Essentials
- City
- Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Population
- 2,800,000 (City), 6,400,000 (GTA)
- Internet Speed
- Average 150-500 Mbps via Bell Fibe or Rogers Ignite
- Currency & Banking
- 1 CAD ≈ 0.74 USD. Major banks: RBC, TD, Scotiabank
- Tap Water
- Drinkable (Strictly regulated and high quality)
- Power
- 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets
- SIM Card
- Telus, Rogers, Bell (approx. $45/mo for 20GB); Budget: Fido, Virgin
- Banking for Expats
- Wise, EQ Bank, and Simplii Financial for no-fee banking
- Accommodation
- High-rise condos (Entertainment District), Townhouses (West End)
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, Interac Flash and credit cards accepted everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Sonder, and local platforms like RentersGuide
- Budget Accommodation
- The Planet Traveler Hostel ($55-$70 CAD/night), HI Toronto
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Entertainment District (near CN Tower) or Yorkville (luxury)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- West Queen West, Leslieville, or Liberty Village
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Workhaus (locations at 30 Wellington St W - $350+/mo)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Dineen Coffee Co. (140 Yonge St) or Dark Horse Espresso (Spadina)
- Networking Events
- TechTO (monthly meetup at City Hall), Startup Grind Toronto
- Social Events for Expats
- Internations Toronto, Toronto Digital Nomads Meetup Group
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber, Lyft, and Beck Taxi app
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Bike Share Toronto ($15/3-day pass; 700+ stations)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Woodbine Beach / The Beaches (East End)
- Top Regional Airline
- Porter Airlines (flies from Billy Bishop Airport YTZ)
- Top International Airline
- Air Canada, WestJet
- Highway Access
- The Gardiner Expressway and Highway 401 (busiest in North America)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Union Station (GO Transit, VIA Rail, UP Express)
- Public Transport Passes
- PRESTO Card ($6 for card, $3.30 per ride, $156 monthly pass)
- Regional Travel
- GO Transit (Buses/Trains to Niagara Falls and Hamilton)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Toronto General Hospital (University Health Network)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Tree (Bay/Dundas), MISFITSTUDIO (Queen West)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- GoodLife Fitness ($30+/bi-weekly), Hone Fitness ($15+/bi-weekly)
- Laundry Services
- Tumbleweed Laundry (Queen St E), local apps like Hamper
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- UberEats, DoorDash, SkipTheDishes
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Peameal Bacon Sandwich at St. Lawrence Market ($11 CAD)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Fresh Kitchen + Juice Bar, Rosalinda (Richmond St)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Bang Bang Ice Cream (Ossington Ave), Nadege Patisserie
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Kensington Market, No Frills, FreshCo
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.ca, Indigo.ca, Well.ca
- Grocery Delivery
- Instacart, Voila by Sobeys, Loblaws PC Express
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- King Street West (clubs), Ossington Strip (indie bars)
- Local Brewery
- Bellwoods Brewery (Hafis Rd & Ossington), Steam Whistle
- Wine Bars
- Archive (Dundas West), Paris Paris (Dundas West)
- Street Food Stalls
- El Furniture Warehouse ($6-12 meals), Kensington Market vendors
- Popular International Cuisine
- Pai Northern Thai Kitchen, Terroni (Italian)
Business
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $9,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $570,000 CAD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $13,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $1,040,000 CAD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $9,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $720,000 CAD)
- Corporate Tax
- 26.5% (combined Federal and Ontario provincial)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 25% (often reduced to 5-15% via tax treaties)
- Tax System
- Residency-based; Worldwide income for residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 53.53% (on income over $246,752 CAD)
- VAT
- 13% HST (Harmonized Sales Tax)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, FAPI (Foreign Accrual Property Income) rules apply
- Property Tax
- Annual; approx. 0.63% of assessed value in Toronto
- Property Transaction Tax
- Provincial LTT + Municipal LTT (roughly 4% total for non-first-time buyers)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific visa, but tax treaties exist with 90+ countries
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $15,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $620,000 CAD)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $11,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $440,000 CAD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $14,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $840,000 CAD)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- CN Tower ($45 CAD), Distillery District, Casa Loma
- Museums & Art Venues
- Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)
- Historical Sites
- Fort York National Historic Site, Old Town Toronto
- Religious Sites
- St. James Cathedral, Shri Swaminarayan Mandir
- Annual Events
- TIFF (Toronto Intl Film Fest), Toronto Pride, Caribana
- Cultural Districts
- Chinatown (Spadina), Greektown (Danforth), Little Italy
- Theater Venues
- Princess of Wales Theatre, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
- Local Markets
- St. Lawrence Market, Kensington Market
- Music Scene
- Massey Hall, The Horseshoe Tavern, Danforth Music Hall
- Street Art
- Graffiti Alley (Rush Lane, south of Queen St W)
- Cooking Classes
- The Chef Upstairs (Mount Pleasant), Dish Cooking Studio
- Art Galleries
- Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery, MOCA Toronto
- Historic Buildings
- Osgoode Hall, Old City Hall
- Local Heritage
- Indigenous history of the Mississaugas of the Credit
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Toronto Islands (15 min ferry from Jack Layton Ferry Terminal)
- National Parks Nearby
- Rouge National Urban Park (accessible by GO Train/Bus)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Martin Goodman Trail (56km along Lake Ontario)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Riverdale Park East (best skyline sunset view)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Tommy Thompson Park (Leslie Street Spit)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Ontario Place, Christie Pits (permit required)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Canada Post, Purolator, FedEx/UPS kiosks
- Tech Repair Services
- Apple Eaton Centre, Win-Win iPhone Repair (College St)
- Table Tennis Spots
- SPIN Toronto (King West), outdoor tables at St. James Park
- Language Classes
- Hansa Language Centre, Alliance Française
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Toronto Reference Library (789 Yonge St)
- Community Centers
- The 519 (Church St), Harbourfront Centre
- Gaming Lounges
- FreePlay Arcade Bar, Raiders E-Sports Bar
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto