Moving in Villeray, Saint-Michel and Parc-Extension: 2026 Costs and What to Expect

Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension is three boroughs’ worth of moving problems under one name. Villeray is plex walk-ups on tight one-ways. Parc-Extension is the densest square kilometre in the city, where a truck double-parked for twenty minutes stops a whole street. Saint-Michel is wider roads, more detached homes and a lot of driveways. Prices are close to the Montreal average; the time a crew loses is not.

This guide is what a consumer advocate would tell you before booking a move anywhere in the borough: what established movers actually charge, what is specific to each of the three districts, the borough’s unusually easy parking permit, and the questions that keep a quote honest.

The quick answer on moving costs in the borough

Those totals assume established Montreal movers at $135 to $140 per hour for two movers and a truck in the off-season, $175 to $200 in June and $250 to $350 on July 1, a 3 to 4 hour minimum, plus one hour of travel. A third mover adds about $30 per hour off-peak and $50 in June. All rates are before tax.

Villeray plexes land in the middle of these ranges. Parc-Extension often lands higher for the same furniture because the crew parks farther away and carries longer. Saint-Michel’s bungalows and duplexes with a driveway sit at the bottom: truck at the door, no stairs.

What is specific to moving here

Villeray: plexes and one-way grids

Between Saint-Laurent and Papineau, south of Jarry Park, the stock is duplexes and triplexes from the 1920s to 1950s, with exterior stairs to the second floor and interior stairs above. Movers bill $75 to $150 per flight. Streets like De Castelnau, Faillon and Villeray are one-way and narrow; a 26-foot truck fits, anything bigger shuttles. The Jarry and De Castelnau métro blocks and the Jean-Talon Market edge are resident-sticker zones.

Parc-Extension: density and the carry

Parc-Ex packs more people per block than anywhere else on the island, in three-storey walk-ups with tight hallways. Curb space is the scarce resource. A truck that cannot get in front of the door means the crew carries boxes 50 metres down the sidewalk, and that is an extra hour you pay for. The free permit below is the fix; request it for every Parc-Ex move.

Saint-Michel: driveways and distance

East of the Metropolitan and Saint-Michel boulevard, the borough opens into post-war duplexes and bungalows with driveways and wider streets. Access is easy. The cost driver here is travel time: Saint-Michel is a longer drive from most movers’ yards, so the one-hour travel charge is sometimes quoted as 1.5. Ask.

The Metropolitan and the rail line

The Metropolitan Expressway and the CP rail corridor cut the borough into pieces with few crossings. A move from Villeray to Saint-Michel can be 15 minutes or 40 depending on the hour. Morning starts are cheaper in practice.

The borough’s parking permit, step by step

The City of Montreal’s rules, confirmed on montreal.ca in October 2026:

• No permit needed if the truck uses legal spaces without blocking a sidewalk or bike path and the street has no parking meters.
• Permit required for no-parking signs reserving the curb, metered streets, a blocked sidewalk or bike path, or a pedestrian street. When you hire a moving company, the permit must be in the company’s name.
• Only official signs from an authorized rental company. They go up 12 to 14 hours before the reserved window, and you then notify the Agence de mobilité durable through its online form.
• Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension: the permit is free and is requested by email at least 24 hours ahead. Confirmation comes back by email. This is the fastest, cheapest permit of any central borough; there is no excuse to move in Parc-Extension without one.

Because the permit is in the mover’s name, ask each company whether they send the email for you and forward you the confirmation.

How to get a fair rate in the borough

• Move mid-month, mid-week, between November and May. The same apartment costs roughly half of its July 1 price.
• Describe the access out loud when you ask for a quote: floor, exterior or interior stairs, elevator, alley, distance from the curb. You want the correction in writing, before, not on the day.
• Four numbers before tax: hourly rate, crew size, travel-time charge, minimum hours. If a quote hides one, it is not a quote.
• Ask who requests the parking permit and what they charge to do it.
• Verify the CTQ permit number on the Commission des transports du Québec register before any deposit.

Red flags when hiring a mover here

• A single flat number by text with no mention of stairs, travel time or minimum hours.
• A deposit demanded in cash or by e-transfer to a personal name.
• No CTQ permit number, or one registered to a different company name.
• “We will figure out parking when we get there.”
• A July 1 quote cheaper than everyone else’s. On Moving Day, cheap means a crew that will not show.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a 4½ third-floor move take in Villeray?

With three movers and exterior plus interior stairs, 5 to 6 hours of labour plus one hour of travel. A second-floor unit with one exterior flight is closer to 4 to 5.

Is Parc-Extension harder to move in than Villeray?

Usually, by an hour or so, because of curb space and hallway width rather than stairs. The free 24-hour permit removes most of the difference.

Do I need a permit in Saint-Michel if I have a driveway?

No. A truck in your driveway or a legal space, not blocking the sidewalk, needs no permit. You need one only if you want the curb reserved with signs or the street has meters.

Is the borough’s parking permit really free?

Yes. Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension issues it free, by email, with at least 24 hours’ notice. Sign rental from an authorized company is separate if you want signs posted.

What does a move cost here on July 1?

For a 4½ with stairs, $1,500 to $2,200 before tax with an established company, booked six to eight weeks ahead. Villeray and Parc-Ex have very high lease turnover, so last-minute availability is rare.

Sources: Ville de Montréal, Stationner un camion de déménagement (montreal.ca, consulted October 11, 2026) for permit rules, lead times and fees; Commission des transports du Québec public register; 2026 rate sheets and quotes from established Montreal moving companies. Prices are ranges before tax, not quotes. Last fact-check: October 11, 2026.