Where to settle in Toronto? And what are prices?
Nov 20th 2014, 6:01 pm
#16
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Location: Ontario
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Re: Where to settle in Toronto? And what are prices?
In that sense I would assume that our priority would be to find someting that ot be close to the financial district/Union St in terms of distance, but maybe a place that is close to a GO Station or Subway station on a line that would lead him directly to Union St. (which would save a lot of time when commuting...)
But are there such areas in Toronto - or am I being totally unrealistic?
But are there such areas in Toronto - or am I being totally unrealistic?
Cabbagetown. Walk to work, walk to the zoo, accept that it's both rich and poor.
Beach. Accept that the commute will be more than half an hour.
Last edited by dbd33; Nov 20th 2014 at 6:05 pm.
Nov 20th 2014, 6:25 pm
#17
Professional Cat herder
Joined: Apr 2007
Location: TORONTO- yay!!!
Posts: 5,707
Re: Where to settle in Toronto? And what are prices?
my general rule for commuting within Toronto is that routes involving two forms of transit are fine. Three forms gets horrendous.
My streetcar - subway commute at the moment works fine.
bus subway is doable.
When I had to do street car - subway- bus . that's a problem.
My streetcar - subway commute at the moment works fine.
bus subway is doable.
When I had to do street car - subway- bus . that's a problem.
Nov 20th 2014, 6:29 pm
#18
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Re: Where to settle in Toronto? And what are prices?
Don't discount the suburbs, as they do offer exactly what you are looking for in terms of lifestyle. We are in Oakville (West of Toronto), for the salary you quote you could rent in the nicer bits, with the good schools and larger plots etc. I commuted downtown for nearly 5 years, 7 min drive to station, 1 min walk through parking lot timed to arrive as train pulled up, 30 min train ride and then 20 min walk, for a total of 1 hour from shutting house door, to logging on at the office. My husband still does the same commute, but he does it faster as he times his arrival on the platform just as they are closing the doors. He gets a faster train (20 mins, but no seats) and runs to the office.
Nov 20th 2014, 7:21 pm
#19
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Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Ontario, Canada
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Re: Where to settle in Toronto? And what are prices?
Don't discount the suburbs, as they do offer exactly what you are looking for in terms of lifestyle. We are in Oakville (West of Toronto), for the salary you quote you could rent in the nicer bits, with the good schools and larger plots etc. I commuted downtown for nearly 5 years, 7 min drive to station, 1 min walk through parking lot timed to arrive as train pulled up, 30 min train ride and then 20 min walk, for a total of 1 hour from shutting house door, to logging on at the office. .
I know folks that commute into the city from Richmond Hill, Thornhill, Newmarket, Stouffville, Bradford or Barrie
example from Bradford
http://www.gotransit.com/publicroot/...Board/BDGO.pdf
Nov 20th 2014, 7:26 pm
#20
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Re: Where to settle in Toronto? And what are prices?
I expect that my husband will do the commuting by train or subway so that I will be able to get around by car.
In that sense I would assume that our priority would be to find someting that ot be close to the financial district/Union St in terms of distance, but maybe a place that is close to a GO Station or Subway station on a line that would lead him directly to Union St. (which would save a lot of time when commuting...)
But are there such areas in Toronto - or am I being totally unrealistic?
Nov 20th 2014, 7:27 pm
#21
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Re: Where to settle in Toronto? And what are prices?
Nov 20th 2014, 7:45 pm
#22
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Re: Where to settle in Toronto? And what are prices?
Oh thanks all, this is just great. Very very helpful for me!
He has been told by someone who should know that he should expect to be offered an annual pay of CAD 250-275,000 before deduction of taxes.
Taking into consideration that I would probably not be able to work, at least not in the beginning, this still seems like an amount that should set us up nicely, even taking into consideration that we will be going from 2 salaries to 1. I assume, though that it will not set us up "anywhere", if we still would like to have financial freedom to "do stuff" (cool vacations etc). whenever my husband has time off work.
We do not plan to buy property in the beginning - at least for the first couple of years until we have decided whether to make the placement permanent, so we are looking at rentals.
He has been told by someone who should know that he should expect to be offered an annual pay of CAD 250-275,000 before deduction of taxes.
Taking into consideration that I would probably not be able to work, at least not in the beginning, this still seems like an amount that should set us up nicely, even taking into consideration that we will be going from 2 salaries to 1. I assume, though that it will not set us up "anywhere", if we still would like to have financial freedom to "do stuff" (cool vacations etc). whenever my husband has time off work.
We do not plan to buy property in the beginning - at least for the first couple of years until we have decided whether to make the placement permanent, so we are looking at rentals.
Take home pay: $10,000 - $12,000/mth
Apartment rental: $2500/mth unfurnished 3+ bedroom apartment (Toronto Area T5 or T6 in the link below)
http://www.viewit.ca/vwListings.aspx?cs=1&city=Toronto
Utilities, Phones, Internet: $300/mth
Groceries: $700/mth
Travel/transit, Entertainment, Dining/eating out: $1000/mth
All Insurance: $500/mth
All other expenses: $1000/mth add to or increase or decrease as necessary
Income $10,000 to $12,000/mth - expenses $6000 = cash flow $4000 to $6000/mth
What budget have you anticipated?
Last edited by not2old; Nov 20th 2014 at 8:56 pm. Reason: added further information
Nov 20th 2014, 8:19 pm
#23
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Re: Where to settle in Toronto? And what are prices?
If you decide on a suburb, pick one on the Lakeshore Line as the Lakeshore GO trains run much more frequently than the other lines.
Nov 20th 2014, 8:54 pm
#24
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Re: Where to settle in Toronto? And what are prices?
Nov 20th 2014, 9:58 pm
#25
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Re: Where to settle in Toronto? And what are prices?
Tax Take Home Pay Calculator for 2014.xls
Nov 21st 2014, 12:23 am
#26
Muskoka, Ontario
Joined: Aug 2013
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Re: Where to settle in Toronto? And what are prices?
I did a thread recently if you search .... how much do you spend? You should get a good idea about monthly costs.
Not2old...five people for $700 a month?
I think you could easily add another $500..
Not2old...five people for $700 a month?
I think you could easily add another $500..
Nov 21st 2014, 12:40 am
#27
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Re: Where to settle in Toronto? And what are prices?
Cabbagetown - love it myself, shortest commute, but the schools in the immediate area are dreadful.
Beach - agreed on the commute, people also tell me the schools are middling.
Nov 21st 2014, 1:02 am
#28
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Re: Where to settle in Toronto? And what are prices?
Otherwise, ib program, cramming classes for the US SATs, hookers on the doorstep at dawn, a stone's throw from Filmore's, a very educational establishment in every sense.
Nov 21st 2014, 9:44 am
#29
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Re: Where to settle in Toronto? And what are prices?
Good info your thread "How much do you spend" - from your post # 7
http://britishexpats.com/forum/maple...-spend-845708/
Ok so I'm thinking we're not that bad then...
No cable, internet costs $50
Food shopping $200 a week for a family of 4 although have been entertaining at home so probably spending a $100 on a weekend on that.
LCBO spending dropped substantially since pregnant
Cars $1100 Sure this is where we differ from UK, just don't know how to make it cheaper yet.
Property tax $350 a month it works out, but not really doing that monthly.
Hydro $150 at present.
Last propane was $300 since June.
Mobiles $160 ? Too much for two? Only phones we have..plus I just upgraded!
Gas for two cars... $300.
Mortgage.....on par with UK when we were overpaying.
We used to save regularly for kids and policy in UK- not really happening here.
No cable, internet costs $50
Food shopping $200 a week for a family of 4 although have been entertaining at home so probably spending a $100 on a weekend on that.
LCBO spending dropped substantially since pregnant
Cars $1100 Sure this is where we differ from UK, just don't know how to make it cheaper yet.
Property tax $350 a month it works out, but not really doing that monthly.
Hydro $150 at present.
Last propane was $300 since June.
Mobiles $160 ? Too much for two? Only phones we have..plus I just upgraded!
Gas for two cars... $300.
Mortgage.....on par with UK when we were overpaying.
We used to save regularly for kids and policy in UK- not really happening here.
Nov 21st 2014, 9:38 pm
#30
Proudly Scarberian
Joined: Aug 2014
Location: Scarberia
Posts: 2,196
Re: Where to settle in Toronto? And what are prices?
In that sense I would assume that our priority would be to find someting that ot be close to the financial district/Union St in terms of distance, but maybe a place that is close to a GO Station or Subway station on a line that would lead him directly to Union St. (which would save a lot of time when commuting...)
But are there such areas in Toronto - or am I being totally unrealistic?
But are there such areas in Toronto - or am I being totally unrealistic?
If you decide on a suburb, pick one on the Lakeshore Line as the Lakeshore GO trains run much more frequently than the other lines.
Having said that looking at your budget I'm thinking Oakville.
I've had friends with young kids who've done the downtown condo thing but they were continental Europeans used to family life in a tiny flat. I think Brits would sooner go for a nice suburb as long as it has a decent, direct commute.