My Landing Experience - Toronto (Brampton)

[luqi]

thanks, what about living expenses, i mean utility bills, food expenses, rent, transportation?

 

[muk]

How is the weather in October / November in Toronto, and how about staying near airport, ways to commute public transportation to downtown. Seniors please advise, as I am very confused !!

[size=10pt][size=10pt][size=10pt]Ontario Weather[/size][/size][/size]

Ontario is a large province. Temperatures vary from region to region. The temperature can be different within the same region. Usually, January is the coldest month of the year and July is the warmest. Radio and TV news give temperatures in degrees Celsius (C). Sometimes they also give the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit (F).

Ontario has 4 seasons:

Spring: March 20 - June 20

Spring is a rainy season in most of Ontario. Daytime temperatures rise throughout the season, but the nights are cool. The average temperature during the day is about 12°C in March, April and early May.

Summer: June 21 - September 21

Summer begins on June 21 but, to most Ontarians, July and August are the main months of summer. In summer, the weather is very warm in most parts of the province. In southern Ontario, daytime temperatures are usually above 20°C and often rise above 30°C. It can be hot and very humid in the summer. On TV and radio you will hear warnings about health problems caused by heat, sun and smog.

Fall (also called autumn): September 22 - December 20

Fall begins in September. The weather gets cool and the leaves on many trees change colour and fall to the ground. It can also be very rainy at this time of year. In some northern parts of Ontario, it can snow in late October. In these months, the average daytime temperatures are about 10°C - 12°C in most of the province. The temperatures get lower as winter approaches.

Winter: December 21 - March 19

In winter, it is cold and snows often. During the winter months (December, January and February), the temperature in most of the province is usually below 0°C, day and night. Temperatures in some parts of the province can drop below -25°C. In most of Ontario, snow can be on the ground from the middle of December until the middle of March. In the northern parts of Ontario, the winter is longer and colder than in Southern Ontario.


Winters in Ontario can be very cold and snowy. If you come from a warm country, you might be surprised by how cold it can get. Winter is a time for fun in the snow, but it is important to learn about the dangers of the cold and how to stay warm. Here are some of the winter clothes you will need:

 Thick, windproof coat
 Scarf – for around your neck or across your face
 Gloves or mittens
 Warm underwear
 Winter hat that covers your ears
 Warm boots that are lined and/or waterproof

 

[muk]

thanks, what about living expenses, i mean utility bills, food expenses, rent, transportation?

Average Monthly Living Expenses in Canada


The vast size, varied climate and population distribution of Canada mean that costs of living can vary from one area to another. There may also be some expenses that you weren’t expecting before you arrived.

Here are some typical costs for items and services in Canada. Please note all figures are in Canadian funds.

Rent—Bachelor Apartment (1 room apartment, 1 month, large city) $700–$1,100

Rent—Bachelor Apartment (1 room apartment, 1 month, small city/town) $500–$700

Water, Gas and Electricity (1 month) - Apartment $150

Water, Gas and Electricity (1 month) and Sewage – Single Family house $400

Car Insurance for a mini Van of $35,000, 250 deductible and 2 drivers with very good history $1350

VOIP Phone (1 month, including long distance) $30–$40

Cheapest Cell Phone Package (1 month) with Unlimited Data $40

Cable Television (1 month) $25–$50

Internet Connection (high speed, 1 month) $50

Groceries for One Person (1 month) $200–$300

1 Dozen Eggs $2–$3

Bag of Rice (20 pounds) – High Quality $20

Bus Fare 1-Way (local) $2.25

Fast Food Meal (hamburger, soft drink, french fries) $4–$6 per person

Average Restaurant Meal $10–$25 per person

Coffee from Specialty Coffee Shop $1.70

Admission to Nightclub $0–$15

Gas/Petrol $1.15–$1.50 per litre

Movie $11.50–$13

Pair of Jeans $40–$80

Pair of Running Shoes $60–$200

Return Flight from Vancouver to Toronto $300–$1,200

Letter within Canada $0.57

International Postage (letter) $1.70

Interest Rate on Savings .5%

 

[muk]

thanks, what about living expenses, i mean utility bills, food expenses, rent, transportation?

Looking after your own money is a big part of looking after yourself

. In Canada, it is easier to spend than to save. It is important to budget on net income rather than on gross income. Gross income is the salary you earn before deductions are made.

. Housing: In Canada, most people spend about one-quarter of their pay cheques on shelter costs. These costs include:

. rent or mortgage payments
. heating
. property taxes
. utilities (water, electricity, sewer rates)
. telephone
. cable television (option)


. If you rent an apartment, the landlord may pay all the utilities except the telephone and cable television and automatically add these costs to the rent. In other words, you are paying for all these things in your shelter costs, whether you write the cheques yourself or whether you pay one amount to your landlord, who then pays the separate utility bills.

. Food: In Canada, food costs usually account for approximately one-eighth of each pay cheque. This can easily double if people eat regularly in restaurants, buy luxury foods, or include alcohol and cigarettes as part of their food budget. Alcohol and cigarettes are expensive in Canada because they are heavily taxed.

.Clothing: Clothing in Canada is a necessary expense. Cautious shopping can hold clothing expenses well under one-tenth of a person's pay cheque.

. Luxuries are those items you do not absolutely need. There are many goods and services that are both practical and luxurious. Cars, clothes, travel, and longdistance telephone calls can be called either business necessities or luxuries, depending on the nature of each person's business or point of view.

. Many immigrants feel that they would like to own a car. For many Canadians, a car is not absolutely necessary, but it is desirable. For most car owners, a car is a semi-luxury: it is used not only to get to and from work, but also for convenience and pleasure. Many people forget that the price paid for a car is NOT the total price of ownership. License and insurance are legal yearly expenses: gasoline, oil, repairs and maintenance are continuing costs of ownership.

.Credit cards: are obtained from banks. You can also get credit cards from department stores or gasoline companies. Note however that store or company credit cards usually charge more interest than bank credit cards. Credit cards are a major convenience, but they have costs that are not immediately noticeable. Many people find themselves losing control of their financial affairs because of incautious use of credit.

Note: I f you pay only the «minimum payment due», all you are doing is paying the credit card company interest on money it has loaned to you. You are NOT paying your debt.

. Advertisement: In Canada, you will see many things that you might like to own. Through advertising, companies encourage you to buy their products, even if you do not really need them or cannot afford them. Some salespeople and acquaintances may try very hard to sell you things. You may feel pressured to borrow and spend money. It is important to be careful and informed.

Note: Some stores have special programs that let you pay up to one year later for the things you buy. They may be advertised with slogans "Do not pay until...." Be careful to read all the details of the purchase agreement. If you fail to pay on time, you will be charged interest from the day you actually took the item home from the store.

. Tip: Major lifetime purchases, such as a house, require down payments of cash, for which people save. People who are more cautious with their money prefer to save for most of their purchases instead of using credit, for which they must pay interest charges.

. Most Canadians save money in banks, credit unions, caisses populaires, cooperatives or trust companies.

 

[RajeevPillai]

We live in a good basement apartment north of Toronto downtown. The monthly living expenses (couple) are as follows:

Rent - $900 (inclusive of internet, tv and hydro)
Grocery - $300 to $350
Fido cell (2 numbers) - $35 each
PhoneIndia.com - $10
TTC Metro Pass - $128.5 each
Misc expenses - $150

We also started receiving the tax credits for 2012 returns (from June 2013 - July 2014)

GST/HST Credit - $40/month
Ontario Trillium Benefit - $85/month

 

[RajeevPillai]

Got the G license finally today

Way to go Cool. Congratulations!

 

[muk]

thanks, what about living expenses, i mean utility bills, food expenses, rent, transportation?

Food

Daily menu in the business district C$16
Combo meal in fast food restaurant (Big Mac Meal or similar) C$8
1/2 Kg (1 lb.) of chicken breast C$5.82
1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk C$2.97
12 eggs, large C$3.58
1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes C$3.13
500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese C$8
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples C$2.79
2 kg (4,5 lb.) of potatoes C$3.01
0.5 l (16 oz) beer in the supermarket C$2.28
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality C$16
2 liters of Coca-Cola C$2.11
bread for 2 people for 1 day C$2.11

Housing

monthly rent for a 85 m2 (900 Sqft) furnished apartment in EXPENSIVE area of the city C$2,026
utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat C$132
Internet 8MB (1 month) C$44
40” flat screen TV C$530
Microwave, known brand, 800/900 Watt C$94
Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) C$7
Hourly rate for cleaning help C$20

Clothes

1 pair of Levis 501 C$64
1 summer dress in a chain store (Zara, H&M, ...) C$41
1 pair of Adidas trainers C$102
1 pair of average business shoes C$114

Transportation

Volkswagen Golf 2.0 TDI 140 CV 6 vel. (or equivalent), with no extras, new C$20,354
1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas C$1.29
monthly ticket public transport C$126
Taxi trip on a business day, basic tariff, 8 Km. (5 miles) C$19

Personal Care

medicine against cold for 6 days (Frenadol, Coldrex, ...) C$11
1 box of 32 tampons (Tampax, OB, ...) C$7
Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) C$4.26
Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) C$5.23
4 rolls of toilet paper C$2.44
Tube of toothpaste C$2.48
Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city C$20

Entertainment

basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub C$47
2 tickets to the movies C$26
2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) C$179
dinner out for two in Italian restaurant with wine and dessert C$112
1 cocktail drink in downtown club C$10
Capuccino in expat area of the city C$4.17
1 beer in neighbourhood pub C$6
iPod nano 16GB C$153
1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) C$0.31
1 month of gym in business district C$75
1 package of Marlboro cigarretes C$11

 

[luqi]

car insurance 1350$ is it per month or per year?

 

[luqi]

We live in a good basement apartment north of Toronto downtown. The monthly living expenses (couple) are as follows:

Rent - $900 (inclusive of internet, tv and hydro)
Grocery - $300 to $350
Fido cell (2 numbers) - $35 each
PhoneIndia.com - $10
TTC Metro Pass - $128.5 each
Misc expenses - $150

We also started receiving the tax credits for 2012 returns (from June 2013 - July 2014)

GST/HST Credit - $40/month
Ontario Trillium Benefit - $85/month

how many poeple are you in the basement suit?

 

[RajeevPillai]

how many poeple are you in the basement suit?

Its just me and my wife

 

[luqi]

Its just me and my wife

ok great. wish you a happy life. what about this $1350 car insurance is this monthly or yearly?

 

[RajeevPillai]

ok great. wish you a happy life. what about this $1350 car insurance is this monthly or yearly?

Car insurance can hit you hard if you are living in Ontario. Could range anywhere between $500 - $1000 per month. TD Bank gives one of the best insurance rates

 

[luqi]

oops this is too much. what if you buy a less expensive car. i mean if your vehicle ranges from $10000 to $15k. will the insurance rate be same?

 

[RajeevPillai]

oops this is too much. what if you buy a less expensive car. i mean if your vehicle ranges from $10000 to $15k. will the insurance rate be same?

Lot depends on the below major factors:

- Make and price of the car
- Driving license type (G or G2)
- Length of your driving experience in Canada
- Whether you attended a driving school prior to getting the license

Car insurance is the costliest in Ontario compared to other provinces

 

[luqi]

ok thanks a lot rajeev.