Moving to Toronto, Canada in 2026

Considering relocating to Toronto? Expect rent from $1850/month, generally safe for expats, English is the primary language. This page covers cost of living, safety, weather, residency options, and everything else settlers want to know before signing a lease.

🇨🇦 Toronto, Canada

Compare
2.9M peopleLivability: 70/100 · #34 of 6751% cheaper than NYC
How the Livability Score is calculated
Affordability
11.1/25 ptsNumbeo
Violent Crime
12.7/15 ptsUNODC
Perceived Safety
5.6/10 ptsNumbeo
Internet
9.4/15 ptsOokla
Democracy
13/15 ptsEIU
English
9.1/10 ptsEF EPI
Climate
9/10 ptsNumbeo
Stability
7.6/10 ptsWorld Bank

Total: 77.5 / 110 raw pts → normalized to 70/100

It's 1:03 PM in Toronto

Perfect time for a mid-day break.

Affordability44/100
Safety74/100
Climate97/100
Connectivity63/100
Democracy87/100
English Ease91/100
Clear Days48%

Scores derived from: Numbeo (cost of living) · UNODC (crime) · Economist Intelligence Unit (democracy) · EF EPI (English) · Ookla/Speedtest (internet)

Weather in Toronto

Spring

13°C

51% sunny

Summer

27°C

62% sunny

Fall

13°C

42% sunny

Winter

-2°C

36% sunny

Best: Summer. Avoid: Spring, Fall, Winter if you dislike extremes.

Cost of Living in TorontoNumbeo

Beer (0.5L)

$5.85

Cappuccino

$4.12

Cheap meal

$19.02

Fast food combo

$10.97

Bus/metro ticket

$2.45

Gym/month

$51

Internet/month

$52

Is it actually a democracy?

Democracy index: 8.69 (#13 globally)· Full democracy

Freedom House: 97/100

Press freedom rank: #14 of 180

Sources: EIU Democracy Index · Freedom House · RSF Press Freedom Index

Is Toronto Safe?UNODC + Numbeo

74/100

Homicide rate: 2.3 per 100,000 (world average ~5.8)

Numbeo Safety Index: 56.5/100 (covers theft, property crime, perception)

Generally safe. Exercise normal urban awareness and you'll be fine.

People generally feel safe day-to-day. Petty crime exists but isn't a constant worry.

Will the lights stay on?

Reliable
67% electricity from renewables
Rare outages

English in TorontoEF EPI

Very High

You can manage daily life, healthcare, and most bureaucracy in English. The language barrier is low.

For Russian/Ukrainian speakers: Indo-European — manageable

Who Has Offices in Toronto?

ShopifyWealthsimpleGoogleAmazonMetaRBCTDMicrosoftAppleCloudflare

Notable employers with offices in the city. Not exhaustive.

Is Toronto Worth Moving To?

For

  • +Genuinely good governance. The basics — healthcare, transport, rule of law — work as advertised.

Against

  • At $1850/mo rent, budget carefully. This is not a cheap experiment.
  • Winters drop to -8°C. Your coat collection will expand significantly.

Can you actually live here?

Visa difficulty, time to residency, and what it takes to stay.

EU citizenModerate
US citizenEasy
RussianComplex
UkrainianModerate
3 years to permanent residency
4 years to citizenship
Work permit: Moderate
Compare all countries by visa difficulty →

What you can actually do here

Industries, employers, and how startup-friendly this place is.

Employment

fintechaihealthcaremedia

Top university ranked #21 globally

Startup Scene

Ecosystem: Hub
VC: Strong

World Bank ease of doing business rank: #23

Corporate tax rate: 26.5%

Toronto — Frequently Asked Questions

Is Toronto safe?

Toronto has a homicide rate of 2.3 per 100,000 people (source: UNODC), making it generally safe. The world average is around 5.8 per 100,000. The Numbeo Crime Index is 43.5/100 (lower is safer), which reflects residents' self-reported concerns about property crime, theft, and everyday safety. As with any city, awareness of local neighborhoods is recommended before settling.

What is the cost of living in Toronto?

A 1-bedroom apartment in Toronto city centre costs around $1850/month (Numbeo data). Day-to-day: a cheap restaurant meal: $19.02, monthly transit pass: $114. A single person can expect total monthly costs of roughly $2250–$2650 depending on lifestyle — covering rent, food, transport, and utilities.

What is the weather like in Toronto?

Toronto has Summers reach around 27°C, winters drop to around -8°C. Summers are warm and pleasant for most people.

Can you get by in Toronto without knowing the local language?

Toronto has Very High English proficiency (EF EPI data). Daily life, healthcare, and business can largely be managed in English.

Is Toronto a good place to settle long-term?

Toronto is in Canada, which scores 8.7/10 on the EIU Democracy Index. Strong institutions and rule of law make it a stable choice for long-term settlement. Rent from $1850/month.

What is the job market like in Toronto?

Canada has an unemployment rate of 6.9%, indicating a moderate job market — competitive but accessible with the right skills. For settlers planning to work locally, research your industry before committing. Remote workers and self-employed expats are less affected by local employment conditions.

Which companies have offices in Toronto?

Notable companies with offices in Toronto include Shopify, Wealthsimple, Google, Amazon, Meta, RBC. The city's job market spans tech, finance, and other sectors — check company career pages for current openings.

Is Toronto good for expats?

Toronto attracts expats looking for long-term relocation in Canada. Key facts: rent from $1850/month; Canada Express Entry (complex process); English is widely spoken, reducing the language barrier significantly. The Livability Score, safety data, and cost of living figures above give a data-driven picture of what to expect when settling here.

How do I get long-term residency or a visa to live in Canada?

Canada offers the Canada Express Entry program. Duration: Permanent residence. Requirements: Points-based (CRS score). Skilled workers with job offer or high language scores invited every ~2 weeks. Very sought-after. This is a more involved process — professional immigration advice is recommended. Check the official government portal for the most up-to-date application process.

🇨🇦 Toronto
Hot summersCold wintersStrong democracy

Expenses

$2,742 / mo

🧘 That's 110 yoga classes/mo

summer

🌞 27°C / 😊 17°C

winter

🥶 -2°C / 🥶 -8°C

Internet · Ookla Speedtest

125 Mbps

CA: 122 Mbps

Canada

Economics · World Bank / IMF

GDP per capita (PPP)2024

$64,610

GDP Growth2024

+1.6%

Inflation Rate2024

2.4%

Unemployment2025

6.9%

Gini Index2021

31.1 

Population2024

2,930,000

Politics · EIU Democracy Index

Democracy Index

8.6913th

Regime

Full democracy

Safety · UNODC

Homicide per 100K

2.3

Language · EF EPI

Languages

English, French (I)

English Proficiency

Very High3th

Data sources

Cost of living: Numbeo crowd-sourced data

Homicide rate: UNODC 2022

Crime perception index: Numbeo Crime Index

Democracy index: Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)

Freedom House score: Freedom House Freedom in the World 2025

Press freedom rank: RSF World Press Freedom Index 2025

GDP per capita: World Bank / IMF

English proficiency: EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI)

Internet speed: Ookla Speedtest Global Index

Grid reliability & renewables: IEA / national grid operators

Residency & visa data: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/new-immigrants/pr-card/understand-pr-status.html