I’ve been in Canada since July on a Working Holiday Visa.
In our media, Canada is always portrayed as a dream country. Yes of course, it’s beautiful here (Rockies, nature) but it also has a lot of downsides.
The quality of food is incomparable to my home country and the food prices are even higher here.
I thought rent prices back home were high, but here (except for small towns on the prairie), you have to share an apartment with 3 people and still pay the same amount as getting a 2-bedroom apartment alone back home.
Then 5 weeks of paid vacation + 11 paid holidays (weekends are generally free, there is no business open at Sundays), when you’re sick, you’re sick, but you still get paid.
Canadians are polite that is true, but what I’ve noticed is that people often make false promises just to be nice.
Making friends here as a foreigner is challenging and perhaps I’m homesick being on the other side of the world.
I’m considering abandoning everything and flying back home. While at first it was really nice here (especially the traveling in the summer), the drawbacks are becoming apparent.
Additionally, my education isn’t recognized here and honestly I don’t want to work at Tim Hortons or Walmart just to „survive“ and with much lower QOL than in Europe.
But on the other hand, I’m afraid of missing out if I fly back home now.
Idk what i should do :(
Any suggestions?
100% this. Here is a similar post about Toronto that I made 6 months ago
I was in Toronto end of 2021 for a couple months and it’s probably one of the most expensive cities I have ever been in North America, even though I lived in New York. Prices must be even much crazier now given the double digit inflation that has hit Canada since 2021.
First of all, there is a huge housing problem with skyrocketing rents and purchasing prices. Some people say it is one of the largest real estate bubble market in the world at the moment. I don’t plan in entering a debate but the reality is that you will struggle to find a decent place to rent or buy (you are competing against dozens of others applicants as a potential buyer or renter). From what I have heard this is due to the immigration volume, population concentration in the area, and a weak construction projects pipeline.
Then, the CAD is about 36% weaker than USD, and about 42% weaker than the EUR which might dramatically jeopardise your financial future by slashing your savings capabilities as well as your purchasing power whenever you travel or settle back outside Canada (including back home in Europe).
Thirdly, the food scene is genuinely one of the worst I have ever seen. Terrible options, very unhealthy, no fresh vegetables (even worse than in the US), even the expensive European options are subpar compared to the low end restaurants you find in Western Europe. Besides, it is incredibly expensive. I felt that I was paying even less in NYC and the food in NYC while not incredible was still miles ahead. I was extremely disappointed by the food in Toronto.
Moreover, the weather is terrible more than half of the year. Incredibly cold and dry too during winter. Houses and apartments are also poorly insulated therefore expect to pay a LOT of money towards your energy bills, especially in today’s economic situation.
Lastly the social environment is slightly awkward. High homelessness and drug use (meth, crack, PCP) in many parts of downtown Toronto, its main streets and public parks. Obviously, tt will get worse and worse given the current economic situation, alongside inflation in the food, energy and housing sectors. Oh, telecommunications bills are also among the highest in the world (home internet, cellphone plans). If you do not trust me google it and you will realise you will need to plunge at least 150 or 200 $ per month on this alone.
Of course, it’s not all negatives. The people in Toronto are very nice (Canadians are truly nice people. Also, lot of immigration seeking a better life, lots of interesting people everywhere) but at the same time this city looks a bit dull and soulless because of the lack of culture and authenticity. If you are into techno/EDM, this scene in Toronto is to me the best in the world.
If you have any other questions, please shoot. This is purely based on my limited 2 month experience in the city.
What shocked me about Toronto is how run down it looks. It’s supposed to be Canadas international city, but it’s just fucking embarrassing. Also it STINKS… it felt like I was in some third world city like Delhi with all the garbage and raw sewage smells. I genuinely don’t understand how Canadians can live like that.
It’s things like this that make me realise it’s not just me, Canadians are just like a messy person who is content to live in squalor. It’s never getting better. If not even the primate city can be good, what hope does the rest of it have?
I feel sorry for people because while it’s a majority problem I also know a lot of Canadians who hate it too and wish they could get out. There’s the lucky ones like Not Just Bikes who managed to escape to the Netherlands but for most people they just have to deal with rampant incompetence, poorly designed infrastructure, bad food, and a trickle-up economy.