An Insider’s Look At Life In Toronto: What You Need To Know
A personal memoir of How is Life in Toronto.
Author: upnit singh
It has been 5 years since I am living in Toronto. I left a 6 figure salaried job in India, and moved here in 2019, only to re-start my career and build a life here. You can read more about moving to Toronto here.
Time and again, I am reached out by friends and family enquiring about — whether it is worth moving to Canada and if they should plan it too. On top of it, since the economy went in bad shape, entire Social Media is flooded with such questions.
To put an end to it, I decided to write about my experience of moving to this city and what it looks like starting afresh in a foreign land. This, by no means, is a standard manual of “Life In Toronto”, but my own experience. Adapt what you like!
Quality of Life In Toronto
Toronto boasts an economy full of a range of job opportunities, particularly in finance, tech, and healthcare.
The quality of Life in Toronto depends on varied factors, such as:
- The type of job you are into
- Whether you are alone or moving with a partner
- How well you adapt to the culture of Toronto and Canada.
Since this is one of the most expensive cities in the world, the overall cost of living is high. Having someone (partner/flatmate) to share your expenses makes a huge difference.
Tip: If you want to live in a Toronto Downtown Condo, try getting a roommate to share the rent load.
As a newcomer to Toronto in 2019, I started with a menial salary of $45,000 annually. I could only afford a room in shared accommodation in North York. Over the years, with an increased salary, I moved to a condo in Downtown Toronto with a housemate.
At present, the rent prices have drastically increased. So plan accordingly. You can take accommodation with a good subway/TTC bus connectivity to easily reach your workplace.
Cost of Living In Toronto
Here’s my breakdown of expenses (PS: I don’t own a vehicle):
- Rent: $2500
- Grocery: $250
- Transport: $200
- Wifi: $60
- Electricity: $120
- Entertainment: $400
- Other expenses: $200
The total is close to $3,700. This needs a monthly income of $4,100.
You might not need this exact figure in your pocket. But approximately close to this. This is what my expenses look like. Which pretty much gives an overall picture of the state and if Living in Toronto fits your budget.
But Toronto Is About Good Things Too!
Since most people in Toronto are immigrants, it is a multicultural hub. You witness a variety of ethnicities which reflects in the cuisines of different countries and neighbourhoods.
You can join various social meetups to interact with people from different backgrounds, which enhances your learning about other cultures. All while building great friendships that could last a lifetime. Being immigrants, almost all the people in this city are helpful.
Tip: Wear comfortable shoes and walk around the city to get the vibe of it. Alternatively, you can rent a bike too.
Work Culture In Toronto
People in Canada are empathetic. This is reflected in their work culture too. Your colleague will be respectful towards you all the time. And the result you put on the table will be appreciated. They don't fire you instantly for non-performance. Instead, they explain what can be done better, and give you enough months to improve.
Toronto: The Vibrant City
People in Toronto like to party a lot!
Their party and going-out phase starts on Thursday (as opposed to Fridays) and lasts till Sunday evening.
If you are not a party person, spend your weekend at Lake Ontario. You can read at the shore, walk at the harbour, or try kayaking/boating in the lake.
Living close to Lake Ontario had a positive impact on my mental health.
Places To Visit Nearby Toronto
Canada has beautiful natural landscapes. You can witness everything from huge mountains to deep oceans within Canada. Some unexplored places in North Canada are for the truly adventurous.
Go towards North Ontario in autumn, and you can easily witness the Northern Lights (Aurora).
On weekends, you can catch a train to Ottawa and Montreal. Both are 5 hours and 6 hours away respectively. In Ottawa, you can see the Parliament and roam around the city. Montreal, a French City in Canada, is one of the most stylish cities. Be prepared to feel under-dressed here, as the people of Montreal dress to impress.
You can also rent a car and visit nearby places like Blue Mountain, Niagara Falls, Tobermory, etc.
An Overall Experience of Living in Toronto
If you are living in Toronto, you can never get bored!
Your morning runs are along the lake; You can explore different restaurants/cafes over the weekends; the workplace is stress-free; evenings can be spent at lakeside/parks; there are trails/hikes/water sports for adventurous souls.
Setting up a life in any new city is always challenging. It comes with its days of lows and highs. But slowly and gradually, you build a life you have dreamt of. Moving to Toronto is one of the best decisions of my life. It has a lot to offer to a newcomer, and then some.
