.
Immigration rules are serious.
Gun violence concerns some families.
Politics can feel intense.
Some cities are just as expensive as Canada, or worse.
Still, for many Canadians, the U.S. remains the most obvious alternative.
It is close enough to Canada to feel familiar, but big enough to feel like a different financial game.
2. Mexico
Mexico has become one of the most talked-about destinations for Canadians who want a lower cost of living and warmer weather.
According to the OECD, approximately 8% of Canadian citizen emigrants to OECD countries moved to Mexico in 2023.
Mexico attracts Canadians for a few major reasons.
Housing can be cheaper in many areas.
The weather is warmer.
Food and daily expenses can be lower.
Remote workers can stretch their income further.
Retirees can live with less financial pressure.
There are established Canadian and international communities.
Popular areas often include Mexico City, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Vallarta, Mérida, Baja California, and other coastal or urban centres.
For someone earning Canadian dollars or U.S. dollars, Mexico can feel like a financial reset.
The same income that feels average in Ontario may feel much stronger in Mexico.
But moving there still requires planning.
Healthcare, residency status, taxes, safety, language, property rules, and long-term family plans all matter.
Mexico can be amazing for the right person.
But it is not a decision to make based on vacation energy alone.
3. United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is another major destination for Canadians moving abroad.
The OECD reported that approximately 7% of Canadian citizen emigrants to OECD countries moved to the United Kingdom in 2023.
The UK attracts Canadians for work, education, family, finance, culture, and global access.
London is still one of the world’s major financial and business centres. For younger professionals, it can feel like a career accelerator. For students, it offers world-known universities. For people with family ties, it can feel familiar.
The UK is not necessarily cheap.
London housing can be brutal.
Rent can be high.
Taxes and living costs still matter.
But Canadians may still choose it for career opportunity, global mobility, and lifestyle.
It is not always about escaping high costs.
Sometimes it is about choosing a different kind of opportunity.
4. Australia
Australia is one of the most attractive lifestyle destinations for Canadians.
It is English-speaking.
It has warm weather.
It has beaches.
It has strong cities.
It has outdoor culture.
It feels familiar, but different.
For young Canadians, Australia often feels like the dream version of work-life balance.
Work hard.
Live near the water.
Enjoy the sun.
Build a career.
Have a lifestyle.
But there is one big reality:
Australia also has a housing affordability problem.
Sydney and Melbourne are not cheap. Many Australian cities have the same issue Canadians complain about: high home prices compared with income.
So Canadians moving to Australia are not always escaping affordability problems.
Sometimes they are trading Canadian affordability problems for Australian affordability problems — but with better weather.
5. Portugal
Portugal became very popular with Canadians, Americans, Brits, and other international movers over the last few years.
The appeal is easy to understand.
Warmer weather.
Beautiful cities.
European lifestyle.
Walkability.
Coastal living.
Slower pace.
Strong food culture.
Retirement appeal.
Remote-work appeal.
Portugal often comes up when Canadians talk about leaving Canada because it feels like a lifestyle upgrade.
But Portugal is no longer a secret.
Prices have increased in Lisbon, Porto, and popular coastal areas. Local housing pressure has also become a major political topic.
For Canadians with strong savings, pensions, business income, or remote income, Portugal can still make sense.
But anyone moving there should compare the real cost of housing, taxes, healthcare, residency rules, and exchange rates before assuming it is automatically cheap.
6. United Arab Emirates
The UAE, especially Dubai and Abu Dhabi, has become popular with entrepreneurs, high-income professionals, investors, influencers, finance workers, and business owners.
The biggest attraction is simple:
More income can potentially stay in your pocket.
The UAE offers a global business environment, luxury lifestyle, large expat community, and strong networking opportunities.
For ambitious Canadians, Dubai can feel fast.
Fast money.
Fast growth.
Fast business.
Fast real estate.
Fast networking.
But it is not for everyone.
The lifestyle can be expensive.
Rules are different.
Culture is different.
Residency needs planning.
Long-term family fit matters.
For some Canadians, the UAE is not a retirement move.
It is a wealth-building move.
7. India
India is an important destination for some Canadians, especially those with family, business, cultural, or retirement connections.
For many Indo-Canadian families, the question is not always:
“Should we leave Canada forever?”
It is more like:
“Can we split life between Canada and India?”
Some Canadians return to India for family support, aging parents, business opportunities, lower cost of living, property ownership, cultural connection, or retirement planning.
For people with Canadian savings or income, the cost-of-living difference can be meaningful.
But moving to India also requires serious planning.
Tax residency matters.
Healthcare matters.
Property rules matter.
Family expectations matter.
Business structure matters.
Currency risk matters.
India can offer opportunity and comfort, especially for people with roots there.
But it is still a major life decision.
8. Dominican Republic and the Caribbean
The Caribbean is another major lifestyle option for Canadians.
For decades, Canadians have travelled to places like the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Barbados, Bahamas, Aruba, and other Caribbean destinations for vacations.
Now some are exploring longer stays, retirement, investment properties, or seasonal living.
The appeal is obvious.
Warm weather.
Beach lifestyle.
Lower costs in some areas.
Shorter flights from Canada.
Retirement-friendly lifestyle.
Rental property potential.
A slower pace of life.
For Ontario homeowners, this sometimes becomes a strategy:
Keep the Canadian home.
Rent it out.
Use the equity wisely.
Spend part of the year abroad.
Come back when needed.
That sounds simple, but the mortgage and tax planning can get complicated quickly.
Before doing this, homeowners should understand lender rules, insurance rules, tax residency, rental income reporting, vacancy risk, and whether their current mortgage allows the plan.
The Real Reason This Topic Is Exploding: Housing
Canadians are not just leaving because they want beaches.
They are leaving because many feel the Canadian housing ladder is broken.
For first-time buyers, the dream feels harder than ever.
A normal detached home in many Ontario markets can feel out of reach. Even townhomes and condos can feel expensive once you include mortgage payments, condo fees, property taxes, utilities, insurance, and maintenance.
For renters, saving a down payment can feel impossible when rent is already eating a huge part of income.
For homeowners, renewal shock has changed the mood.
A family that bought at a lower rate may now be looking at a much higher payment. Even if they love Canada, they may wonder if life would be easier somewhere else.
This is why the topic hits so hard.
It is not just about moving countries.
It is about people questioning whether the Canadian dream still works.
What This Means for Ontario Homeowners
For Ontario homeowners, this trend creates several possibilities.
Some may sell and move abroad.
Some may keep their home and rent it out.
Some may refinance to invest elsewhere.
Some may downsize.
Some may move to Alberta or Atlantic Canada instead of leaving the country.
Some may use home equity to create more flexibility.
Some may help family buy outside Canada.
Some may split time between Canada and another country.
This is where mortgage strategy matters.
Before leaving Canada or renting out your home, you need to know your numbers.
How much equity do you have?
Can you refinance?
Can your property cash flow as a rental?
Will the lender allow it?
Will your insurance still cover the home?
How will taxes change if you become non-resident?
Will rental income help you qualify for another mortgage later?
Do you have enough emergency funds?
What happens if you want to come back?
A lot of people only think about the lifestyle.
But the mortgage side can make or break the plan.
For Ontario homeowners considering a refinance, it may help to review your options before making a major move. Internal link opportunity: mortgage refinance Ontario → link to your refinance/service page or a related refinance blog.
What This Means for First-Time Buyers
For first-time buyers, this trend is emotional.
Many young Canadians are not asking for luxury.
They are asking for a normal life.
A home.
A backyard.
A safe neighbourhood.
A reasonable commute.
A monthly payment that does not destroy their lifestyle.
But in many Ontario markets, that is difficult.
So some buyers start comparing.
Should I stay in Ontario?
Should I move to Calgary?
Should I move to the U.S.?
Should I move to Mexico?
Should I buy with family?
Should I rent longer?
Should I buy a smaller property?
Should I leave the GTA?
Should I buy in Barrie, Bradford, Oshawa, Pickering, or outside the core?
The answer is not the same for everyone.
But the first step is always the same:
Know what you can actually afford.
A proper mortgage pre-approval gives you clarity. It shows your real budget, your debt limits, your down payment options, and what type of property makes sense.
Internal link opportunity: first-time buyer mortgage strategy in Ontario → link to your first-time buyer or affordability blog.
Should You Leave Canada Because Housing Is Expensive?
Not automatically.
Leaving Canada can improve your lifestyle if the math works.
But it can also create new problems.
Before moving, ask yourself:
Will my income stay the same?
Can I legally work in the new country?
What happens to my Canadian tax residency?
What happens to my mortgage?
Can I rent out my home?
Will my insurance still cover the property?
Do I understand healthcare costs?
Can my kids go to school there?
What happens if I need to come back?
Am I moving toward a better plan or just running away from pressure?
That last question matters.
Because stress can make any destination look better.
But a smart plan beats an emotional escape.
The Bigger Housing Warning for Canada
This trend should be a warning.
Canada still has huge advantages.
Natural resources.
Stable banks.
Strong education.
Global reputation.
Immigration demand.
Safe communities.
Long-term opportunity.
But if young families, skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and professionals feel like they cannot get ahead, Canada has a problem.
People do not just want to survive.
They want to build.
They want to own something.
They want to raise families.
They want to save money.
They want a future.
They want a life that feels worth the effort.
If Canada becomes a place where people work hard but still feel trapped, more people will look elsewhere.
That does not mean the housing market collapses.
But it does mean confidence gets tested.
And housing markets are built on confidence.
Final Thoughts
Canadians are not all leaving Canada.
But more Canadians are asking whether life outside Canada may offer something they cannot find here right now:
Affordability.
Sunshine.
Lower expenses.
Higher income.
Better lifestyle.
More breathing room.
The United States remains the top OECD destination for Canadian citizens moving abroad, followed by Mexico and the United Kingdom, according to the OECD’s latest Canada migration profile.
But the bigger story is not just where Canadians are going.
The bigger story is why they are looking.
Housing has become too expensive for too many people. Mortgage payments have become too heavy. The cost of living has made normal life feel harder than it should.
For some Canadians, moving abroad may be the right decision.
For others, the better move may be refinancing, restructuring debt, buying in a more affordable Ontario city, renting out a property, or building a smarter mortgage plan before making a major life change.
Before you sell, move, refinance, or leave Canada, understand your numbers.
Because whether you stay in Ontario or explore life somewhere else, the goal is the same:
Build a life that actually works.
If you are thinking about buying, refinancing, renting out your home, or using your equity to create more financial breathing room, Garry Sidhu Mortgages can help you review your options clearly.
Call or text 437-961-0004
Visit www.garrysidhu.ca
Proudly helping homeowners, first-time buyers, and investors across Bradford, Barrie, Vaughan, Pickering, Oshawa, and the Greater Toronto Area.
