Country Guides December 1, 2020

Ultimate List of the Best Toronto Neighborhoods for US Expats

Blake Shaw

Bostonian and residential moving and packing expert. Blake Shaw enjoys bar-hopping, music, and writing insightful content.

Choosing between Toronto neighborhoods is a bittersweet task – there are numerous areas that will catch your eye, but you still have to decide for one among the best neighborhoods in Toronto. Since many newcomers have the same problem, we wanted to help and to give you a quick insight into amazing Toronto districts.

Back in 1998, someone would ask you What are the 6 areas of Toronto because then actually there were only six – Scarborough, Etobicoke, York, North York, East York, and Toronto. After the amalgamation, they became one city, greatly enlarged. Now, when you say that you’re living in Toronto, you can be in any of 140 neighborhoods, old or newer ones, which makes it even harder to decide.

How to Choose Among So Many Great Toronto Neighborhoods?

No matter if you’re deciding between specific neighborhoods or Toronto suburbs, you should first see what your priorities are. For example, if you’re worried about the cost of living in Canada, you should choose a cheaper area, since Toronto, Ontario, isn’t exactly the cheapest place to live in Canada. In case you’re looking for the best places to live abroad with family, you should pick a safe area with excellent schools nearby. Put your priorities on paper and see which one of the following communities fits your demands.

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Toronto Neighborhoods Have a Lot of Character

Moving to Toronto means coming to a multicultural metropolis with so much diversity and good vibes. Therefore, it’s very important to know the characteristics of the community you plan to live in after figuring out how to immigrate to Canada. There are so many places to grab a drink or to eat – numerous bars, cafes, breweries, restaurants, eateries, clubs, and parks will make your head spin. Choose wisely after reading the top picks in our guide.

aerial view of the city
There are thirteen areas in the city

What Is the Best Neighbourhood to Live in Toronto? We Would Say – Kensington Market & Chinatown

Kensington Market is an iconic community, widely known for its personality. It’s vibrant and unique, there are fun street festivals each year, and it has so much to offer to all of those who plan on moving to Canada and coming to this city. It’s one of the coolest communities for all of those who want to experience what Toronto truly is. There are plenty of new and old bars, restaurants, and shops.

Just south of the Kensington Market is Chinatown, a fantastic place with Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Thai cuisines and products. Take a look at the video and enjoy the colors in this incredible community.

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If You’re Coming With Family, Choose Riverdale

One of the safest, yet not boring areas. Riverdale is for all of those who want to be a little bit further from downtown, but not too much. It’s only a few blocks from Lake Ontario, there are plenty of parks, and peace and quiet, if that’s what you’re looking for. If not, you can always go to lounges, coffee shops, patisseries, and stores. There are also excellent schools nearby, so this could easily be one of the best places to live abroad with kids. Moving to Canada with pets, especially moving with dogs here, is also an excellent idea – the area is very walkable, and there are big lawns for walking your pup.

toronto canada
Green spaces are plentiful in this part of town

West Queen West Is Perfect for Singles

If you are moving abroad alone to experience Toronto’s amazing lifestyle and to explore one of the best places to live in Canada, then welcome to WQW. It already had the title of the top neighborhood in 2016, and people love it still. It’s full of street art, galleries, design studios, and live music venues, so it’s also the answer to where do hipsters live in Toronto. There’s always something to do and some new place to visit.

Don’t miss visiting Trinity Bellwoods Park in West Queen

If you opt for living overseas and get international moving services to WQW, this amazing public park will become your favorite thing and the main location where you can relax. It’s also great for outdoor activities and picnics, while cherry blossoms make this park even lovelier.

cherry tree blossom
A lot of people come here to take pictures when the cherry trees blossom

Young Professionals Should Try the Financial District

A busy community full of tall buildings, corporate offices, amazing restaurants, and hotels sounds perfect for someone who’s hiring an international moving company in order to move for a job. It’s also quiet during the weekend so you’ll get to have a good night’s sleep after a hard day, without hearing any noise from the streets.

This Will Probably Be the Location of Your Work, So You’ll Be Getting There Easily

If you have prepared your relocation questions to ask the employer and you’re looking for corporate jobs in Canada, the chances are that your office will be in the Financial District. This will save you a lot of time and money you would otherwise spend on commuting. This way, you’re at work after a short walk or a bike ride.

Liberty Village and Entertainment District are Great Options as Well

These are also good suggestions for a young professional because they’re chic, with lots of cafes and bars, and plenty of stuff to do. Liberty Village and Entertainment District are where a lot of young people live and choose to stay, so after learning how to keep in touch with friends from the place you used to live in, you’ll easily find new ones.

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Where Should I Not Live in Toronto?

Even though the Toronto cost of living is high, you shouldn’t live in the areas that have suspiciously low rents. We know that it’s tempting and that you’ll pay for moving abroadpacking servicescustom crating of your expensive items, or even corporate moving services, but try to resist and to avoid the following areas:

  • Jane and Finch in North York,
  • Lawrence and Morningside in Scarborough,
  • Crescent Town,
  • Kingston and Galloway St, Scarborough,
  • Victoria Park area.
woman making a call
Ask around to get relevant info about which neighbourhoods aren’t safe

A Few More Tips for Moving Overseas

When hiring an overseas shipping company, see if their truck can come close enough to your future home. If there’s a need, book a parking spot and an elevator for all the items you’re moving internationally. Don’t forget your documents needed to travel abroad, and think through what to pack when moving abroad. A good overseas moving company will help you with all the dilemmas about how to move abroad to one of the friendliest countries in the world. Ask them whether they provide free storage and book overseas vehicle shipping if you decide that you need a car here.

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