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Are you thinking about moving to Canada’s Ontario province?
Ontario is the east-central province of Canada, sharing its borders with the United States. It is home to some of Canada’s most popular destinations including the metropolitan city of Toronto, the Niagara Falls, and Canada’s capital Ottawa.
There can be a number of reasons for moving to Ontario. You could move for employment opportunities, to pursue education in one of Canada’s finest universities, or simply to experience a new way of life with plenty outdoor activities.
However, moving to any new city or location involves a number of complications. As such, you need to be well-prepared to alleviate some of the stress you’re inevitably feeling.
In this article, we’ll give you a thorough overview of things to know and do when moving to Ontario.
The following are the most important administrative tasks you must handle as soon as you arrive in Ontario.
Where should I live in Ontario?
Ontario is the most populous province in all of Canada. That’s because people from all over the world flock to Ontario because of the cultural value of its big cities and its thriving economy. The following are the best cities to live in Ontario:
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The cost of living in Ontario varies greatly from one location to the next. For example, the average rental rate for a one-bedroom in Hamilton is $907 whereas the average rental rate for a one-bedroom in Toronto is $2,230.
To give you a general idea about the living cost in Ontario, here is the cost of living in Ottawa and Toronto.
Category | Ottawa | Toronto |
Housing Costs (cost of renting) | $1302 / Month For a 1-bedroom apartment | $1708 / Month For a 1-bedroom apartment |
Housing Utilities and Insurance | $155 / Month | $215 / Month |
Transportation | $122.50/Month (OC Transpo) | $156 / Month (TCC Pass) |
Car Insurance | $1528 | $1528 |
Entertainment | $200 | $230 |
Grocery Cost for 1 Person | $212.36 | $283.60 |
Communication (Phone and Internet) | $45 Unlimited talk, text, and data included | $80 Unlimited talk, text, and data included |
Health and Fitness | $55 for the membership | $55 for the membership |
Provincial Taxes | About 13% | About 13% |
In terms of income taxes, Ontario has a moderate provincial tax rate of 11.5%, in addition to the country-wide federal tax rate of 15%. Compared to this, other provinces like British Columbia, Quebec, and Nova Scotia have provincial tax rates of 11%, 11.8%, and 16% respectively.
In terms of sales tax, some provinces and territories are charged a Goods and Service Tax (GST), some are charged a Provincial Sales Tax (PST), and some are charged both. Ontario is one of Canada’s four provinces that’s charged a Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), which is a combination of both the GST and PST. Compared to the other provinces, Ontario is charged the lowest HST of 13% whereas the others are charged 15%.
Apartment rental has become pretty easy thanks to online platforms like RentBoard, RentCafé, Kijiji, and many others. In all of these platforms, you can filter your selections based on the type of property you want to rent, the neighborhood or city, and your budget. Plus, it is common practice on Ontario to hire a real estate broker to find your dream apartment, especially in the Great Toronto Area (GTA).
Too broke to get an apartment all to yourself? If so, you can also use a platform like Roomies where you can find listings from other individuals looking for a roommate to split the rent.
As mentioned above, the rentals vary depending on the city of your choice. Furthermore, the rents may be higher in some neighborhoods than others. You should base your decision on factors such as proximity to public transportation, distance from your work location, school, etc. Once you have signed your lease, don’t forget to take out a home insurance policy. Renter’s insurance covers your belongings (your TV, clothes, jewelry, etc.) and it is affordable. Take the time to get home and auto insurance quotes and compare coverage and prices available in Ontario.
As of April 30, 2018, all landlords in Ontario must use a standard lease template for their tenants. The lease has to include the following information:
You can also download the Residential Tenancy Agreement for your perusal.
Public Transit in Ontario is managed by the Ministry of Transportation. The municipal transit system is divided into Conventional and Specialized services. Conventional services are those that serve the public during fixed hours. Specialized services are those that provide door-to-door transportation to individuals with disabilities or those who are otherwise eligible.
There is still quite a bit of confusion regarding the availability of ridesharing platforms like Uber in different Ontario cities. Uber is primarily available in nine cities and territories including Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton, and a few others.
There are a number of electricity retailers and natural gas marketers in Ontario. However, before you select a retailer, you must ensure that they have a license issued by the Ontario Energy Board.
There are dozens of Internet Service Providers available across Ontario. Some of the most popular internet service providers in Ontario are Rogers, Bell, Cogeco, oxio or VMedia. To compare different rates, you can consult you MovingWaldo account to learn about the plans available at your new address.
Some of the most popular cell phone carriers in Ontario include Bell, Fido, and Freedom Mobile. You can select a suitable carrier and cell phone plan for yourself by comparing them at PlanHub.
How Much Is the Average Monthly Cost of a Utility Bill in Ontario?
Once you’ve settled into Ontario, you can put your tourist hat on and explore the following sights and attractions.
That brings us to the end of our guide. I hope this article has given you some clarity regarding moving to Ontario and how to enjoy a comfortable life there!
In Ontario, you must hire a Real Estate Lawyer when buying a house or condo and not a Notary. Typically, a Real Estate Lawyer will prepare property documents first; if you and the lawyer are in the same geographic area, you would sign the documents in front of the lawyer; otherwise, the lawyer will likely have you sign the documents in front of a Notary Public. Notary Publics will witness your signature, verify your identity, and administer oaths as necessary, but will not be the sole preparers of your property documents.
*Applicable to home buyers only
As of February 24th, 2022, the minimum wage in Ontario is $15 per hour.
The career opportunities in Ontario are great. Canada’s population is aging, which means that the demand for workers continues to increase as the years go by. Ontario is not immune to this labour shortage, which means that the province is in high demand for skilled workers.
With its University of Toronto ranked number one in Canada and plenty of other universities, you can be sure that quality of education is present in Ontario.
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If you’re coming close to retirement age, you might be thinking about where exactly you want to downsize and retire. People live near or in major cities because of their jobs. Upon retirement, you are not
Share on facebook Share on google Share on twitter Share on linkedin How to change my address on my voter registration in Canada? Government agencies in charge of federal and provincial elections require you to register
Elections Ontario is the non-partisan office of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario responsible of running provincial elections and referenda in Ontario. It is important to change your address on your voter registration when you move to make sure your personal information is updated in Elections Ontario’s database, as well as ensuring you receive a ballot during provincial elections.
Ontario is known for its natural diversity, including beautiful provincial parks, vast forests, and four of the five Great Lakes. Being Canada’s second-largest province, Ontario offers a vibrant but slightly expensive real estate market compared with
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When moving out of an apartment or moving into a new one, it is imperative to notify your energy provider. Your energy provider supplies your home with electricity, hot water and/or heating–and we all know how important heating is during those cold winter months! This article will guide you through the different ways you can change your address with the largest energy providers found in Ontario.
Easily compare multiple quotes
Guided through a checklist
Get up to speed on the new deals
Update your address in a few clicks
Become a trusted vendor in your service area
MovingWaldo is a one-stop-shop that simplifies tackling moving tasks
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We guide millions of families through each step of their moving process, helping them save time and money, and making sure nothing gets left behind.
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