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I'm 66 years old, born in Toronto and lived here all my life. I'm thinking of moving out of Toronto - and out of Canada altogether.

I am African American woman in born and raised in United States. Decide go to moved Canada.I so glad I never stay in Canada all rascist going up there now and came back to United States. I was going moved on Toronto Canada this was 1984. I was I probably didn't notice rascist, but I had to leave Toronto, Canada cause funeral in USA. Afican taxi cab told me I wouldn't make it in Canada and this was in 1984. It very hard black person lived here. I very glad took his advice.

I grew up coming to Toronto regularly and I moved here in 2018 to start university. I felt safe and had no real issues for the first 2 years. This past year though I have had three life threatening situations on the TTC and street. I was threatened to be stabbed by a man on the subway and chased by a woman on St Clair threatening to kill me. The city is not the same at all. I love it here but I do feel like im risking my life leaving my home.

I live north of brampton of DT Toronto i use to work the east end of Toronto. I get burnt out from driving to work 2 days a week really fast, becase traffic and our transit system is just terrible, it takes 2 hrs for me to get to work and 2 and a half hrs to get home and recently my work place was cruel enough to replace me with someone thats cheaper. Toronto is deffinitly not a good place to move to if you don't love the city

Thank you for posting this! I feel much the same.\nI was born in Toronto but my family moved to another city in Southwestern On. when I was 10. I pledged to move back and did in 2004 to become a student. I loved the freedom and vibrancy of the city, met many friends and had a wonderful time. Even as a student, working part time, I was able to afford a shared accommodation downtown and still have a bit of disposable income. \nAfter graduating college, I found full time employment and was able to live comfortably alone in my own 2 bd apartment in mid-town for many years. In 2012, I met my partner and we continued to live in North York in a 3bd rent-controlled unit. We could see the decline in the city over the next several years. We decided we would never be able to achieve what we wanted to by staying where we were so in 2018 we took the plunge and bought a home in Windsor and have never looked back (though Windsor also has many social/affordability issues) .\nIn all, I miss the Toronto I once knew and loved but the decline of the city is pretty shocking.

I'm 32, Congolese born and raised in France arrived in Toronto in 2019, moved back home 2 month ago because of :\n- Cost of living \n- Cost of becoming a house owner \n- Dry Dating game \n- Woke and Workaholic culture\n- Not seeing myself building my family far away from my family\n - 6 month winter \n \nI love Canada tho, was a great experience ??

I am a Toronto Native, a nurse that used to work in Critical Care at Sunnybrook, but moved to Dubai as my husband received a job offer. That was more than 10yrs ago. I must say that every time I visit home, things are definitely worse. I notice that ppl are very negative and also rude. It's quite startling. I also see how much the demographics have changed as well. The city is also dirtier and not as pretty. I can say that if I ever returned, I would consider Vancouver, somewhere outside of the city, or on the island, but for now, I can say that I will never return to live in Toronto., We will go someplace else like Mexico where it's close enough for family to visit and it's close to home. Btw, Toronto is NOT the most diverse city in the world, it's Dubai, and UAE as a whole, where 85% of the population is born outside of the country.

In Greater Toronto Area, 4 working adults in one home, you can survive. 10+ adults in one home, you can live luxury life. Alberta is more affordable but harsh winters. You can forget about getting any YT collar jobs in AB if you're not YT and Eng is not your first language. I don't understand why Cdn govnt wants to bring non-yt immigrants when majority of YT Cdns don't want to see non-yts in Canada. So, if you're not YT and Eng is not your first language, don't bother moving here unless you will be living with 10 adults in one home. lol

Speaking of diversity, it is one of its problems. Toronto has always been kuku since I moved to Canada 6 years ago

Spent my whole life in Toronto. Even though I grew up in one of the poorest neighborhoods at the time, it was a paradise compared to the hole it is now. When I retire and my parents pass on, I will sell all and leave the asylum to the lunatics. Screw this place! I want to move to an area with NO social services to breed the rot that consumed the city of my birth.

Every big city in the west is going through this because of interest rates, inflation and housing affordability. Toronto is still better off than any large American city. Sure u people can move to the countryside but u won’t have the cosmopolitan lifestyle anymore of professional sports, theatre, galleries, ethnic restaurants…enjoy your boring country life

Best Pizza's in Toronto but sadly it was time to move away to Meaford. Quiet, everyone friendly but not much work in terms of jobs - still worth it !!

We left Toronto in 2019 after having lived there for almost 20 yrs (separately and as a couple). The city seems to decline a little bit more every time that we come back to the city to visit friends or for entertainment. It's truly saddening to see the state of things, since I remember first moving to the city in 1998 when it was a very bohemian and vibrant place to live. A room cost me around $350/mth, and I was able to live quite comfortably as a student. That's definitely not the case now, with mega-corporations ruling the rental market and charging a small fortune for much needed housing, as well as the constant mismanagement found in city hall. I'm glad that we left all of that behind for a small town on Ontario's west coast

Are you egging kidding me?\nI’m Canadian, moved from Alberta to Montreal and every one in Pauline Julienne school is an immigrant except perhaps 4 people, 3 from my family and a girl from Toronto .\nI had a rude awakening to find out the immigrants tuition is free - mine I had to pay for. Also the immigrants are GIVEN money to attend class 500 - 600 per person per month. So if it is a couple that is 1000/month and that is on top of the housing benefits they get for free.\nMy family had to no such benefit.\nAdditionally even though educated, because we are anglophones we could not get even menial jobs. I applied at a value Villiage and was denied because I did not speak French however a class mate in my “beginners” who also knew no French but was from Mexico did get a job there. (Hanging up cloths)\nSo this is a small example of Trudeau’s government giving preferential treatment to immigrants over Canadians.

Left Toronto 9 years ago and moved to Abu Dhabi. We are loving it here and have no plans to move back.

As former Calgarians, my wife and I had lived in that beautiful city for 30 years. We moved to the GTA in 2008. We had observed that the last 15 years, the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) has had seen a gradual decline in both affordability as well as crime and safety. The last 5 years or so had been especially obvious with significantly steep jump in living (dwelling & food) costs as well as crime rates.\nAfter a couple of visits to Alberta in the last year or so, my spouse and I had decided to pull up stakes and relocate back to Calgary where housing is still reasonably affordable. We also feel much safer over there. Oh, did I mention that the ring road around the perimeter of the City is very near completion and it is free. Yes, it's free of charge, i.e.: it is not a toll road.\nIn general, drivers in Calgary, are also way more courteous than their counterparts in the GTA.\nOur relocation will happen in the next two to three months. Bye bye GTA (with no regrets) .......

Yikes! Born and raised in Syracuse, NY and after college spent 16 years in Los Angeles until finally moving back to NY last year. Any comparison between Toronto and L.A. I simply won't stand for.....and I really mean that because you have less gun violence, seems like more cultures get along there, plus it looks cleaner. I'd consider moving to Buffalo just to be within an hour of Toronto to take weekend trips. After seeing how the rents up there are close to SF or NYC, def can't move there anymore. There's an appeal Canada has in terms of safety and perhaps better quality of life than the U.S. but frustrating to see housing crisis is even worse up there! I'd hate to see Toronto start to remind people of anything remotely close to California. Def sounds like you need a new PM asap. After seeing your Montreal video, think I'll take a short trip up there instead.

So I was born in Russia, then moved to Toronto, then lived in New York for 5 years... Let me tell you waits in emergency room in New York aren't nearly as bad as in Toronto... but costs... 300 dollar copay when my employer in New York was giving me one of the best insurance available in US... But I just didn't like living in US... I moved back to Toronto eventually to lower pay, mainly because my relatives are here... but having social safety net and stuff like that is nice, even if my salary in Toronto is lower than in NYC...\nP.S. both USA and Canada are way better than living in Russia tho

Moved to Toronto from Australia last year and already thinking of moving back. It’s in a terrible condition.

Great work of yours BUT I really need to say something to most of u making those videos and the ones that go along. I come from a very civilized country with a lot of education and history but awful economy. ?? I am myself educated but my country’s main salary is 700€/month and a descent one bedroom apt is the same price. There are no jobs no future if u don’t come from a rich fam. I am taking the brave decision to leave my country and loved ones and immigrate to Toronto. I Google ‘moving to Toronto’ and I only see videos that are pointing how awful is to leave in Toronto. Like it’s garbage city! \nHave u ever lived in a country like mine? Have u seen the cost of living and salaries in Europe? What about third world countries?? \nHow can u speak down so much on a place just because u have to hustle to start? Does life owes us an easy effortless life? \nYour POV is very Americanized - I have lived also in the USA for almost a decade. \nDon’t discourage ppl that way. I have high standards but I’m not entitled, I can work and u should be more thankful that u can follow your dreams and live from YouTube in Toronto. People hustle big time u don’t seem to understand so I really can’t engage with that even if it’s well made. \nThank u ?

I left Toronto for the much, much more affordable French Rivieria. Miss my city, but I can’t see myself moving back there anytime soon

I always wondered why I had to be here when the snow tilted between 45 and 60 degrees in winter and hit my face at 30-40 km/h.\nquality of food, transportation, service from employees, speed of processing time, etc there were many things that made me really unsatisfied being living in Toronto.\nsame, at the first time I came Toronto, everything looks great. but not anymore \nI'm korean and I feel really unsafe when I go and live abroad. Korea, Japan, Singapore mainly all Asian countries are top 5 in safety all over the world I think. \nAsia especially Korean and Japan have great service, quality of food with reasonable price. I think I don't need to move foreign country. \nmy background is in South Korea but I can say living in Toronto Canada was horrible and harsh for Korean. Because of multiple reasons but the harsh weather is the biggest for me. Feels like winter in Toronto is 7~8 months long if I compare it to winter in Korea. Fall and Spring?? No, they don't have fall and spring and it's all winter. they have snow in early September late April or May. It was horribly hard because the cold air from the arctic and really powerful wind came all together. even though the weather and temperature look a little bit off from Korea, Canada has a much more harsh location with weather. not only harsh weather but they do provide really embarrassing experience such as expensive payment for everything, a lot of factors disturb me from leaking money. I don't think Canada is a good country. my view of this country totally has been changed 3 years ago.

Accurate. I was born in B.C. but moved here when I was 3 years old. I'll say this Toronto always had a level of crime rate so be careful of your surroundings. Crime rate dipped down in 2002. In 2018 moving back it is worse than ever before. A city that wants all the chiefs but how does one simply live here on the minimum wage bracket. If a city has a minimum wage said citizen should be able to afford rent. Ergo professionals could then afford upscale neighbourhoods. Toronto has always been expensive but this is not do-able I might go back to British Colombia if this gets worse over the winter. Ontario you lose another Canadian in this metropolis.

Seriously speaking i love this city but as you said it is very expensive to live in live in the midtown both my wife and myself are full time workers and we are managing the expenses, the declining ratio is for sure i blame the government, the bad thing is no matter what every other immigrant whether they lands in halifax or calgary they move to Gta or in toronto, the government should have a check and balance to those people who are nominated in other provinces and moved to Toronto, i dont blame the people it is the government they need to make the opportunity in every province and put a cap on the individual if you are landed in Saskatchewan you should stay in the same place for almost 5 years, if a person or a family live constantly for 5 years at one place they don’t even try to think to move any-other city unless they have some serious issues their, i am also an immigrant a landed PR from Pakistan Alhumdulillah i work hard my wife does the same Managing the expenses but it’s true it is not affordable for everyone now.

Toronto is a great place to start and grow your career. But after that you should move?

Visited Toronto in 2014 for school trip and fell in love with the city. Moved to TO once graduated in 2017. It was manageable back then, now in 2023 it’s just a mess everywhere you go. Homeless everywhere, prices are sky high reaching Van level. TTC crime was scary to hear about every day on the news?

I moved to the US to upstate NY(not even near NY City nor is the crime), and only last a few months before I moved back. I’ve also been to 70% of US States, and every time I’m nervous as everything is just so different and you don’t feel safe. \n\nYour streets are definitely different than ours, and quite dirty to say the least. \n\nI’d rather live on the streets of Toronto, then live in an State in the U.S. \n\nThe only State I’ve been too where I’ve felt a tad bit safe was Idaho, but even then, I was still uptight! \n\nCanada also has higher standards when it comes to hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, food, etc. \n\nI live bordering Buffalo, NY and am even scared to cross for a sports game or shopping, although It’s not that terrible over there. \n\nYour gun laws are scary, and although I have a license to carry here in Canada, the U.S. needs to be much more stricter and also not allow sales of them on every block! \n\nI have hundreds of friends in the US, and sometimes their wait times for appointments are much longer than mine, and I don’t have to claim bankruptcy afterwards.

I moved to Toronto 12 years ago, will be leaving permanently in 16 months, the main reason are the cold unfriendly rude people, I’ve lived in several places in the world and no where are they colder! Just my personal experience

Toronto resident here. Cost of living has become more expensive. I share an apartment with my someone and we are paying about $3,000 per month with few amenities. It requires both our incomes to be able to afford to live here and we're just getting by. I have lived in the core of the city since 2005 but was born and raised in the GTA and have never lived anywhere else. Since about 2015, costs have gone way up and now they are just plain unaffordable. I live close to Sherbourne and Queen and while I see a lot of homelessness, I do not really see much violence. The area south of Queen is much more gentrified and I am never walking in fear, no matter what time of day or night. The Transit system has been under construction for over a decade and it just doesn't seem to end. More and more historic buildings are being converted to condos and I see tons of construction everywhere. Traffic has become nightmarish with too many cars and not enough roads. We are considering a move to Montreal because of the rental costs are about $1000 per month lower, though neither of us is francophone. I am not sure how the powers that be will be addressing the housing crisis moving forward. It's a huge challenge and I may not be around to see the outcome. Having said this, it's going to be really tough to say goodbye to this city.

I'm Torontonian. I moved to Tucson, Az 9 years ago. Easily one of the best decisions I've ever made. Toronto is an absolute train wreck.

I was on a H1b visa from 2007 to 2013 (six year term, didn't apply for Green card, had to leave), came back on a L1A visa in 2017which ties you to a specific employer without any option of quitting, applied for Green card (L1A has a fast lane for gc) but before my priority date came my visa extension was denied and I was forced to leave.. I moved to Canada in 2020, event with Covid delays got my PR in 2022, bought a house in Toronto in 2022. Though I am making bit less than what I could have if in USA I am happy to pay my taxes to Canada.

You lived through the best time the city had too offer… you’re completely right… don’t move back… Toronto is dead. Trudeau killed it.

I lived in the US for 30 years. I hated every year, except for having my sons there. My American husband is a staunch NRA supporter. At the 30 year mark, when I gave him an ultimatum. I gave him 30 years down there, and the time had come where he needed to do 30 years in Canada. We've been in Canada for 6 years, and he doesn't ever want to go back.\nI feel for the new mothers, who only get 6 weeks maternity leave (8 weeks for C-Section).\nCanadian Mums get a full year. Nurturing your new baby is necessary for a well-balanced child. You can't bond in 6 weeks. \nYour health insurance is nuts. We paid $1500/mo. just for our family. Then you have a $5k deductible first! Just walking into the ER is $500 and THEN add on labs, x-rays, meds, etc. My son was in mental health treatment and our insurance capped mental health at $25k for life. \nThe biggest slap up my head, was when I found out I CAN'T collect my SSI. I paid a lot of taxes, since we made 6 figures/year. So, now I'm screwed, since they won't pay a former Permanent Resident. Had I been a citizen, I could get it. My husband is a PR in Canada, waiting to take his citizenship test. If he applies for SSI, he needs to go down to the States for 30 days and nights, annually. \nI'm from Toronto, born and raised and I am so happy to have my feet back in my own country. My boys are still there, as well as my grandchildren. Thankfully, they fly up twice a year. You couldn't pay me to move back.

As a Canadian I am actually going to set up a business that's taking advantage of America's horrible healthcare system. I actually wanted to move to the United States every since I was a teen ager. I went to the Detroit area and they failed me in nursing school. I found white Americans to be quite feral and maintain sadistic tendencies and arrogance as necessary cultural value. Regardless my life in Toronto, Canada has turned into nightmare and I still think America is a better place simply because you have more options and job opportunities. Would I prefer to live in the United States? The answer is YES!!

Hi Tyler, the guy that moved from Toronto to Seattle….of course the weather is better in Seattle, but I live on Vancouver Island and the weather here is comparable to Seattle and very different from the rest of Canada….love your videos ❤️

It's so interesting to see your viewpoint! Thank you for the insights! :) \n\nI live in Switzerland, and travel to Canada often, also Toronto twice. I love it there. I feel safe and seriously at home there, since well, Canada and especially larger cities are the safest place for the LGBT-community.\n... So still I want to move there, but let's see what my next visits bring :)

Toronto has a become crap hole and a dumpster fire at the same time. If you want to see previews of third world shit holes...move to Toronto.

Hi Alina, I can’t be more agree with you, another reason for not to move to Toronto is heavy traffic no matter what time of the day. So sad ?

The person who moved from Toronto to Seattle….the weather is better? You live in the Pacific Northwest…same as Vancouver BC! BC and Washington State have the same weather systems! It’s the exact opposite of Toronto! We are one of the highest minimum wages in Canada. Also….if you want ethnic foods Vancouver is the place to be. So many types it’s delightful! It’s like having the world in our own city. ❤️??

I live in Toronto and I am not rich. I am regular person. \nIf you are an immigrant and especially if you are considered from visible minority group aka not white, DO NOT leave Toronto at all ! Work hard and make it work for you. I am sure the majority people from your coutires in Canada are located in Toronto and its close cities. If you chose to live outside this multicultural heaven called Toronto then expect to deal with deep racism. Yes people in Canada are rasicst althogh it is not openly like USA.\nIf you are into education and you want to do your degree, move to Montreal. Tuition fees in Montreal are way more cheaper than in Toronto or other parts of Canada. I lived in Montreal before and I went to university there. Montreal is great for education, aba rent are cheaper than Toronto but not for living there if you are visible immigrant. You will never feel you belong down there. Where as in Toronto, you will feel you belong to it within 30 mins max of you arruval. Toronto's motto are : you belong here and we have been waiting for you.\n62%of people in Toronto weren't born in Canada. You will find your community from your country in Toronto and the people are well established. I have been in different cities in Canada and I always felt stranger, even cities as close as ashawa.\nIn conclusion I would say to the visible minority immigrants stay in Toronto as much as you can for work and if you want to study in university go to Montreal. There are two major English universities in Montreal :Concordia university and McGill university, where McGill is one of top 10 university in the world.\n\nFor you Alina, I understand what you are saying and you can go somewhere in Canada and try it out with no racial or inclusiveness issues. Good luck and I hope you will come back to us again one day and I am sure you will. You belong here and we will be expecting you to come. No matter what enjoy your life wherever you are, darling.

I too considered moving back for another 20 years but after spending a week back in Toronto I decided it no longer has what made it so great in the 90’s.

Alinachka thanks for the video and as a Ukrainian who called Toronto my home for almost 30 years of my adult life-four years ago I moved to South East Asia and happy, I have no regrets doing so and you just confirmed that for me.\nSlava Ukraine ??

Ya it’s sad. I lived in downtown Toronto for 20 years and loved it! I left 3 years ago and moved to Mexico. I don’t agree w much of what is going on in Canada right now. My friends and family are all still in Canada so it was a difficult move but it’s no longer the Canada I know. Very sad for sure :(

Waaaw waaaw waaaw it may not be for you but ridiculous to say Toronto is not the place to move..go to California. Most wannabe models and actors wait on tables

Love it here in Toronto, Im lucky though i dont pay crazy high rent even though im itching to move for some odd reason. Maybe because I know I cant be here forever, I live in an old building that wont last, isnt mine and will be forced to move out when soemoen else buys it, like I was at my previouse apartment, which is my only problem, all he condo development, basically kicking out poorer people, thats why rent is high, but they're going to have to live with no sun in the city when all those towers block it. That being said the areas is just so bueatiful, it feels like its nestled in a forest, then the lake, its a great spot. Got 4 the seasons, i hear ist the most diverse city in the world racially and its climate is just as diverse going from -30 some winters to well above +30 some summers and everything in between. That being said I am getting tired of the city life and looking for a change although i think Toronto has a lot more potential and is actually underrated right now and will just get better. Maybe not more cheaper, but hopefully politicians will wise up and stop selling out for short term profits for long term problems.

Toronto is a beautiful city but if you don't make a lot of money you can either live in studio apartments and hardly buy food to eat or end up homeless. Toronto is much more expensive than most american cities, it might be as expensive as New York City or a bit more. Canada is a truly gorgeous country but it is too expensive. The US is getting so expensive even in Texas,you feel like moving to another country too,in my case my country Panama. Makes you think when will the inflation stop and be controlled in Canada and in the US. We don't want all poor and middle class people to have no money and be left with nothing and end up homeless. Right now it is not a good idea to move to the U.S. or to Canada, just to visit for some months but living in those countries is crippling people's lives.?

The people that come here thinking it is some easy life with gold paved streets you have NO IDEA. My mom came here when me and my sister were still very young. We lived in a tiny town my mom worked at a cannery and motel cleaning rooms. She worked 5 jobs before she saved enough to move to Toronto. We lived in a shelter for mothers and children in Toronto. We finally settled in affordable housing (after long waitlist). Folks be warned, it is not an easy life. The climb is challenging- it is a climb out of a pit up a mountain. The country is beautiful and peaceful but life is not easy. You have to work very hard to make a decent life for yourself.

I moved in Toronto in 2015 and been living here since then. I was really happy to move here and became a resident and citizen. It was what I wanted for a long time. Now I can’t deny the fact that I’m not feeling in alignment with this city anymore. Hustle & bustle to cover your basic physiological needs get in the way of my peace and mental health. It has even become stronger after the shutdown. I’m currently planning my solo packaging trip to South East Asia and really considering moving out of Canada in the next year.

Speaking as a Toronto resident who rents in the city (and is thinking of moving out soon), I just don’t think you get the value that you pay for by living in Toronto. In addition to the concerning trends that this video mentions, the weather is crappy 8 months of the year, the transit system is one of the worst I’ve seen in a big city, you have to work a lot to sustain a good lifestyle, bars and restaurants here cost a ton of money and compared to other cities I’ve been to, I’ve found Toronto rather generic and not really unique in any way

Every big city has changed,but your video is so negative on Toronto. Why don’t you go and live in every other big city in North America and then give your opinion. Toronto is by far, no American city is even close ,to how safe Toronto is. The 5th biggest city in North America,almost 7,000,000,seven million people and almost no crime. It is the second safest city in the world,after Copenhagen in Denmark. \n Toronto is diverse,great job opportunities,great public transit,high standard of living,airport,food,arts,waterfront clean and beautiful,everything is world class and “FREE Healthcare”\n Yes,Toronto is expensive,but has innovative,high tech world class companies that attract intelligent hard working people. Everyone works. \n So if a person is unemployable,won’t work and can’t afford to live in Toronto,then don’t move there.