A day in the life of someone who lives in Montreal — the 'Paris of North America'

I love living in beautiful Montreal. Mira Miller

• I live in Montreal an idyllic Canadian town in Quebec known as the Paris of North America.
• A typical weekend day for me consists of great food, shopping, and catching up with friends.

When you think about a world-class city where most locals speak French, Paris is likely the first place that comes to mind.

But on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, in the Canadian province of Quebec, lies another one-of-a-kind city brimming with French culture, fine dining, art, and history: Montreal.

Plus, unlike Paris — which is one of the most expensive places to live — Montreal has struck an ideal balance between a low cost of living and a high quality of life. According to Mercer's 2024 cost-of-living data, it's one of only eight cities from a list of 226 to pull that off.

I was lucky enough to grow up in a suburb outside Montreal before moving away at 19 for university. After spending seven years in Toronto, I returned to Montreal last summer and have spent the past year rediscovering everything it has to offer.

Here's how I spend a typical summer Sunday in Montreal.