An Australian writer once called Toronto the Big Smoke, alluding to a city with no big accomplishments despite it being a popular one.
It probably goes without saying that most Torontonians would disagree.
There’s a lot that goes into this bustling, southern Canadian city that makes it the most populated in Canada.
That doesn’t come without certain drawbacks, however.
There’s much more to the six than meets the eye.
Follow along with us as we take you through the pros and cons of living in Toronto.
Contents
Pros of Living in Toronto, Canada
1. History
Canada may be celebrating 155 years as a nation, but there was a lot more life going on before that.
For 11,000 years, there have been humans in the area that we now identify as Toronto.
Tribes such as the Chippewa, the Anishnabeg, the Haudenosaunee, the Wendat, and the Mississaugas of the Credit had been making a settlement here.
Acknowledging its journey, there are many tours and places to check out that take you through Toronto’s timeline.
2. Diversity
An area that has been receiving shipments of people on a regular basis for over 200 years is bound to have good diversity.
Due to Toronto’s status on the world stage, it’s not surprising that they welcome people from all corners of the earth.
So, here’s an ethnicity breakdown of what you can expect strolling around Toronto.
The population is 51% European, 34% Asian, 9% African, 3% Latin American, 2% Arabian, and 1% Indigenous.
3. Public Transportation
It’s hard to imagine living anywhere these days without a car.
You can never feel comfortable relying completely on what the city has to offer.
Those sentiments might be why Toronto has gone the extra mile to beef up its transportation system.
With less than stellar bike lanes and a lack of sidewalks, citizens have come to rely heavily on public transportation due to how quick and easy it is to get a ride.
It’s nice to be able to take the subway or bus, too.
Both choices by the TCC have been a favorite amongst the people, not just for being efficient, but also clean.
4. Safety
When it comes to living and visiting, Toronto is rated as one of the safest cities. According to the safety index, Toronto ranks number two on the list.
The rank included categories like personal, property, and even digital security.
Crime rates are already low, but the city has taken no chances and has increased law enforcement support to keep it that way.
5. Professional Sports
Toronto is the only city in the country to have not one or two, but actually seven major-league teams.
This might be one of the sports capitals of the world.
Not only are there a bunch of teams, but there is also a nice variety of sports.
Baseball, basketball, football, hockey, soccer, rugby, and lacrosse all have a home and an excited fan base in Toronto.
6. Dining
A city that is as diverse as this one has one of the best benefits, a plethora of dining choices.
The food scene here is out of this world.
Toronto is so well known for the variety that there is an entire tourist market based on trying it all.
The most popular types of food here are Chinese, Italian, Indian, and Mediterranean.
The fun doesn’t end with going out to eat, either.
Food is a major part of the year-long dedication to culture with food at festivals.
Everyone has their own favorite festival because of the food that’s served.
7. Arts
Do you know what else pairs well with a diverse population?
Art.
The reason is that artists are bringing their culture here and creating something magical from their own backgrounds.
Interpretations with paint are just the starting point.
The arts in general are a scene of their own in Toronto that encompasses music, theater, poetry, comedy, and more.
8. Winter
Compared to other cities across Canada, Toronto’s winters are pretty mild.
Being so far south and next to water helps.
That means the snow isn’t going to bury you.
During the day, the temps don’t usually fall below 30 degrees and it only gets down to about 20 degrees at night.
The snow is a good excuse for a hoodie, right?
Cons of Living in Toronto, Canada
1. Population
When there are about three million people living in one city, it’s bound to cause some issues.
While the government is doing what it can to plan better, it’s hard to get ahead around a constant influx of new people.
Large crowds are everywhere and it can make getting around a pain.
2. Cost of Living
With so many people flooding in, it would be easy to imagine it has something to do with the city being budget-friendly.
That’s not the case, unfortunately.
Well, maybe it is for the best, that might make the population swell even more if it were cheaper.
Anyway, rent in Toronto is the highest in the country.
Utilities, groceries, and even public transportation costs are also well above the national average.
3. Traffic
It’s a great thing that public transportation is so good because, if you live here, that will be your preference.
So many people living in such a condensed area leads to an enormous number of cars on the road.
There is little initiative for carpooling, staggering work hours, or taking non-motorized transportation.
So, the rush hour backup is unreal.
4. Workplace Discrimination
One thing that has popped up in recent years is how difficult it is for immigrants to find jobs.
Sadly, light has also shown on the fact that many people who are being turned away aren’t exactly white.
Even if an immigrant has the experience required for a job, they are often overlooked if someone with a British background applies.
5. Job Competition
The reason companies in Toronto are able to be so discriminatory is that they have more applicants than jobs.
They have the ability to sift through and be inappropriately picky.
The market is tight and it can take a long time to get a job, no matter what the field is.
An overwhelming number of applications fill up a hiring manager’s desk within the first day of an ad being placed.
This is definitely not the city you’d move to without a financial plan in place.
6. Summer
Depending on where you’re from, summers in Toronto might vary in discomfort.
Despite the expectation that Canada is cold, generally speaking, that’s not really how it works.
Toronto is the most southern part of the country, so the temperatures do get pretty high around mid-year.
It’s not just the 90-degree temperatures though, it’s the humidity.
Thanks to being surrounded by water, it can get pretty sticky outside.
7. Lack of Friendliness
They don’t call us the New Yorkers of Canada for nothing.
Funny enough, if you were to do a random poll asking what people around the world thought of Canadians, most would offer friendliness as an attribute.
That loving feeling doesn’t extend down to Toronto.
Citizens of Toronto are decidedly unfriendly.
It’s a bit bizarre, considering there’s such a wide variety of people.
You’d think some would have brought their native neighborly-ness with them, but that does not seem to be the case.
Honestly, there are so many people that it’s hard to want to be nice to anyone.
8. Construction
If you’ve ever seen The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, you may remember how irritated he was by all the noise, noise, noise!
Watching as an adult in Toronto, it’s easy to relate to.
Noise pollution is so high, much of which is due to the heavy construction.
There seems to be no safe spot in the city.
Construction is happening everywhere.
It’s necessary to create housing for people, for a multitude of reasons, but it would also be nice to know there is an end in sight.
Pros and Cons of Living in Toronto, Canada – Summary Table
| Pros of Living in Toronto, Canada | Cons of Living in Toronto, Canada |
|---|---|
| 1. History | 1. Population |
| 2. Diversity | 2. Cost of Living |
| 3. Public Transportation | 3. Traffic |
| 4. Safety | 4. Workplace Discrimination |
| 5. Professional Sports | 5. Job Competition |
| 6. Dining | 6. Summer |
| 7. Arts | 7. Lack of Friendliness |
| 8. Winter | 8. Construction |
Toronto Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Toronto Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there much greenery in Toronto?
The city is home to over 10 million trees.
So, yes, there is quite a bit of nature to soak up.
Not to mention the lakes.
Canadians, in general, take environmental issues quite seriously.
In fact, the local government made conservation efforts to keep a red oak that is around three centuries old from being put in danger.
The property was up for sale and no one wanted to see it get cut down.
What are the biggest sectors in Toronto?
Being the most populated city in all of Canada makes Toronto the hub for not only people but also several big companies.
The area is a global leader in industries such as technology, finance, and entertainment.
It’s also sort of a melting pot, thanks to those industries, which have helped to increase diversity.
Where does Toronto get its name from?
The name is directly related to the city’s indigenous roots.
Tkaronto is a Mohawk word that means “where there are trees standing in the water.”
That’s quite a fitting moniker for this place of many trees by the water.
Yes, major apps such as Lyft and Uber are available all over town.
Taxis and public transport are also options in case the rides are unusually expensive or you’re having bad luck finding an available driver.
What's the most popular attraction in Toronto?
The top-rated thing to do in the city is going to be CN Tower.
Once the tallest tower in the world, the CN is still the tallest in the western hemisphere.
That might have a lot to do with why people are always flooding to go up to the top.
Can you really beat those views?
This article isn’t accurate. Toronto is, measurably, unsafe and it intersects with our public transportation system, because Toronto, Ontario (and canada itself) sucks with infrastructure things will only get worse and the pandemic merely accelerated this. But for anyone’s own personal safety I would say toronto is not safe. Not even close.
i do this for assessment thank you for reminding me
Toronto has been sterilized by glass and steel skyscrapers, and with it comes the devaluing of the human being, it is quite apparent. It is no longer the friendly city of yesteryear. And speaking of yesteryear Toronto is steadily becoming more and more deadly dangerous. Toronto is not safe I see regular shootings I see heavy gang activity I see problems all over the place. Like London Toronto is also, losing its identity to a mishmash of immigrants from everywhere who often have little sensibilities about democracy and in many cases lack simple decency. Oh forgive me did I say something bad about immigration I must be a bigot that’s how off base you are.
Your dedication, make that obsession,to diversity is. If we’re not diverse in the way you like then you don’t like us and think we’re morons. We can’t hire who we like, who we think would be more easily assimilated into our group, we have to hire somebody who is diverse. I used to love Toronto, and now I’d never go there again.