Canada
Profiled in Toronto · North America
Toronto is a big, orderly, wildly multicultural city where half the people you meet were born somewhere else and everyone just gets on with building a life.
Cost of living
What a month costs
Housing is the budget killer; groceries and transit are reasonable.
The scores
How it rates for a moving family
See and do
Top 10 in Toronto
- CN TowerThe city's landmark tower with a glass floor and a long view of Lake Ontario.
- Royal Ontario MuseumHuge natural history and world cultures collection under a jagged crystal facade.
- St. Lawrence MarketA historic food hall where locals go for peameal bacon sandwiches.
- Distillery DistrictCobblestone Victorian lanes packed with galleries, cafes and a winter market.
- Art Gallery of OntarioStrong Canadian and Group of Seven collection in a Frank Gehry building.
- Toronto IslandsA short ferry to car-free beaches and the best skyline photo in town.
- Kensington MarketA scruffy, lovable maze of vintage shops and cheap eats.
- High ParkThe big west end green space with cherry blossoms every spring.
- Casa LomaAn early 1900s Gothic mansion turned museum up on the hill.
- Ripley's Aquarium of CanadaA family favourite right at the base of the CN Tower.
Where to go
Weekend escapes
- Niagara FallsThe famous falls and wine country are about 90 minutes south.
- Prince Edward CountyBeaches, farm tables and small wineries two hours east.
- Blue MountainSki hills in winter and hiking the Bruce Trail the rest of the year.
- MuskokaClassic Ontario lake country with cottages and canoes up north.
- MontrealA five hour drive or quick flight to Quebec's food and nightlife capital.
Coffee
Best cafes
- Balzac's Coffee RoastersAn Ontario mini chain with a grand cafe in the Distillery District.
- Sam James Coffee BarA local roaster that helped kick off the city's serious coffee scene.
- Dineen CoffeeA handsome heritage cafe in the financial district.
- Boxcar SocialCoffee by day and wine by night with a lakeside Harbourfront spot.
- Jimmy's CoffeeA relaxed neighbourhood mini chain that started in Kensington.
Restaurants
Where to eat
- AloThe city's celebrated tasting menu spot and a very hard reservation.
- CanoeRefined Canadian cooking with a skyline view from the 54th floor.
- Pai Northern Thai KitchenBuzzy, generous Thai that locals line up for downtown.
- WynonaA warm east end room doing thoughtful seasonal Ontario plates.
- Richmond StationA dependable farm to table bistro known for its burger.
- Mother's DumplingsChinatown institution for hand made dumplings and noodles.
- Sushi KajiA long running Etobicoke omakase counter for a splurge.
Morning
Best breakfast
- Mildred's Temple KitchenLiberty Village brunch famous for its Mrs. Biederhof's blueberry pancakes.
- Lady MarmaladeA cheerful Leslieville spot with big Mexican tinged breakfasts.
- Sunset GrillA homegrown all day breakfast chain that Torontonians grew up on.
- Aunties and UnclesA vintage diner in the Annex with a loyal weekend line.
- Fran's RestaurantA classic 24 hour diner running since the 1940s.
- Maha'sBeloved Egyptian breakfast in the east end with strong coffee.
- Rose and SonsA diner style room doing hearty morning plates on Dupont.
- The FederalA tidy little brunch favourite in the west end.
- OEB Breakfast Co.A Canadian brunch chain known for big loaded skillets and benedicts.
Residency
Most newcomers arrive through Express Entry or a Provincial Nominee Program, which grade you on age, education, work experience and English or French. Permanent residence leads to citizenship after three years of living in Canada.
Tax
Once you are a tax resident, Canada taxes your worldwide income at combined federal and Ontario rates that top out near 53 percent. There is no wealth tax, but plan for high income tax and pricey property and sales taxes.
Thinking about moving here for real? See the verified Canada residency and citizenship routes →
Curious what you would actually pay? See the Canada tax profile: income, corporate, VAT and exit rules →
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