Everything You Need To Know About Moving To Toronto, Canada

Canada’s biggest city is a hub for culture, employment, diversity, and so much more. With around 3 million residents, Toronto is a popular destination for expats, immigrants, and Canadians alike. The city boasts many options for higher education, great city amenities, and easy access to other nearby cities and small towns.

Toronto is a world-class city, offering efficient public transportation, networks of parks and walking trails, a tantalizing culinary scene, and rich cultural diversity. But even beyond those basics, Toronto also has its own scene, the largest city ravine system in the world, and many world-renowned festivals.

Whether you’re moving from near or far, for professional or personal reasons, let’s explore everything you need to know about moving to Toronto, Canada.

#1. Preparing and Facing Toronto Real Estate

Real estate in Toronto is both expensive and competitive whether you are renting or purchasing a home, therefore working with a trusted Toronto-based real estate agent is key. Expect to spend time researching your options and doing your due diligence before making a final real estate decision. 

In this fast-paced real estate market, we recommend starting your accommodation hunt as early as possible.

#2. The City of Toronto vs. the Greater Toronto Area

For someone new to the city, it’s important to differentiate between the City of Toronto, and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

Toronto is the largest city in Canada and the capital of Ontario. The City of Toronto, found alongside Lake Ontario, is the heart of the region featuring many iconic landmarks such as the CN Tower, the Art Gallery of Ontario, and the Royal Ontario Museum. This is typically the area you see in photos of Toronto, featuring a striking skyline.

Downtown is a major hub for finance, business, technology, and education. It is home to many multinational corporations, the head offices for most of Canada’s largest banks, and leading universities such as University of Toronto, York University, and Toronto Metropolitan University.

Many people, however, also refer to areas in the Greater Toronto Area as just “Toronto.” As you’ll notice in the map below, these areas are more accurately described as the regions of York, Durham, Peel, and Halton and are all part of the “GTA.”

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#3. Your Toronto Neighbourhood Cheat Sheet

Now, let’s take a closer look at the City of Toronto and some of its neighbourhoods. Selecting a neighbourhood and school are the most important decisions for any relocating family, one that will certainly have an impact on everyday life. Whether it’s logistics such as transportation to work or school, or aligning with your lifestyle preferences, choosing the right neighbourhood is essential.

In the map, you can view the 140 official Toronto neighbourhoods.

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These neighbourhoods are separated into 44 “Wards,” which are larger electoral boundaries that contain multiple neighbourhoods each, as seen in this map:

Alternatively, you can take a look at locally-designed neighbourhood maps like Hoodmap’s or Urbane’s, which offer a comedically-intended glimpse into local stereotypes.

#4. Toronto Weather Guide

Toronto experiences what some may call quintessential Canadian weather: 4 clear seasons, hot summers, and cold winters. The chart below offers a breakdown of what to expect across all 12 months of the year:

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In Toronto, you'll see the weather change with each of the four seasons. 

During winter, from December to February, temperatures can reach lows of -18°C (0°F), or even lower. January and February are the coldest months, warming up again in March and April for spring.

On the other hand, summers in Toronto can reach high temperatures, up to 25°C (77°F), or higher during heat waves. You’ll want to expect cold winters and hot summers in Toronto, with spring and fall temperatures slightly more temperate.

The unofficial “Canada’s 11 seasons” that often circulates on social media may offer some insight into how Toronto locals really experience the seasons:

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#5. Toronto Lifestyle & Culture

Now that you have a few facts about Toronto, what about the culture and lifestyle of Torontonians? The city features plenty of interesting food, community events, festivals, and activities all year long. For example:

• Toronto stands out for its wide variety of inclusive festivals and events such as the Toronto International Film Festival, Caribana, and Pride Toronto. 
• High Park is famous for its stunning cherry blossoms every spring, while the Toronto Islands offer lovely beaches and paths perfect for biking.
• The Toronto ravine system is a beautiful and vast network of ravine trains for walking, running, and biking across and around the city. It’s the largest ravine system of any city in the world, and due to its massive size sometimes described as “a city within a park.”
• In Toronto, the food scene mirrors its multicultural residents, offering a wide variety of dishes to please anyone's taste. With restaurants from every part of the world like Italian trattorias, Indian curry houses, Chinese dim sum spots and Middle Eastern kebab places - you name it; Toronto has got it.
• There’s no shortage of food festivals throughout the year, either. Summerlicious and Winterlicious are two examples, in addition to dozens of others throughout the year and across different areas of the city.

The city is known for being fast-paced, but it’s balanced out by outdoor activities and spaces that allow for fun and relaxation, even in the city center.

Fun fact: Many movies and television shows set in New York City actually use Toronto to film, since the city has similar attributes, on a smaller scale! You may recognize the Bay Adelaide West building in the Financial District as the iconic office building from Suits. Plus, other blockbusters like Hairspray, The Incredible Hulk, Good Will Hunting, Suicide Squad, and many more also utilize locations in Toronto.