The process of moving from Vancouver to Toronto can be frustrating if you do not know what you’re doing. We hope that this guide will help you avoid the mistakes that many people make with this cross-country move.
The Moving Process From Vancouver to Toronto
How Far is Vancouver from Toronto?
The distance between Vancouver and Toronto is roughly 4,328 kilometres, or a 41 hour drive. This 41 hour drive takes you through the US border, which (especially now!) may present additional complications.
Driving straight across Canada, through each province, thus eluding the US border will tack on an additional ~4 hours of driving.
Moving From Vancouver to Toronto Average Cost
If you are working with a reputable moving company, moving from Vancouver to Toronto will cost between $6,000-$10,000+ for the moving process from start to finish.
The cost to move will of course depend on a wide variety of factors—how much cargo are you needing moved, both in terms of size as well as weight. Do you need any packing services? Are there elevators involved in the old building or the new building?
Average Studio Moving Cost
If you live in a studio, moving from Vancouver to Toronto will cost roughly $6,000.
Average 2 Bedroom Moving Cost
If you live in a 2 bedroom home, you can expect this move to cost $7,500-8,500.
Average 4 Bedroom Moving Cost
And lastly, a 4 bedroom home will cost $10,000+ on average.
Doesn’t That Seem a Little High? I Just Got a Quote for $2,000-$3,000
This may seem to be a little bit expensive compared to other moving quotes you’ve gotten, I get it.
However, this is one of the well known moving company “scams”. You get a quote for an absolute steal of a price, “Just $2,000 to move to Toronto? I’ll take it.”
Then moving day rolls around, and you come to find out that this quote was based on 1,000 pounds worth of stuff.
Any additional cargo is, you guessed it, an additional charge.
For some reference, each room in your house will have roughly 1,000 pounds worth of stuff… so unless if you live in one of those tiny homes, you will quickly see your moving bill rack up to $10,000+ for a smaller home.
With our above ballpark quotes, this is what you will pay when all is said and done, and you’re sitting in your new home in Toronto.
Is it a Good Idea to Move from Vancouver to Toronto?
Living Costs Compared
Although cost of living is comparable in Vancouver and Toronto, according to costof.live, Toronto’s cost of living is actually 13% higher than Vancouver’s.
Crime Rates
Using data supported by Numbeo, we’ve determined that while Toronto is generally a safe city, with a Safety Scale score of 60.96, Vancouver’s 63.35 score results in Vancouver taking this category. This equates to being roughly 4% safer than Toronto.
Public Transportation
Comparing the public transportation systems of Vancouver and Toronto is somewhat unfair, because Toronto is significantly longer, so requires greater intricacies.
While Vancouver’s public transportation is incredibly efficient, it’s what we would expect considering the lower mainland has less than half of the population of the GTA.
Toronto’s public transportation system consists of 76.9km in subway lines, with 75 stations. There are also 2 new lines under construction, set to be completed by 2022 and 2023.
Vancouver’s “TransLink” skytrain system consists of 3 lines, which total 79.6km of skytrain rail. There are 53 stations in the Lower Mainland versus the GTA’s 75 stations.
Overall, both Toronto and Vancouver’s transit systems are second to none. Which is better will often depend entirely on your required commute.
Weather
There are pros to the weather in both Vancouver and Toronto. Which city’s weather you’d enjoy more depends on what you prefer (or dislike less). Although Vancouver’s constant rain can be less than satisfactory, Vancouver’s winters are generally much milder.
On the other hand, living in Toronto you will experience colder winters with less rain. Toronto’s summers are also longer and warmer, by about half a month and 1 degree Fahrenheit, respectively.
Buying a home in Toronto
Best Neighbourhoods in Toronto
The Harbourfront
If you lived near a body of water in Vancouver, you should definitely look into the Harbourfront, which is right along Lake Ontario. The Harbourfront also includes quick ferry access taking you to the islands of Lake Ontario. You should expect to pay $500K+ for a small apartment in this neighbourhood.
Bloor West Village
If you’re moving you and your family to Toronto, Bloor West Village may be a fantastic neighbourhood to call home. With plenty of fantastic parks and schools nearby, this is a great neighbourhood for families with kids of all ages. The average home price in Bloor West Village is $1.1 million.
Yonge and Eglinton
With the nickname “Young and Eligible”, this neighbourhood is perfect for young professionals. There are lots of apartments and condos in Yonge and Eglinton, which make it a little bit easier to move in and out of. Apartments and condo’s will cost you roughly the same as in the harbourfront, so ensure you have $30k+ for a down payment if you’re considering purchasing!
Selling Your Property in BC
Now that you’re moving away from the lower mainland, you may need a hand in selling your real estate in BC. Look no further than working with Josh Kepkay. You can give him a call at (604) 313-9805. He can assist you in getting top dollar for your home, condo, apartment, or even acreage! Working with a realtor is a good idea, as they can help you get top dollar for your property.
Finding a Job in Toronto Before You Move There
Because of the internet, there are many great places to begin your job search, before you even land in Toronto. In some instances, you can even go through the entire application, interview, and selection process from your home in BC using some of the following sites.
City of Toronto Jobs
The city of Toronto is almost always hiring for a wide variety of positions. If you are not a specialized worker, consider checking out their website here.
Indeed
Indeed is the largest online jobs site in Canada. As of September 2020, there are 30,000+ open positions in Toronto on Indeed alone. You cannot overlook positions on Indeed, because oftentimes this will be the only place employers will post their position.
Word of Mouth
If you’re in a specialized field, you should consider reaching out to your current contacts in Toronto and in Vancouver to see if they know of any open positions in Toronto. If nothing else, calling them up and letting them know that you are moving from Vancouver to Toronto will keep you fresh in their mind if anything comes up.
If you are on LinkedIn, post a quick update letting everyone know that you are moving to Toronto from Vancouver and that you would really appreciate it if anyone has any job leads.
Full Moving Checklist
1. Determine what your moving budget will be. If you do not plan ahead of time, you’ll end up getting everything last minute and potentially blowing a lot more money than you’d like to. Figure out roughly how much the entire move should cost for your entire moving process.
2. Try to find a reputable moving company that can help you move from Vancouver to Toronto for a competitive price and high quality service, while staying within your budget. If this turns out to be an impossible task, look into cheaper alternatives such as a portable moving container or U-Haul. Although this will be much more work, if your budget will not allow a moving company, these can be okay alternatives.
3. Make sure that you line up your housing situation before you move to Toronto. This becomes especially important if you have a family, as finding last minute housing will become more and more difficult the more people that you are looking for. If you need assistance buying a property in Toronto, make sure you reach out to Ms. Georgina Kasmetis, who is heavily connected and can help you find the home of your dreams!
4. Research schools in Toronto and notify your children’s current schools of your planned move. You can use this website to find the best public schools in Toronto.
Alternatively, here is where you can research the best private schools in Toronto. Make sure that you are considering the neighbourhood that you are moving into.
5. Use this Government of Canada website for your guide to changing your moving address for most of your required address changes. Keep in mind that many of your address changes will still be needed to make apart from this website, but it provides helpful guidelines. You will also need to change your address for many of your financial products
6. Meet up with all of the friends and family that would feel hurt to know that you are moving away from them without even saying goodbye! You may be starting a new life in Toronto, but don’t leave your friends in Vancouver with a bitter taste in their mouths when they think of you.
Making the decision of moving from Vancouver to Toronto can be extremely tough, especially if you feel as though your entire life is in Vancouver. But when you go through all of the pros and cons, it can often make sense in the long run. The decision to make the move should not be taken lightly or without careful consideration.
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