Life in Toronto | Living costs in Toronto

Toronto is the largest city in Canada with a population of about 3 million.

It is one the most multicultural cities in the world, with more than 140 languages spoken in the city. And this is due to the fact that almost half of the population are immigrants.

Most times, people mistake Toronto to be the capital city of Canada. No, Ottawa is the capital of the country, however, Toronto houses most of Canada’s industries and this offers many economic opportunities to new arrivals.

What’s It Like Living in Toronto?

Living in Toronto could be so interesting sometimes, and somehow surreal some other times. Toronto is quite an interesting city to live in, although the winter days could be so challenging.

In this article, we have articulated all the factors that could affect your life in Toronto both in a negative way and a positive way including the cost of living.

Life in Toronto: climate

One of the peculiarities of Canada is the climatic factors and Toronto is not an exemption. Toronto exhibits the four most defined seasons. I believe you must have heard how severe. Of course, the updates are correct, and winter is generally considered to be the most challenging of all seasons.

However, winters in Toronto are not as severe as they are in other parts of Canada but, they can still be extremely frustrating and long. During the winter periods, the temperature can go as low as 20 degrees Celsius, and you can expect this to last for more than four months.

So to save yourself from this you need to make provisions for winter coats. Bear in mind that winter coats are cheaper during the summer season, therefore, preparing ahead of time will definitely reduce costs.

The spring season is apparently a very short one, it lasts for just two months before the summer heat kicks in. Toronto can get too humid during the hot summer so if you dont have an air conditioner in your apartment, then you might consider getting a window air conditioner.

Life in Toronto: Cost of Living

Living in Toronto is relatively expensive. For the past few years, the cost of living has gradually been moving up; this is because of rural-to-urban migration. As more people relocate to Toronto, the demand for things starts increasing.

Among the most expensive things in Toronto are house rents, transportation, internet, and phone plan subscriptions. 

Cost Of Renting Apartment:

Acquiring an apartment is one of the challenging tasks to accomplish in Toronto. For those looking forward to renting an apartment in Toronto, bear in mind that there is a considerable variation in cost. However, you will always get a good deal that will suit your budget.

Cost of Food, Alcohol, and Entertainment:

As much as it seems things are quite expensive in Toronto, the cost of food and entertainment is a bit fair. Groceries are generally cheaper in Canada compared to Europe, but more expensive than in the U.S. However, when it comes to the standard of living in Toronto, it is absolutely possible for new immigrants to maintain a good standard of living at ease.

Toronto is one of the largest cities in Canada and one of the most lived in the world. It is a vibrant and mixed cultural city with many low-budget entertainment places. You can never get bored in Toronto as there are also so many free outdoor activities you can engage yourself with.

Alcohol is quite expensive in Toronto and will certainly cost you. It is a general case with all the cities in Toronto.

Read Also: Toronto vs Vancouver vs Montreal vs Calgary- Which Is The Best?

Cost of Health Care in Toronto

The cost of health management in Toronto is not really expensive, although this may depend on your personal health status. The Ontario government offers free basic health insurance to the residents of Toronto, provided that the recipient has lived in the city for at least three months.

Cost of Education in Toronto

If you expatriate planning to relocate to Toronto with kids you will have to consider the cost of schooling. Interestingly, immigrant students who already have resident permits can attend public schools; whereas those without a permit will have to pay fees.

The Labor Market in Toronto

Job hunting in Toronto is very competitive and tough as immigrants and graduates constantly compete for jobs. Generally, it is apparent that to stand a chance of securing a job in Canada you will need to have Canadian experience or even study in any of the Canadian schools. Many a time, immigrants end up doing a fraction of the level of job they would be doing at home.

The People and the Neighborhoods

The Torontonians are very welcoming people and are always willing to render help to their neighbourhoods who seem lost or probably need assistance. It is true that many cities have free and friendly people, but that of Toronto is incomparable.

Eating out in Toronto

As a culturally diverse city, there is a multitude of restaurants that will surely suit every choice and budget. Almost every bar in Toronto serves food and of course, it is normal to eat before starting a night out.

Almost every neighborhood in Toronto has a restaurant, and there are many websites where you can get nice culinary scenes and cuisine. If there is a particular restaurant you are craving to dine in but is beyond your budget.

Don’t be in a hurry, the Summerlicious or Winterlicious are the best seasons to eat out in expensive restaurants.  These are the two seasons when every participating restaurant offers its services at reduced prices.

Construction in Toronto

As Toronto continues to increase in population and businesses, it is also running out of places to live, especially affordable apartments for newcomers.

Of course, new accommodations need to be built, so because of this, Toronto is filled with building construction sites and this is also an opportunity for workers too.

Conclusion

Although Toronto is quite expensive, it is also a very fun and enjoyable place to live in.

If you are wealthy enough, living in Toronto would be pretty amazing for you. But if you are not that financially buoyant then you would probably find the city frustrating. So it is advisable to put your finance into consideration before making your decision.