Working and Networking
- Social Events for Expats
- Guelph Newcomers Club and various hobby groups on Meetup.com
- Best Coworking Space
- ThreeFortyNine (349 Elizabeth St) - Monthly memberships approx. $250 CAD
- Best Cafe for Work
- Red Brick Cafe (8 Douglas St) - Spacious with power outlets and great patio
- Networking Events
- Innovation Guelph events and Guelph Chamber of Commerce After Five mixers
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber is widely available; Red Top Taxi is the primary local cab company
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Guelph Transit’s 'Guelph Bike' share pilot; private rentals at Speed River Bicycle
- Best Beach Nearby
- Guelph Lake Main Beach (15 mins drive north); Grand Bend (2 hours west)
- Top Regional Airline
- WestJet and Porter Airlines (via Waterloo Region International Airport - YKF)
- Top International Airline
- Air Canada (via Toronto Pearson International Airport - YYZ, 1 hour away)
- Highway Access
- Highway 6 and Highway 7; easy access to the 401 via the Hanlon Expressway
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Guelph Central Station (GO Transit and VIA Rail access)
- Public Transport Passes
- Guelph Transit On-Demand and Bus; Monthly pass is $84.00 CAD
- Regional Travel
- GO Train to Toronto (Union Station) takes ~90 mins; GO Bus to Kitchener or Mississauga
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Guelph General Hospital (115 Delhi St)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Moksha Yoga Guelph (Stone Rd W) and Arise Yoga (Downtown)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- GoodLife Fitness (Eramosa Rd) or the University of Guelph Athletic Centre (Student/Member rates)
- Laundry Services
- Guelph Laundry (260 Eramosa Rd); Fluff and Fold services available
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- UberEats, SkipTheDishes, and DoorDash
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Poutine from Pierre's Poutine or craft burgers from The Wooly Pub
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Beertown Public House (extensive vegan menu) and Boon Burger Cafe
- Best Dessert Spots
- Sweet Temptations Cupcakery and Lady Glaze Doughnuts
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- No Frills (Silvercreek Pkwy) and FreshCo
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.ca, Well.ca (Health/Wellness), and Indigo
- Grocery Delivery
- Instacart and Voila by Sobeys
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Macdonell Street (Downtown) - Tracks, The Manor, and Western Hotel
- Local Brewery
- Wellington Brewery (Canada's oldest independent microbrewery) and Royal City Brewing
- Wine Bars
- La Cucina (Downtown) and Atmosphere Cafe + ETC
- Street Food Stalls
- Guelph Farmers' Market (Saturdays 7am-12pm) for local food vendors
- Popular International Cuisine
- Lucky Belly (Asian Fusion) and Nguyen’s Vietnamese Restaurant
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate (Stunning Gothic architecture)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Guelph Civic Museum and the Art Gallery of Guelph
- Historical Sites
- McCrae House (Birthplace of John McCrae, author of 'In Flanders Fields')
- Religious Sites
- Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate; Guelph Sikh Society (Gurdwara Sahib)
- Annual Events
- Hillside Festival (July) and Guelph Jazz Festival (September)
- Cultural Districts
- Downtown Guelph Creative District
- Theater Venues
- River Run Centre and Guelph Little Theatre
- Local Markets
- Guelph Farmers’ Market (2 Gordon St)
- Music Scene
- Gain Next Door and Jimmy Jazz (live indie and rock)
- Street Art
- Murals at Wilson St. and the Junction neighborhood alleys
- Cooking Classes
- The Minga or various workshops at the Italian Canadian Club
- Art Galleries
- Boarding House Arts and Renann Isaacs Contemporary Art
- Historic Buildings
- Old City Hall (now Provincial Offences Court)
- Local Heritage
- Scottish heritage (founded by John Galt)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- The Arboretum (University of Guelph) and Preservation Park
- National Parks Nearby
- Bruce Peninsula National Park (approx. 2.5 hours north)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Speed River Trail and Eramosa River Trail
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Castlebury Park hilltop looking toward the Basilica
- Birdwatching Locations
- Guelph Lake Conservation Area
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Rockwood Conservation Area (15 mins away) - permitted at campsites
Essentials
- City
- Guelph, Ontario, Canada
- Population
- 143,740 (2021 Census)
- Internet Speed
- High speed; Rogers and Bell offer up to 1.5 Gbps (fiber); average mobile 5G speed is 120 Mbps
- Currency & Banking
- Canadian Dollar (CAD); 1 CAD ≈ 0.74 USD, 1 USD ≈ 1.35 CAD
- Tap Water
- Drinkable and high quality (Groundwater-based)
- Power
- 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets
- SIM Card
- Rogers, Bell, Telus, and budget brands like Fido or Lucky Mobile at Stone Road Mall
- Banking for Expats
- TD Canada Trust, RBC, Scotiabank, and BMO; Neobanks like EQ Bank or Wealthsimple
- Accommodation
- Airbnb averages $1,800–$2,500/month; rentals on Kijiji or Rentals.ca
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, Interac Debit and Credit Cards (Visa/MC) accepted everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, VRBO, or executive suites like Northway Properties
- Budget Accommodation
- Days Inn by Wyndham Guelph ($130/night) or University of Guelph Summer Hostel ($65/night in summer)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Downtown Guelph (Wyndham St area) for proximity to Basilica and restaurants
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- The Junction or Exhibition Park for a mix of residential quiet and walking distance to cafes
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Canada Post (multiple locations), Purolator, and FedEx
- Tech Repair Services
- Simply Computing (Apple repairs) and Guelph Computer Repair
- Table Tennis Spots
- University of Guelph Athletic Centre or local community centers like West End CC
- Language Classes
- St. George's Centre (ESL classes for newcomers)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Guelph Public Library (Main Branch - Norfolk St)
- Community Centers
- West End Community Centre (Pool, Rinks, Library)
- Gaming Lounges
- The Round Table (Board game cafe and gaming venue)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Elements Casino Flamboro (20 mins drive in Dundas)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $9,200 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $368,000 CAD)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $7,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $300,000 CAD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $8,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $510,000 CAD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $6,800 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $408,000 CAD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $7,800 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $624,000 CAD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $6,200 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $496,000 CAD)
- Corporate Tax
- 26.5% (Federal and Ontario combined standard rate)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 25% (often reduced to 5-15% via tax treaties)
- Tax System
- Residency-based system (Worldwide income for residents)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 53.53% (Combined Federal and Ontario rate over $246,752)
- VAT
- 13% Harmonized Sales Tax (HST)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, 'Foreign Accrual Property Income' (FAPI) rules apply
- Property Tax
- Annual municipal tax, approx. 1.23% of assessed property value
- Property Transaction Tax
- Ontario Land Transfer Tax (sliding scale; approx. 1-2% of purchase price)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa; Foreign workers utilize generic tax treaties