If you move to Toronto and can afford it, move in the actual city. The night live is so much better here than in Vancouver. We make the Vancouverites look like Mormons
True, they have the ocean and mountains, but, well...I mean they couldn't even keep a basketball team that Memphis could
OK enough Vancouver jabbing, they're for two different people but your job offer is for Toronto.
As has been mentioned, 8% PST, 7% GST as far as sales tax goes. Gas is running 63.9 cents/litre as we speak. We've got an efficient, clean
transit system of buses, subways, rapid transit, electric street cars that is used by people you'd feel safe with (i.e. business people, students, families). If you live in the actual city (anything south of Eglinton within the old city of Toronto boundaries), you don't really need a car as long as you're the type that doesn't mind 15 minute walks and taking public transit. Average waiting time is between 3-7 minutes for buses.
It's a diverse city. There's not as much blatant racial tension as there is in the States. Many cultures, many languages, etc, etc. In fact there are more non-white people in Toronto than white people now. This makes for great wining and dining as you can literally eat any type of food you desire.
We've got some great parks, and even some beaches like Ash Bridges Bay which is quite nice right now for playing volleyball (although, being a Great Lake <cough>industrial sewer<cough> I wouldn't dare swim in Lake Ontario).
Politically, it's a socially liberal, fiscally moderate (leaning towards conservative as of late) type of place. The people here like the government providing services like snow removal in the winter, libraries, nice and well-maintained parks, golf courses, etc. As far as healthcare, I think Toronto's health system is about as good as you're going to get in Canada. A lot of specialists are here. A great trauma hospital in Sunnybrook, a great children's hospital in Sick Kids, and many other great hospitals like Mount Sinai and several others. There are 3 major universities - University of Toronto, York University and Ryerson Polytechnic. There are 2 major colleges in Seneca College and Centennial. There are two public school systems - Catholic and public and most people are generally satisfied with them.
Traffic is a real mess right now which is why I'd suggest if you can, take the TTC. A lot of people live 40-100km away from the city and commute into and out of it everyday causing a lot of traffic congestion. The annoying part is it's in just about every direction - textbook case of gridlock.
There's so much to say about it, but the best thing to do is stay about a week and see for yourself. I like it here but it might not be your cup of tea.
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