Everyone knows that Toronto is one of THE best places to live in the world. But where’s the best place to live in Toronto? I ranked all of the city's most popular neighborhoods that people are moving to, comparing everything from housing to amenities to VIBE. Check out every neighborhood you NEED to know in Toronto Ontario.

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So you’re thinking about moving to Toronto? Well the nice thing is that you have plenty of neighborhoods to choose from, each with their own personality and vibe but with so many options where do you even begin? Stay tuned because I’m about to drop the most popular areas of the city that people are moving to including a neighborhood that was rated by Vogue magazine as the second coolest neighborhood in the world! So make sure to stick around to the end and I’ll let you know which one that is. These are the top 7 rated neighborhoods to move to in Toronto Ontario. Hey if this is your first time to this channel and you want to know everything there is to know about living in Toronto then welcome! My name is Rochelle and I’ve been a real estate agent here in Toronto for the last 7 years helping people just like you! make the move to Toronto Canada and I love it. So if you’re looking to move whether it’s in 9 days or 90 days I’d love to hear from you - you can give me a shout - all of my contact is in the description below - but for now the best way to give you a better understanding of these neighborhoods is to show you where they are on Google Maps, so let’s hop in my computer and I’ll show you around! So welcome to Toronto! If you don’t know already let me tell you this city is huge. If we’re looking at the entire Greater Toronto Area - that’s made up of the city of Toronto itself plus all of these surrounding suburbs but today I’m just going to focus on Toronto proper here within these red borders.  If you are interested in other popular suburbs that may be more affordable or family oriented then make sure to go through my channel I have tons of videos like this this and this that walk you through those but for now I’m just gonna zone in on the city of Toronto itself, and I’m going to start on the east end to the the 1st neighborhood on our top 7 list which is the neighborhood of The Beaches

1. The Beaches Now normally when you think of Toronto the first thing that comes to mind is not a beach. But that’s what makes this neighborhood so popular is that it’s one of only a few beaches in the city and so in the warmer months this place does get very very busy. Aside from the beach itself which sits along the shores of Lake Ontario here. The Beaches is known for 3 things: the Boardwalk, which stretches 3 kms along the beach, the indie shops, restaurants and bars along Queen St. which are fun, colorful and eclectic, and then the housing, because the Beaches neighborhood has the largest variety of architectural styles than any other neighborhood in Toronto. Together, these 3 things make for a chill but vibrant lakeside vibe that thousands of Torontonians and tourists flock to to get some sun, hang out and have a good time. Now let’s travel further down west here to Riverdale.

2. Riverdale Riverdale is best known for being home to Greektown and East Chinatown. Greektown is also commonly referred to as The Danforth - people use these names synonymously when they refer to the area because The Danforth (circle east of Broadview)  this road just east of Broadview is the heart of Toronto’s Greek community. Tons of delicious restaurants line this street - you want souvlaki, moussaka, add some tzatziki to your life then the Danforth strip is where you want to be. And then East Chinatown here. This by the way is not the main Chinatown of Toronto - that Chinatown is part of downtown, but this area I’m talking about on the east end of the city is also known for having some of the best chinese food with a good stretch of bakeries, grocery stands, and eateries. People also love this area not just for the cuisine, but because you’re close to major highways and roads - like the DVP, Lakeshore, and the Gardiner, making commuting in and out of the city a breeze. Now I am going to continue to make my way downtown but before that is another very popular part of midtown Toronto, up here to the neighborhood of Davisville Village. 

3. Davisville Village This part of town appeals to a lot of people  singles, families, couples without kids. Mount Pleasant West for example this area is primarily residential you’ll see people walking their dogs, hanging out at the park  but you’re surrounded by these commercial strips offering you can see here and all these other trendy, artisanal shops. Then I move just here to Yonge and Eglinton this is a very happening part of town it is bustling with tons of shopping and dining everything from tacos to ramen to jerk chicken. But what really draws people aside from the activity is the good mix of housing available. You could rent a studio on top of a storefront along Yonge I used to stay at this cute little place on top of the AllState Insurance store we’d sleep on the rooftop and wake up to billboards and the sun just blazing on your face it was such a nice setting, you’ve got plenty of highrise condos where you get great views of all the action and activity, and then down here along Yonge and St. Clair you’ll find larger, more upscale homes with an affluent address so basically tons of housing options to choose from all in a very lively, busy part of town. Now,  let’s head on over back downtown closer to the west side actually because here you’ll find a lot of very popular neighborhoods and probably one of the most popular ones is here Kensington Market.

4. Kensington Market If I could sum up Kensington Market in 3 words it’d be hipster, artsy, and eclectic. It’s honestly one of Toronto’s most unique and iconic neighborhoods because of its color and community feel, and altogether has this boho, vintage indie vibe you’ve got all of these trendy bars, specialty grocers, book stores, record stores, thrift shops. The houses here are fun too you’ve got a a lot of Victorian style homes so they have that old world charm, but then you’ve got market stalls right out their front doorstep which really puts them in the center of all the modern day action. And the people that live here come from all ethnicities and backgrounds, Kensington is actually one of the most culturally diverse areas  in all of Toronto. I want to show you another fun neighborhood which is here West Queen West and even Trinity Bellwoods. 

5. West Queen West/Trinity Bellwoods West Queen West is the neighborhood that Vogue magazine ranked as the second coolest neighborhood in the world everywhere from Tokyo to Mexico City, this Toronto neighborhood has just outranked them all because all along Queen Street here the street is completely lined with everything from offbeat street fashion shops to boutique stores and everything between but it’s got style. And then just up here you’ve also got Trinity Bellwoods which has everything from art galleries to hole in the wall coffee shops. Housing is fun here too you’ve got a lot of century homes close to all this shopping, art and design studios, live music venues. Anything that speaks to your creative interests you can basically find here, like Graffiti Alley here is basically the greatest free art exhibit in town. It’s a laneway that stretches several blocks long and makes the perfect backdrop for photography or Instagram selfies. The art is always changing here too and so if you’re lucky you might be able to catch some of the local graffiti artists in action - it’s all legal and encouraged here by the way. The Drake hotel here and the Gladstone hotel next door these are 2 iconic landmarks that fuse art and hospitality. The Drake by the way has nothing to do with Drake the rapper who did coincidentally grow up here in Toronto and still has one of his mansions in Bridle Path, another area of the city that’s home to some of Canada’s wealthiest residents, but 2 different things don’t get them mixed up (and yes I did just say don’t get a hotel and a person mixed up ok next up on on top our top 7 list. 

6. Roncesvalles Not too further down west is this neighborhood here that nobody knows how to pronounce. Ask half of the locals and they’ll call it Roncesvalles, the other half will argue that the last s is silent - Roncesvalle - but I think everyone can agree that the easiest thing to call it is Roncy that’s the name it goes by for most of the community so that’s just a quick tip if you do make your way here and want to blend in with the locals then you would call it Roncy but this neighborhood culturally, is known as the centre of Toronto’s Polishcommunity, with tons of Polish businesses and shops lining Roncesvalle Avenue, this street also hosts the largest Polish Festival in North America. All in all it’s this nice European, small-town feel with warm and inviting people. You’re also right next to High Park. High Park is not only Toronto’s biggest park, but at 400 acres it’s one of the largest parks in North America. It’s often compared to New York’s Central Park. It has a zoo, hiking trails, beautiful gardens, a public pool, sports facilities, picnic areas, you can see here it’s waterfront so very scenic, and all around just a great place to spend an afternoon. And then last but not least on our top 7 list is The Junction.

7. The Junction This is a hip, eclectic neighborhood where its main street Dundas West here is alive with businesses, bars, independent food stores you can see here but then if you move just over here to St. Clair West, you’ll get more of a suburban feel with these big box stores like The Home Depot, Canadian Tire, and this large shopping plaza here Stock Yards (Weston and St. Clair) has your Winners, HomeSense, Old Navy. And then everywhere outside that in between you’ve got these beautiful brick century homes amongst tree-lined streets with people from all backgrounds, young families, urban professionals the Junction is perfect for anyone who wants to be part of the action but where it’s not too loud or lively just a nice happy medium between city life and suburbia.

Hi in this video we’re going to talk about Canada’s melting pot. It is the largest busiest city in the country and one of the most expensive cities to live in in North America - I’m talking about Toronto Canada and this is going to be a heavy hitter for you guys cuz we’re gonna get in to just how expensive it is to live here, is it worth it? is it fun, is it good, is it bad, is it safe? Stay tuned because I’m about to drop the good, the bad and the ugly - these are your top 10 pros and cons of living in Toronto Ontario.

Hey if this is your first time to this channel and you want to know everything there is to know about living, working, eating, sleeping, playing in toronto ontario and surrounding cities across the GTA, then subscribe below so you can be the first to know about the current market in Toronto Ontario. My name is Rochelle Manguino for the last 7 years I’ve been helping people just like you make the move to Toronto Ontario and I love it. As a real estate agent here I want to help you make that move. So if you’re looking to make a move to Toronto in 9 days or 90 days be sure to give me a call, shoot me a text, send me an email, or even schedule a zoom call and i’ll be happy to help you make a smooth move to toronto ontario. 

CONS

1. High house prices

So let’s get in to it! Let’s start off with the cons of living in Toronto and let’s get right in to the biggest issue that people are facing when trying to move to the city is that house prices are expensive. Crazy expensive. For example, a 1 bedroom condo is going to run you about $450,000 dollars, a 2 bedroom town will cost about $860,000 dollars, a 3 bed semi will go for $1.34 million dollars, and a 4 bed detached just like this one here will easily run you a cool $2 million dollars. So it is not cheap to live here. But there are definitely some neighborhoods throughout the city that are less expensive than others, so if you plan on making a move here just make sure you have a good Realtor to help you find the best home to fit your budget. Someone like me.

2. High cost of living

However, that does go hand in hand with my next con which is the high cost of living. Here in Toronto? It’s high. Not only are housing prices high but your other typical monthly expenses like transportation, food. Those aren’t cheap either. To get by in Toronto a person needs to be earning a salary of $40,500 before tax to meet standard costs of living.

3. Traffic

Toronto was ranked as having the worst traffic in Canada. TomTom.com did a study that showed that in an average year Toronto drivers spend six days of their lives sitting in traffic that is the equivalent of 71 NBA games and so if you're a Raptors fan and you missed a game it's probably because you were stuck in traffic. 

4. Parking

Hand in hand with traffic, parking can be a challenge too. You’ve got all these one way streets, you’re driving around looking for a spot, you find a garage and it’s expensive too. What most people do after 20, 30 minutes not being able to find street parking, they either suck it up and pay say 6$ an hour for a parking garage, or $25 for the day is the average for garages downtown. They sacrifice and just park way further away and just walk to where they need to go instead, or they park somewhere they shouldn’t and risk getting a ticket, that’s just how it is. 

5. Pollution

Now with all that traffic and congestion - and I’m talking vehicular and people traffic because remember that Toronto has close to 3 million people, you’re naturally gonna find a lot of pollution here. The air quality isn’t that great, there’s lots of smog. On a hazy summer day downtown it may be hard to even see the CN Tower because of all the smog. Not a deal breaker though, just something to be mindful of if you have asthma or the like the city can get pretty smoggy at times. And by the way Toronto can get quite humid in the summer months as well

6. Brutal winters
   

Unfortunately, winters are not all that great either! Now Toronto is pretty stereotypically Canadian, the winters are cold, it snows, that’s all expected. It’s not as extreme as other parts of Canada, but they can be quite severe, where the temperature will be -15 but then throw in the wind chill and it feels like -30! That’s very cold. (Teaser 2 - It’s cold) Plus winters here are very very long. You can expect around (Nathan Phillips Square) four months of winter weather from beginning of December to end of March. There’s usually a short spring season April May where the sun just sprinkles on you and it’s a breath of fresh air. And then summer kicks in full force come mid-June and it seems to come so quickly that Torontonians are scrambling to make quick plans for a weekend at the cottage or a beach getaway, just to make the most of the short time they have in the sun.  

7. Size - Toronto’s huge

Toronto can be very intimidating just because of its sheer size. It is a huge city and it’s going to take some time to learn how to navigate your way around. I’ve lived in the GTA my whole life and there are still neighborhoods I pass through where it’s like I’ve never been here before. It’s surreal. So for anyone coming to the city for the first time or at least in your first little while living here, then keep your phone charged because Google Maps will be your best friend. 

8. Finding childcare 

The next thing you need to know about Toronto is that finding childcare isn’t easy. If you are a parent who needs to send your kid to daycare, then you’re going to need to set that up waaaay in advance. Put yourself on the waitlist for many different daycares, several months before your baby is even born. I have friends who’d put themselves on the waitlist for 10, 15 different centers and got maybe 1 or 2 calls back a year later from places that finally had openings so if you have young kids in your family then expect long wait times for getting your kid in to daycare.

9. Finding family doctors 

It’s also equally hard to find a family doctor in Toronto. With close to 3 million residents just in the city proper, so not in the Greater Toronto Area, just in the city of Toronto itself, that’s a lot of people who potentially need access to healthcare. The reality is that there just aren’t enough doctors around to meet the demands of the city. So just like finding childcare, when it comes to finding health care and a general practitioner or pediatrician specifically, same thing you want to put yourself on several different waitlists, do a google search ahead of time and make some calls to find out who’s actually even accepting new patients, and then expect that you’re going to be waiting on average anywhere between 6-18 months to get accepted as a new patient.     

10. We’re not that friendly

My final con is that Torontonians are not known to be the friendliest of people. Canada in general, yes, we have a reputation for being like the friendliest country in the world. But when you talk to other Canadians, not just in different provinces but even just outside of the GTA, Torontonians have a rep for having their nose in the air, like their city is better than the rest. Obviously that isn’t true for everyone but relatively speaking you’re not going to get those relaxed, easy going vibes that are common on the west coast, or small town hospitality feel like you do in the maritimes. That’s just because it’s a very different energy in Toronto. People are rushing to go to work, they have a meeting they’re late for, there’s a lot of traffic to contend with. I’ve lived in the GTA my whole life except for 2 years when I relocated to Ottawa and one of my first days there a man said hello to me in the parking lot of a grocery store. I rushed back in to my car and called my husband right away bc I thought this man was gonna follow me home, rob me, like what is he saying hi to me for? Turns out he was just a normal guy and I freaked out because I just wasn’t used to people being so friendly. Alright now for some of the pros of living in Toronto. What makes this city is beautiful? Why, despite all the cons I mentioned, why are people choosing to move to Toronto and call this city home? Well let’s start off with number 1. 

PROS

1. Multicultural 

Toronto is a world model for diversity and multiculturalism. Half of Torontonians are immigrants from other countries. Half of Torontonians are a visible minority. Schools celebrate diversity and teach kids to welcome all ethnicities, races, genders, religions, multiculturalism is an integral part of life in Toronto. You see it in the neighborhoods Toronto is home to areas like Chinatown, Greektown, Little Italy. There’s an LGBT area at Church and Wellesley that’s where they host the Pride parade that’s one of the biggest in the world.  And the nice thing about all these different neighborhoods is that Toronto has done a great job of integrating their neighborhoods so that no matter your background you feel welcome in any part of town. (Welcoming Newcomers) It’s not like New York where their neighborhoods can feel a little segregated, Toronto embraces its multicultral image with their motto Diversity our Strength.

2. Epic food scene

(Resto) And so with all that diversity and different cultures and ethnicities, you’re also gonna get a lot of FLAVOUR. Toronto is known for having an epic food scene. Literally some of the best cuisines in Canada you can find right out front our doorstep everything from Indian butter chicken to the best Pad Thai outside of Khao San Road, there are so many amazing local shops and restaurants to choose from. There’s been a growing trend over the last 5-10 years of healthy eating that Toronto got in tune with so it’s common to see vendors offering green eating, organic whole foods, locally sourced produce and packaging that’s environmentally friendly. It’s not just bacon, poutine and maple syrup my friends, Toronto is a foodie’s paradise, and the perfect place to add a little more spice to your life.  

3. Entertainment

Outside of dining out there are plenty of entertainment options - Toronto is a hustling and bustling city that you can never get bored in. Toronto's got a bunch of big teams in major leagues, the Raptors, the Leafs, the Blue Jays, TFC so you can easily catch a game and root for your favorite players. Rogers Center is a massive arena that musicians like Michael Jackson, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, Taylor Swift, they’ve all performed in Toronto is a stop on so many artist’s world tours. If you’re a film buff then Toronto is home to TIFF, the Toronto International Film Festival. Toronto has an amazing nightlife as well there’s bar after bar after bar that line Queen Street West, plenty of nightclubs to get your party on along King Street West. If you’re looking for something more family-focused, there’s the CN Tower of course, Ripley’s Aquarium, High Park, or even just walking along the waterfront and enjoying the gorgeous sights of Lake Ontario! There’s a lot to do and experience in Toronto and I hope that if you ever do end up making your way here you get to experience a lot of those things. My biggest recommendation for families, couples, and singles alike is Center Island (Toronto Island Map) it’s my favorite place to be in the city. You take a ferry (Jack Layton Ferry Terminal) there from the harborfront and you end up on this magical island full of greenery I’m talking very well manicured lawns, water, beach, picnics, rent a tandem bike, go for a canoe ride, and you get the most amazing view of the Toronto skyline this place is incredible you definitely need to check it out.  

4. Housing options

Now I mentioned that one of the cons of living in Toronto was high house prices. Despite that there are still lots of different neighborhoods to choose from, and the beautiful thing is that each of these different neighborhoods come with their own personality and vibe.  Yorkville is the fashion district where you’ll find designer boutiques offering Chanel, Tiffany and Hermes. Kensington Market is an incredible street market that really reflects the wide diversity of Toronto with a lot of  Caribbeans, Latinos, European and Vietnamese vendors selling delicious ethnic snacks, boho vintage clothing, and having lively market stalls.  The Distillery District is a national historic site and pedestrian-only walking area that also has a wide variety of eateries, art galleries, and event venues. The Annex has a more laid-back, youthful atmosphere with casual eateries and pubs. No matter your taste and lifestyle, Toronto has a neighborhood for you. If you’re moving to the city then make sure to give me a call I can help you narrow down a neighborhood to suit your needs and budget, all my contact info is down below. Also for everyone if you’re liking this video so far don’t forget to give me a thumbs up! Subscribe to my channel because it really helps me continue to put out more content just like this and help people just like you make a smooth move to Toronto.   

5. Economic hub

The fifth thing you need to know is that Toronto is the epicenter of business and culture in Canada. Toronto is the economic heart of Canada. Many large brands have their headquarters in Toronto, and many large businesses are in the downtown core, making it ideal for business professionals. In recent years Toronto has also emerged as one of the hottest tech markets in North America, bringing in tech workers from all over the world. 

6. Booming start up scene

That also leads me to my next point which is that because Toronto is home to a thriving business scene, you’re also going to have an abundance of that entrepreneurial mindset, and so the city is also known for having a huge start up scene too, particularly in the tech space. They did a study that estimated that Toronto’s start up scene is worth about $17 billion dollars, and so to nurture the future success of these young companies, and to promote the opening of more start up companies, the city offers early-stage funding at nearly three times the global average so there’s a lot of support out there for startups to help reach their optimal potential. 

7. Education

If you do want to make a lot of money in a great career you love, then luckily Toronto is home to one of the best education systems in the world. In terms of post-secondary options you have everything from prestigious and expensive to affordable and pragmatic. World class institutions like the University of Toronto are ranked not just top in Canada but some of the best in the world. Some schools offer incredible specialized programs like Journalism at Ryerson University or more practical and hands on training like graphic design at Humber College. If you want to further your knowledge in Toronto, you've got options. It all just depends on your goals and resources.

8. Low crime

Now I grew up in Toronto, like I mentioned and so I find that that’s made me a little more thick skinned when visiting other cities that other people might be nervous of. But I think it’s safe to say that in general, Toronto is a pretty safe city. You don’t hear of too much gun violence, when you do it’s honestly a shock to hear that on the news because it’s like, how did you even get a gun, it’s just so unheard of here. There isn’t a heavy gang culture here either it’s not like other big cities in the states for example, New York and LA you see it in the movies but that’s just not the vibe here. I used to have a job where I’d work the night shift and I’d be walking out on Queen Street which is in the heart of downtown, I’d be out in the middle of the night getting a snack and yes you’re going to run in to people with drug problems, people who are homeless that might approach you and make you feel uncomfortable, but statistically the crime rate is very low given the fact that Toronto is such a major city. (Walking) So all in all a safe place to live and so long as you stay alert and carry yourself decently you’ll generally be fine walking around on your own day or night.  

9. Airports

The 9th pro about living in Toronto is that it’s easy to get away for holidays or a break because you’ve got easy access to 2 different airports within less than an hour’s commute. Billy Bishop on the Toronto Islands is nice and clean and offers domestic flights within Canada and to the US. And then although not in the city of Toronto itself, there’s also Pearson International which is Canada’s largest and busiest airport, you can quickly reach there using the new direct Go Train line that runs from Union Station downtown and goes straight to the airport, that’ll take you roughly 50 minutes, maybe an hour tops.  

10. Great healthcare

And last but not least Toronto has a great healthcare system. In Canada in general getting access to healthcare is free.  You go to a hospital or clinic and get MRIs, x-rays all done at no charge. And that’s great, though with Toronto specifically I’m talking about how the city is home to some of the top doctors and surgeons in the world. People travel long and far distances to see specialists here in Toronto. Some of the most intelligent, skillful, and compassionate doctors at some of the highest rated hospitals in the world have called Toronto their home, and many people live better, healthier, and longer lives because of them.