If you’re thinking about moving to a big city and comparing your options, perhaps searching through real estate in Toronto and finding that perfect, or near-perfect home, you probably want to know how other cities like Vancouver, Chicago, or New York stack up against it.
Diversity
Toronto has been declared the world’s most diverse city. It’s one of the city’s defining factors, with locals from more than 200 different nationalities, speaking over 100 different languages. Its neighborhoods represent many different cultures like Greektown, Koreatown, and Little Italy. With so many residents hailing from other countries, it stands to reason that you’ll have a smorgasbord of authentic options when it comes to ethnic cuisine. Nowhere else in the country will you find so many restaurants that represent so many different ethnicities, you can truly eat your way around the world without having to go through airport security. If this sounds absolutely perfect and you just can’t wait to get stuck in, you can find the perfect location for your new home with help from experienced Toronto real estate agents to make your dream move a reality.
Being Bilingual is a Big Plus
While being bilingual is a plus anywhere, in Toronto that’s especially true. With so many different languages spoken here, you’ll have better odds of landing a good job if you can speak more than one. While the primary language is English, the Chinese community is so prevalent that they have one of the largest indoor shopping centers of all cultural groups and two areas with pockets of mini-communities in the Greater Toronto area. While you might think French would be commonly spoken, it’s actually Mandarin or Cantonese so if you can speak one of those languages in addition to English is going to be a big benefit.
Technology
Did you know that Toronto can give Silicon Valley a run for its money when it comes to technology? It’s a technology powerhouse, attracting many start-up companies and major tech players like eBay, Amazon, Facebook, and Apple to all set up offices here. Since 2013, the city has added more tech jobs than any other in North America, and that includes Silicon Valley. One of the reasons for that is that it’s been more welcoming to immigrants in recent years, thanks to visa programs like Global Talent Stream that was launched in 2017, according to Business Insider, allowing those with the skills to be in Canada as quickly as a month.
Safety
In 2017, Toronto was named among the world’s safest cities, and the safest in all of North America by The Economist.
With most major cities, crime is a concern, which makes this a pretty impressive stat. Of course, this compares other major cities – like any large city it’s important to take precautions against petty crime, using common sense like steering clear of rowdy drinking areas at night.
Liveability
Toronto also ranks high on livability, often among the world’s top five cities, based on culture, environment, education, healthcare, and infrastructure. The Economist Intelligence Unit Global Liveability report gave it a 97.2 in 2017, with a score of 100 for education and healthcare, with only three cities of 140 ranking higher. While it may not enjoy tropical weather, it obviously has plenty going for it, making it one of the best places on the planet to live.