Essentials
- City
- Kingston, Ontario, Canada
- Population
- Approximately 132,485 (Greater Kingston area: 172,000)
- Internet Speed
- High-speed fiber available; average 150-500 Mbps via Bell or Cogeco
- Currency & Banking
- Canadian Dollar (CAD); 1 CAD ≈ 0.74 USD, 1 USD ≈ 1.35 CAD
- Tap Water
- Safe and drinkable; treated by Utilities Kingston
- Power
- 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets
- SIM Card
- Telus, Bell, Rogers (Main); Lucky Mobile or Public Mobile for budget (approx. $40/15GB)
- Banking for Expats
- TD Canada Trust, RBC, Scotiabank; Neo Financial or EQ Bank for digital-first options
- Accommodation
- Rental market is competitive due to Queen's University; use Airbnb, Kijiji, or Facebook Marketplace
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, contactless payments (Interac/Credit) accepted nearly everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, VRBO, or Executive Rentals Kingston (approx. $1,800 - $2,800/month)
- Budget Accommodation
- Kingston Market Square Hotel or summer residences at Queen's University (Donald Gordon Hotel)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Downtown/Sydenham District (near the Waterfront and Confederation Park)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Williamsville or Sydenham (walking distance to cafes and the Tett Centre)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Seaway Coworking (210-27 Princess St); rates around $35/day or $300/month
- Best Cafe for Work
- CRAVE Coffee House & Bakery (166 Princess St) - spacious with reliable Wi-Fi
- Networking Events
- Kingston Economic Development Corporation (Kingston EcDev) small business workshops
- Social Events for Expats
- Internations Kingston Group or 'Life in Kingston' Facebook community
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber is active; local taxis include Amey's Greenwood (613-546-1111)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Ahoy Rentals (21 Ontario St); approx. $35/half-day for a hybrid bike
- Best Beach Nearby
- Grass Creek Park (Hwy 2) or Big Sandy Bay on Wolfe Island (accessible by ferry)
- Top Regional Airline
- Air Canada Jazz (via Kingston YGK to Toronto Pearson YYZ)
- Top International Airline
- Air Canada, WestJet (via nearby Montreal YUL or Toronto YYZ airports)
- Highway Access
- Highway 401 (The Macdonald-Cartier Freeway) connects Kingston to Toronto and Montreal
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Kingston VIA Rail Station (1901 John Counter Blvd)
- Public Transport Passes
- Kingston Transit; $80 monthly adult pass or $3.25 single cash fare
- Regional Travel
- Megabus (to Toronto/Montreal) or VIA Rail (Train)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Kingston General Hospital (KGH) (76 Stuart St) - top research hospital
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Samatva Yoga (Downtown or West End); approx. $22 for a drop-in class
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- GoodLife Fitness (Princess St) or the YMCA of Eastern Ontario (100 Wright Crescent)
- Laundry Services
- The Laundry Basket (576 Princess St); self-serve or wash-and-fold services
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- UberEats, SkipTheDishes, and DoorDash
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Poutine from Bubba's Poutine (401 Princess St)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Copper Branch (Lower Princess St) or Atomica Kitchen (71 Brock St)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Mio Gelato (178 Ontario St) or Pan Chancho Bakery (44 Princess St)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- No Frills (Division St) or FreshCo for budget groceries
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.ca, Indigo.ca, and Walmart.ca
- Grocery Delivery
- Instacart (Loblaws, Real Canadian Superstore) or Voila (Sobeys)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Hub Entertainment District (Princess St & Division St)
- Local Brewery
- Kingston Brewing Company (34 Clarence St) - Ontario's oldest brewpub
- Wine Bars
- Black Dog Tavern (69 Brock St) - excellent curation of local Prince Edward County wines
- Street Food Stalls
- Seasonal food trucks at Confederation Park; Otters Tacos is a local favorite
- Popular International Cuisine
- Sima Sushi (66 Princess St) for high-quality Japanese
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Fort Henry National Historic Site (1 Fort Henry Dr)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Agnes Etherington Art Centre (Queen's University) - free admission
- Historical Sites
- Kingston Penitentiary (Tours available May-Oct)
- Religious Sites
- St. George's Cathedral (270 King St E) - stunning neo-classical architecture
- Annual Events
- Kingston Buskers Rendezvous (July) or FebFest (February)
- Cultural Districts
- The Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning (370 King St W)
- Theater Venues
- The Grand Theatre (218 Princess St)
- Local Markets
- Kingston Public Market (Springer Market Square) - Ontario's oldest market
- Music Scene
- The Mansion (506 Princess St) for live local indie bands
- Street Art
- Martello Alley (203 B Wellington St) - an artist-themed historic alley
- Cooking Classes
- The Common Market or classes at Loblaws PC Cooking School
- Art Galleries
- Studio 22 Open Gallery (320 King St E)
- Historic Buildings
- Kingston City Hall (216 Ontario St) - a National Historic Site
- Local Heritage
- Bellevue House - former home of Canada's first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Lemoine Point Conservation Area (Coverdale Dr) - hiking and waterfront views
- National Parks Nearby
- Thousand Islands National Park (approx. 30 mins drive east)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The K&P Trail (stretches from downtown to the countryside)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- The Waterfront Pathway (8km trail along Lake Ontario)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated fire pits at Grass Creek Park (permit required)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Canada Post (multiple locations), FedEx, or UPS Store (Princess St)
- Tech Repair Services
- Canada Computers & Electronics (Princess St)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Queen's University ARC (Athletics & Recreation Centre)
- Language Classes
- Queen's School of English or Kingston Community Health Centres (KCHC)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Kingston Frontenac Public Library - Central Branch (130 Johnson St)
- Community Centers
- Rideau Heights Community Centre (85 MacCauley St)
- Gaming Lounges
- Barcadia Kingston (347 Princess St) - retro arcade bar
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Shorelines Casino Thousand Islands (Gananoque, 20 mins drive)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $6,800 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $272,000 CAD)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $4,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $180,000 CAD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $6,200 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $372,000 CAD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $4,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $240,000 CAD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $5,800 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $464,000 CAD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $3,800 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $304,000 CAD)
- Corporate Tax
- 26.5% (Federal and Ontario combined; lower rates for small businesses)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 25% (often reduced to 5-15% via tax treaties)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 53.53% (Combined Federal and Ontario for income over $246,752)
- VAT
- 13% (Harmonized Sales Tax - HST)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, FAPI (Foreign Accrual Property Income) rules apply
- Property Tax
- Yes, annual municipal tax approx. 1.3%-1.4% of assessed value
- Property Transaction Tax
- Land Transfer Tax (Ontario scale ranges from 0.5% to 2.5%)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific local nomad tax break; standard Canadian residency rules apply