Ottawa vs Toronto - Where Should You Live?
Summary
TLDRThis video compares Ottawa and Toronto, two major Canadian cities, across various aspects. It discusses employment opportunities, with Toronto's business and financial hubs giving it an edge. Real estate is more affordable in Ottawa, which also boasts a better commute and lower crime rates. Both cities offer diverse cultures and entertainment, with Toronto being a shopping and healthcare hub. Education is a tie due to the specialized institutions in both. The video concludes that the choice between these cities depends on personal preference for lifestyle and career opportunities.
Takeaways
- ๐ Ottawa often ranks highly in city rankings for quality of life and cost of living.
- ๐ Toronto is recognized as Canada's business and financial capital, offering a wide range of employment opportunities.
- ๐ Ottawa has a lower median real estate cost compared to Toronto and a history of steady growth.
- ๐ Toronto boasts an extensive and efficient public transit system, but it can be plagued by long commute times.
- ๐ Ottawa's newer Light Rail Transit (LRT) system provides reliable service with shorter commute times.
- ๐ Toronto ranks 39th in crime severity index among 237 Canadian cities, making it safer than Ottawa, which ranks 107th.
- โ๏ธ Toronto experiences more moderate weather with less snow compared to Ottawa's harsh winters.
- ๐ญ Both Ottawa and Toronto offer rich cultural scenes, with Ottawa being the nation's capital and Toronto being a hub for major events.
- ๐ Toronto has a more diverse shopping scene due to its larger size and central location in Canada.
- ๐ฅ Healthcare in both cities is comparable, with state-of-the-art facilities and a range of private practices available.
- ๐ Education opportunities are abundant in both cities, with each offering specialized programs and institutions to suit various career paths.
Q & A
Which city is often ranked at the top for quality of life and cost of living?
-Ottawa is most of the time at the top of many city rankings, if not number one for the quality of life and cost of living.
What is Toronto known for in terms of business and finance?
-Toronto is seen as a central location for anything and everything that happens in Canada, and it is the business and financial capital of Canada with a hub that covers almost every industry.
What are the main employment sectors in Ottawa?
-Ottawa's employment sectors include the federal government, hospitals, education, high tech, educational institutions, diplomatic affairs, and non-government entities.
What is the current median cost of a home in Toronto?
-The median cost of a home in Toronto is currently $989,000.
What is the difference in land transfer tax between Toronto and Ottawa when purchasing a home?
-In Toronto, there is a double land transfer tax (provincial and municipal) when purchasing a home, whereas in Ottawa, there is only the provincial land transfer tax with no municipal tax.
How does Ottawa's public transit system compare to Toronto's in terms of efficiency and reliability?
-Ottawa's public transit system, with its new LRT stations and OC Transpo, provides a reliable and timely service. It is considered efficient for commuting within the city and suburbs.
Which city has a higher crime severity index, Toronto or Ottawa?
-Toronto has a higher crime severity index, ranking 39th out of 237 cities, towns, and communities across Canada, while Ottawa is ranked 107th, indicating it is a safer area.
What are the weather conditions like in Toronto compared to Ottawa?
-Toronto experiences a decent amount of snow in winter with a beautiful summer and fall, while Ottawa has a good amount of snow in winter, sometimes up to five to seven feet, but also offers winter festivals and activities.
How does the entertainment and cultural scene in Toronto compare to that of Ottawa?
-Toronto is a hub of entertainment, events, and culture with many major shows and sporting events, while Ottawa, being the nation's capital, has numerous national museums and festivals throughout the year, making it a tie in terms of arts, culture, and entertainment.
Which city offers more shopping options, and why?
-Toronto offers more shopping options due to its sheer size and density, with a variety of boutique shops and brands that may not be available in Ottawa.
How do the healthcare facilities in Ottawa and Toronto compare?
-Both Ottawa and Toronto offer state-of-the-art medical facilities. Toronto has a higher density of hospitals and medical facilities due to its larger population, while Ottawa provides comparable healthcare services for its population size.
What are some of the educational institutions found in Toronto and Ottawa?
-Toronto is home to the University of Toronto, Ryerson University, OCAD for design, York University, Humber College, among others. Ottawa has the University of Ottawa, Carleton University, Algonquin College, and a few others, offering specialization in various fields.
Outlines
๐๏ธ Urban Showdown: Ottawa vs. Toronto
This video compares the two major Canadian cities, Ottawa and Toronto, across various aspects to help viewers decide where they should live. Ottawa is often ranked highly for quality of life and cost of living, while Toronto is known as the central hub for business and entertainment in Canada. The video outlines the differences in employment opportunities, real estate costs, commuting experiences, crime rates, weather, arts and culture, shopping, healthcare, and education between the two cities, aiming to provide a comprehensive guide for potential residents.
๐ก Housing and Lifestyle Comparison
The script discusses the real estate market in Ottawa and Toronto, highlighting Toronto's high median housing cost and potential real estate bubble, along with the additional land transfer taxes. In contrast, Ottawa has a growing market with a six-year history of year-over-year increases and no municipal land transfer tax. The video also compares the commuting experiences, with Toronto's extensive but congested public transit system and Ottawa's newer, efficient, and less congested transit options. The crime rates are also compared, with Ottawa ranking as a safer city based on the Crime Severity Index. The video concludes that Ottawa is the winner in these categories due to its more affordable housing, better commuting experience, and lower crime rates.
โ๏ธ Weather and Cultural Experiences
The video script contrasts the weather conditions in both cities, with Toronto experiencing moderate snowfall and cold wind chills, but also having beautiful summers and falls. Ottawa, on the other hand, has heavier snowfall but hosts winter festivals like Winterlude, making the cold season enjoyable. The script also covers the arts, culture, and entertainment scene, where Toronto is described as a hub with a variety of events and shows, while Ottawa, being the nation's capital, offers a rich cultural experience with national museums and festivals throughout the year. The video concludes that both cities have their unique charm in terms of weather and cultural experiences, making it a tie in this category.
๐ผ Employment and Education Opportunities
The final paragraph of the video script delves into employment opportunities, with Toronto being the business and financial capital of Canada, offering a vast array of industries and global company representations. Ottawa, while more niche, has a focus on federal government, healthcare, education, high-tech, and diplomatic sectors. The video also compares the education systems, with Toronto boasting a large number of universities and specializations, and Ottawa providing a more focused range of educational institutions. The video concludes that the choice between the two cities for employment and education depends on personal preference and the specific field of interest.
Mindmap
Keywords
๐กOttawa
๐กToronto
๐กEmployment
๐กReal Estate
๐กCommute and Transit
๐กCrime
๐กWeather
๐กArts, Culture, and Entertainment
๐กShopping
๐กHealthcare
๐กEducation
Highlights
Ottawa is often ranked highly for quality of life and cost of living.
Toronto is considered the central location for business and events in Canada.
Ottawa has a less dense population and is known for its green spaces and outdoor activities.
Toronto is a cosmopolitan city with a financial and entertainment hub.
Toronto is the business and financial capital of Canada, hosting many global companies.
Ottawa's employment sector is niche, focusing on government, healthcare, education, and NGOs.
Toronto's median real estate cost is significantly higher than Ottawa's.
Ottawa has a history of steady real estate growth with no municipal land transfer tax.
Toronto has an extensive and efficient public transit system.
Ottawa's new LRT system provides reliable service with shorter commute times.
Toronto ranks higher in crime severity index compared to Ottawa.
Ottawa is considered safer and a better place to raise a family.
Toronto experiences more moderate weather with less snow than Ottawa.
Both cities offer a variety of arts, culture, and entertainment options.
Toronto is a hub for shopping with a wide range of boutique shops and brands.
Both Ottawa and Toronto have state-of-the-art medical facilities.
Toronto is home to several renowned universities and educational institutions.
Ottawa also offers specialized education opportunities in various fields.
The choice between Ottawa and Toronto depends on personal preference for lifestyle and career.
Transcripts
in this video we're gonna look between
where you should live
ottawa versus toronto toronto versus
ottawa it's the battle of the two big
cities
it's old town versus the big smoke it's
the by town versus hog town
it's a capital versus the t dot it's the
613
versus the six but before we get into it
show real hit
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
ottawa is most of the time at the top of
many city rankings
if not number one for the quality of
life and cost of living
toronto is seen as a central location
for anything and
everything that happens in canada
ottawa's less dense population
gives it the old town nickname with a
rich history of focus of green space
and outdoor activities and cultural
influences whereas toronto's
cosmopolitan
big city feel financial capital and
fast-moving action with entertainment
and business
is very attractive
[Music]
so point number one employment toronto
is basically the business capital canada
all the global companies have
representation in toronto it's also the
financial capital of canada with a hub
with all these outlets
the market covers almost every industry
that you can think of it's a it's an
absolute giant
whereas ottawa is a bit more niche we
have a federal government hospitals
education high tech and educational as
well as diplomatic affairs
and ngo non-government entities
so the winner clearly for the employment
section is toronto
so point number two real estate
toronto's median cost right now is 989
thousand dollars
some people feel that there's a real
estate bubble taking place there
there's also a double land transfer tax
when you purchase a home in
toronto both are provincial and
municipal whereas in ottawa
you only have the provincial land
transfer tax there is no municipal when
you purchase
and ottawa also shows a six year history
of growth year over year
in fact every year goes up about three
to five percent and then every seven to
ten years you'll see a bit of a spike as
the economy
cycles through so the winner in this one
point number two is taken by
[Music]
ottawa
so point number three is commute and
transit between these two hubs
so toronto actually has one of the best
subway systems and transit systems in
all of canada
its system actually is connected quite
well to the suburbs and getting around
toronto
with the help of the go train the ttc
and up express
it is very efficient somewhat affordable
and it runs
all the time without any issues now a
big downfall of that is actually the
commuting time for toronto residents
that are trying to get the downtown
those commutes can actually be pretty
horrendous from what i understand
and i've talked to a few people that
live and work in toronto and it is a bit
of a daunting task
whereas in ottawa we have a brand new
lrt system now the system has
actually been implemented so we've
actually encountered some issues across
the board but they're actually getting
up to date with those
with brand new lrt stations and oc
transpo which is actually local provider
of the public transit system
runs all through ottawa into the suburbs
and it provides
fantastic timely reliable service as
well
now if you're commuting into the city in
terms of get past the highway there's
this natural green belt around ottawa
so coming in suburbs in the downtown can
be anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes
but that's a lot better than looking at
the commutes you'd actually have in
toronto so on this point
ottawa takes the cake because i hate to
commute
[Music]
so point number four is crime
when we're using the crime severity
index the csi
stats canada measure all police reported
crime which takes into consideration
both the volume
and the seriousness of offenses on that
scale
out of 237 cities toronto ranked number
39.
now these 237 cities are cities towns
and communities across canada and
specific to canada
other notables are vancouver which
showed up at 59th
montreal at 63rd halifax at 60
sudbury at 66 st john's newfoundland at
70
calgary at 71 gatineau at 77 kingston 94
london ontario at 100. ottawa was fairly
safe ranked at 107th
it's a very safe area very safe place to
raise your family
or to pursue a career and that's why
this point
ottawa takes it
so point number five is weather now
toronto does get a decent amount of snow
from throughout the winter months
but the wind chill is pretty uh
horrendous there when i've been there
but the summers are beautiful fall is
beautiful and it's a great spot
it's much much more moderate than what
you'd experience in ottawa
ottawa has a good amount of snow
throughout the winter we're talking
five to six to seven feet sometimes and
but we have winter festivals that
actually bring out
so you can actually enjoy the wintertime
such as winterlude and different
festivals
skating and different types of sports
now the fall time
frame is absolutely beautiful in ottawa
the trees change
colors the summer can be summer can be
very
humid and hot and the spring is just
beautiful and lively
but both cities offer some great weather
but the one that wins this one
it's toronto because it's much more
moderate with less snow
so point number six is arts culture and
entertainment
i'm sitting here with oscar peterson
over here at the national art center in
ottawa
absolutely beautiful area now toronto
offers so much entertainment it is the
hub of entertainment
events and culture fashion there's a lot
of stuff to do and all the major show is
actually going to toronto
and they have wonderful sporting events
as well and a lot of stuff that actually
wins for canada
will most likely be held in toronto
because of the sheer size and volume of
toronto
but ottawa is actually the nation's
capital so there's a lot of
infrastructure
for all the national museums all the
different events you could do throughout
the year
festivals in every season of the year
it's hard pressed in summer
not to actually see a festival that you
can actually enjoy in ottawa
in ottawa with all the national museums
such as the national gallery art
the national arts center that we have
here the museum
of war the museum of nature the museum
of science and technology
my personal favorite the deep bunker
museum so this one
it's a tie toronto ottawa they're tied
on this one because it really depends on
your choice
so point number seven is shopping
between ottawa and toronto
well this one's an easy one toronto has
an abundance of shopping
they have fantastic boutique shops
ottawa also has comparable stuff
but toronto just because of its sheer
size sheer density and being the center
of canada
they get some brands that we don't even
see here in ottawa
so shopping toronto takes this one
[Music]
so point number eight is healthcare both
ottawa and toronto offer
state-of-the-art medical facilities for
their populations
now the sheer density of toronto offers
so much abundance from hospitals and
medical facilities
but ottawa offers a very comparable to
the population that we have
and both have private practices as well
as dentists and doctors for families
it's just a matter of getting on those
wait lists and finding access to those
services
but both are very comparable so this one
it's a tie
ottawa toronto tied on this one
so point number nine education
in toronto you have the university of
toronto ryerson university
ocad for design york university humber
college
et cetera there's so much it's a massive
population and they have a lot of
educational institutions
with some wonderful specialization that
happens in toronto
now ottawa has university of ottawa
crown university algonquin college
plus a few others as well it doesn't
have as many universities as toronto
but also has a wonderful specialization
if you're looking for engineering or
journalism or design or
advertising there are so many
opportunities within ottawa and toronto
to get specialized
so this one it also comes down to
personal preference
and it's a tie
[Music]
so there you go ottawa versus toronto
and the score is in the tally is
three for ottawa three for toronto and
three ties
ultimately it comes down to your
personal preference the choices here are
so subjective
if your preference is for fast-paced
big-city life and fast career
then toronto is a great fit if you're
more of a slower pace
charming settings outdoor quality of
life stable economy and clean healthy
living then ottawa is a great fit we
love these cities and we love this
country
honestly we have so many people reaching
out to us who are relocating here to
ottawa or across canada
and we absolutely love helping them find
a new home if you're thinking about
making a relocation ottawa or toronto or
anywhere across canada
and myself and my team who are relocated
across canada can help your relocation
be
smooth feel free to reach out to us if
you have any questions
give us a call shoot us a text send us
an email even wrap it up in a bow and
send it first class
because we got your back we're moving to
ottawa or toronto
or across canada until next time take
care
and the wind chill can be pretty toxic
and we're sideways now
so point number five
[Music]
always on the phone making deals
like a realtor
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