Toronto’s high housing costs may be pushing newcomers out. Are you one of them?
The number of immigrants who choose to stay in Toronto five years after getting here is declining, Statistics Canada says, and one of the possible reasons why will likely not come as a surprise to most.
In a report released last month, the federal agency said it is seeing a “downward trend” in the five-year retention rate of immigrants in the country’s top three urban centres: Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.
In Toronto, the percentage of immigrants who settled in the city in 2023 after arriving five years earlier was 78.3 per cent, marking an eight per cent decrease from the cohort that arrived in 2013.
The drop-off was less pronounced, but still felt, over the same period of time in Montreal and Vancouver, where retention rates decreased by 5.3 points to 72.3 per cent and 3.9 points to 83.4 per cent, respectively.
StatCan says most of the newcomers who touched down in Toronto in 2017 later moved to nearby cities, like Oshawa and Hamilton. In other areas outside the Greater Toronto Area, including Windsor, Kitchener, and London, the percentage of immigrants who stayed five years after arriving actually increased.
So why aren’t some immigrants planting roots in Toronto after they arrive? Statistics Canada says the high cost of housing in the city may be a factor.
“The increasing proportion of immigrants moving outside the largest urban centres partly mirrors a shift observed among all Canadians: higher housing costs…” the national agency said in its report, noting the flexibility to work remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic may have also influenced retention rates in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.
As of November 2024, the average price of a home in the Greater Toronto Area sat at just above $1.1 million, according to the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB). The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment during Q3 of that year was $2,499.
For context, in Windsor, the Canadian Real Estate Association notes that the average price of a home sold in November was just over $575,000. The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in October was roughly $1,100, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
Are you a recent immigrant to Canada who has left Toronto due to the high housing costs? How long did you stay in the city before you moved? Where do you call home now? CTV News Toronto wants to hear from you.
Share your story by emailing us at torontonews@bellmedia.ca with your name, general location and phone number in case we want to follow up. Your comments may be used in a CTV News Toronto story.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
LIVE UPDATES Here's the latest on the most destructive fire in L.A. County history
A series of wildfires are tearing through densely populated parts of the Los Angeles, Calif. area. Five people have been reported dead. About 130,000 have been asked to evacuate. Nearly 2,000 homes and other buildings have been destroyed after the fires charred about 108 square kilometres.
'True when I said it, true today': former Canadian PM Harper pushes back against Trump on social media
Former prime minister Stephen Harper doesn’t find U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s jibes about Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state very amusing.
NEW Tipping guide to Canada: When, where and how much to tip for restaurants, taxis and more
CTVNews.ca has created an entirely unofficial guide to tipping in Canada to help visitors, newcomers and curious Canadians navigate the shifting social norms of when, where and how much to tip.
Cape Breton police ask for public's help in finding Justin MacDonald's remains
Police in Cape Breton are asking for the public’s help in finding the remains of a missing man they believe was murdered.
How to apply for the U.K. ETA: A Guide for Canadian travellers
Starting Jan. 8, Canadians visiting the U.K. for short trips will need to secure an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before boarding their flight, according to regulations set out by the U.K. government.
Billy Crystal, Paris Hilton among celebrities whose homes were destroyed in L.A. wildfires
Paris Hilton, Adam Brody and Billy Crystal were among the celebrities who lost their homes in the devastating wildfires that swept through Los Angeles.
Canada could impose tariffs on U.S. steel, orange juice in response to Trump threat
Canadian officials are narrowing a list of American products to target in the event the federal government must respond to U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods, CTV News has confirmed.
Quebec energy deal touted as new chapter for Newfoundland and Labrador heads for vote
A draft energy deal with Quebec heralded as a game-changer for indebted Newfoundland and Labrador is heading for a vote tonight in St. John's, N.L.
Can the U.S. really make Canada the 51st state?
Talk of Canada becoming the 51st American state has raised an existential question on this side of the border: Could it be done? Could the maple leaf make way to the stars and stripes? According to several experts, it may be possible, but not painless.