Essentials
- City
- London, Ontario, Canada
- Population
- 422,000 (Metropolitan: 540,000)
- Internet Speed
- Average 150-300 Mbps; Rogers and Bell offer Gigabit fiber (approx. $90 CAD/month)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 CAD ≈ 0.74 USD. Major banks include RBC, TD, and Scotiabank located on Richmond St.
- Tap Water
- Drinkable and high quality (sourced from Lakes Huron and Erie)
- Power
- 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets
- SIM Card
- Bell, Rogers, Telus. Budget options: Public Mobile, Lucky Mobile (approx. $40 CAD for 20GB)
- Banking for Expats
- Simplified account opening at CIBC (Richmond & Dundas) or digital banking via EQ Bank/Wealthsimple
- Accommodation
- Modern high-rises downtown (The Harriston) or Victorian houses in Woodfield
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, nearly 100% of merchants accept contactless/debit (Interac)
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Vrbo, and executive suites like Residence Inn by Marriott (approx. $2,800 CAD/month)
- Budget Accommodation
- Fanshawe College Residence (Summer only) or Fanshawe Gateway Student Residences
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Downtown (near Budweiser Gardens and Richmond Row)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Wortley Village (Old South) - Voted one of Canada's best neighborhoods, very walkable with cafes
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Innovation Works London (201 King St) - $25 CAD Day Pass / $250 CAD Monthly
- Best Cafe for Work
- Reset Social Cafe (272 Dundas St) - plenty of outlets and fast Wi-Fi
- Networking Events
- TechAlley London (Monthly at Innovation Works) and London Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) mixers
- Social Events for Expats
- London Newcomers' Club and 'Forest City Digital Nomads' Meetup group
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber and Checker Limousine (local taxi app)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Sobi London (Bike Share) and Lime Electric Scooters (seasonal, April-November)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Port Stanley (Main Beach) - 40 minutes south on Lake Erie
- Top Regional Airline
- Air Canada Express / WestJet Encore operating from YXU (London International)
- Top International Airline
- Air Canada (via Toronto Pearson) or Swoop (budget options)
- Highway Access
- Direct access to Highway 401 (Toronto-Detroit corridor) and Highway 402 (to Sarnia/USA)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- London VIA Rail Station (205 York St) - Major hub for the Windsor-Quebec City corridor
- Public Transport Passes
- London Transit Commission (LTC); Monthly pass: $95 CAD; Single fare: $3.50 CAD
- Regional Travel
- Megabus and FlixBus to Toronto (approx. $25-$40 CAD); VIA Rail to Windsor/Toronto
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- London Health Sciences Centre (Victoria Hospital) and St. Joseph's Hospital
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Modo Yoga London (711 Richmond St) - $20 CAD drop-in
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Movati Athletic (North/South locations) or GoodLife Fitness (Headquartered in London; King St location)
- Laundry Services
- The Laundry Café (1030 Adelaide St N) - Wash and fold services available
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- UberEats, SkipTheDishes, and DoorDash
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Garlic Fries at his/her local pubs or Perogies from the Western Fair Market
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Copper Branch (Richmond St) and Plant Matter Kitchen (Wortley Village)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Black Walnut Bakery Cafe (Wortley Village) - Famous for butter tarts
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- The Market at Western Fair District (Saturdays/Sundays) for fresh local produce
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.ca (Prime offers one-day delivery in London), Walmart.ca
- Grocery Delivery
- Instacart (Loblaws, Real Canadian Superstore) and Voila by Sobeys
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Richmond Row (Richmond Street between Oxford and Dundas)
- Local Brewery
- Anderson Craft Ales (Old East Village) and Toboggan Brewing Co. (Richmond St)
- Wine Bars
- The Tasting Room (483 Richmond St)
- Street Food Stalls
- Covent Garden Market (Indoor/Outdoor stalls) - 130 King St
- Popular International Cuisine
- Through Thick and Thin (Pizza), Bangkok Pad Thai (Richmond St)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Eldon House (London's oldest residence), St. Peter's Cathedral Basilica
- Museums & Art Venues
- Museum London (Art/History) and Banting House (Birthplace of Insulin)
- Historical Sites
- Fanshawe Pioneer Village (Open-air museum)
- Religious Sites
- St. Paul's Cathedral (Richmond/Queens)
- Annual Events
- Sunfest (July - huge world music festival), Western Fair (September)
- Cultural Districts
- Old East Village (OEV) - Arts and culture hub
- Theater Venues
- The Grand Theatre (471 Richmond St)
- Local Markets
- Covent Garden Market (Daily); Western Fair Market (Weekends)
- Music Scene
- London Music Hall and Aeolian Hall (Historic venue)
- Street Art
- OEV Murals and various installations along Dundas Place (pedestrian-friendly zone)
- Cooking Classes
- Jill's Table (115 King St)
- Art Galleries
- McIntosh Gallery (UWO Campus) and Forest City Gallery
- Historic Buildings
- Middlesex County Building (Castle-like architecture on Ridout St)
- Local Heritage
- Named the 'Forest City' due to its extensive tree canopy
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Springbank Park and the Thames Valley Trail (40km+ of paths)
- National Parks Nearby
- Point Pelee National Park (approx. 2 hours away)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Thames Valley Parkway (TVP) - scenic multi-use path system along the river
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Guy Lombardo Bridge at sunset; Civic Garden Complex
- Birdwatching Locations
- Westminster Ponds Environmentally Significant Area
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Fanshawe Conservation Area (Designated camping/fire pits only)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Canada Post (Main: 451 Talbot St), UPS Store, FedEx Ship Centre
- Tech Repair Services
- London Computer Repair (Wharncliffe Rd) and Cellular Magician
- Table Tennis Spots
- London Table Tennis Club (Hamilton Rd)
- Language Classes
- Luso Community Services and Fanshawe College ESL programs
- Libraries & Study Spots
- London Public Library - Central Branch (251 Dundas St)
- Community Centers
- StarTech.com Community Centre, YMCA Centre Branch
- Gaming Lounges
- The Mana Lounge (Board games/trading cards) and Tilt Arcade Bar
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Gateway Casinos London (Western Fair District)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $6,500 CAD per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $260,000 CAD)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $4,800 CAD per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $192,000 CAD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $6,200 CAD per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $372,000 CAD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $4,500 CAD per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $270,000 CAD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $5,800 CAD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $464,000 CAD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $4,200 CAD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $336,000 CAD)
- Corporate Tax
- Combined Federal/Ontario rate approx. 26.5% (12.2% for small business)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 25% (often reduced to 5-15% via tax treaties)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 53.53% (Combined Federal and Ontario provincial)
- VAT
- 13% HST (Harmonized Sales Tax)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes (FAPI - Foreign Accrual Property Income rules)
- Property Tax
- Approximately 1.35% of assessed value annually
- Property Transaction Tax
- Ontario Land Transfer Tax (tiered; approx. 1-2% on average home)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific digital nomad visa; must use visitor status or permanent residency routes