Ontario · Study destination

Study in Toronto

Canada's largest city — finance, tech, film, and multicultural hub

Last reviewed: 2025-08. Cost figures are dated — verify on official sources before making housing or budget decisions.

Population

2.93M (city) / 6.7M (metro)

1-br rent

$2,180/month

CMHC 2024

Transit pass

$156/month (TTC)

Institutions

About Toronto

Toronto is Canada's largest city and a global financial centre. Its university cluster — including U of T, York, TMU, and OCAD U — is the densest in the country. The city's diverse economy spans finance, technology, film production, and health sciences. It is consistently ranked among the most liveable large cities globally.

Typical student costs

Average 1-bedroom rent	$2,180/month	CMHC Rental Market Report 2024
Monthly transit pass	$156/month (TTC)	Published 2025 fare
Avg. international tuition	$31,000–$48,000/yr	Local institutions 2024–25

Figures are dated. Verify current rents on rentals.ca or CMHC reports. Food, textbooks, health insurance, and incidentals are not included and vary significantly. Do not use these figures as budget inputs without independent verification.

Student housing context

Toronto has one of Canada's highest rental markets. Undergraduate students typically consider the Annex, Kensington Market, Scarborough, and North York for affordable options relative to the core. Building near major transit lines (TTC subway, GO Rail) significantly reduces commute times to campuses. Rental vacancy is low — plan at least three months ahead for September arrivals.

The Annex / Bloor

~CAD 2,100–2,500/mo

Walking distance to U of T St. George campus. High walkability, amenity-dense. Higher rents but zero commute.

→ Transit: Walk to U of T; subway Bloor–Yonge nearby

Scarborough / UTSC area

~CAD 1,600–2,000/mo

Significantly lower rents. UTSC campus is in Scarborough. TTC buses and GO train access to downtown. Long commute to U of T downtown and Ryerson.

→ Transit: UTSC Busway (UTSC campus); SRT discontinued — bus bridge to Kennedy subway

North York (York University area)

~CAD 1,700–2,100/mo

Viable for students at York University. TTC subway line opened 2023. Suburban character, lower rents than core.

→ Transit: TTC Line 1 extension to Finch West station (York U campus stop opened 2023)

Mississauga / Brampton

~CAD 1,500–1,900/mo

Affordable but long commutes unless attending UTM (Mississauga campus). GO Transit connects to downtown Toronto. Not ideal for daily downtown trips.

→ Transit: MiWay local; GO Transit to Union Station (40–60 min)

Rent ranges are approximate and based on public listings at time of review. Markets shift seasonally — always verify directly with landlords. Vianorr does not connect students with specific housing listings or landlords.

Getting around

Transit modes

→TTC subway (4 lines)
→TTC bus and streetcar network
→GO Transit (regional rail to GTA suburbs)
→UP Express (Union Station to Pearson Airport — 25 min)

Airport and long-distance access

Toronto Pearson International (YYZ): UP Express train from Union Station — 25 minutes, CAD 12.35 single. Billy Bishop City Airport (YTZ): downtown ferry and Porters. Most students arrive at Pearson.

Climate

Cold winters (−5 to −15°C), warm humid summers (25–30°C). Four distinct seasons.

Canada's winters vary significantly by province. Students from warm climates should budget for winter clothing (CAD 200–500 for a good coat, boots, and accessories) and factor heating costs into housing budgets.

Languages

English

Toronto has large established communities in Mandarin, Cantonese, Hindi, Punjabi, Tagalog, Tamil, Spanish, and Portuguese. Multilingual services available in most city departments.

Major industries and employers

Financial services (Bay Street — Canada's largest finance cluster)Technology (MaRS Discovery District, Shopify Toronto, Google, Microsoft)Life sciences and biotech (MaRS corridor, SickKids adjacency)Media and entertainmentArchitecture and constructionEducation and healthcare

Notable employers

RBCTD BankShopifyGoogleMicrosoftCIBCScotiabankSun Life

Co-op and employer context

Toronto is the primary co-op and internship market for Ontario university students. Engineering, CS, and business programs at U of T, Waterloo, and Ryerson (TMU) have established employer relationships. Competition for Toronto positions is higher than smaller markets — students from universities outside Toronto should be aware that some companies prioritize on-campus recruitment. PGWP-eligible students can work during co-op terms under the study permit without a separate work permit; verify with IRCC for your specific program structure.

Student life

→Bay Street financial district
→MaRS Discovery District
→Distillery Historic District
→CN Tower
→Toronto Islands
→PATH underground network

For cultural and recreational context — restaurants, parks, activities, and city life — see the City guides →

Accessibility resources

→City of Toronto accessibility services — toronto.ca/accessibility
→TTC Wheel-Trans paratransit service for mobility-impaired riders
→U of T Accessibility Services — Robarts Library accessible entrance; captioning and note-taking support
→CAMH and Toronto Western Hospital — accessible mental health services

TTC system accessibility varies significantly by station — some older subway stations lack elevator access. Check TTC's accessibility map before assuming a route is accessible.

Sources and last reviewed

Section	Source	Reviewed
Population	Statistics Canada Census of Population 2021; CMHC Rental Market Report 2024	2024-01-01
Rent figures	CMHC Rental Market Report 2024	2024
Transit pass cost	Published transit authority fares	2025
International tuition avg.	Local institution fee schedules 2024–25	2024-09
Neighbourhood rents	Public listings at time of review — approximate	2025-08
Employer list	Vianorr editorial — publicly documented employers	2025-08

See something incorrect? Submit a data correction →

Institutions in Toronto

All schools →

Find an adviser for Toronto

Screened advisers who know Toronto schools — fee model shown before you contact.

Find an adviser →

About the content on this page

→ Cost figures are dated — verify before budgeting
→ No safety rankings or comparisons to other cities
→ No employment rate claims
→ Scenic and tourism content: see the City guides →

Data provenance

Population: Statistics Canada Census of Population 2021

Rent: CMHC Rental Market Report 2024

Effective: 2024-01-01

Full sources registry →