1 year into life in Toronto Canada: my honest opinion

As of January 2025, it has been over a year since I settled in Toronto with my Working Holiday Permit to Canada. And I think it’s time to reflect on my stay so far.

What’s happened since my much anticipated arrival? How has life actually worked out? Have I found my bearings? And above all, what do I think of Canada?

Life in Canada vs life in France

“Do you prefer living in France or Canada?” That’s the question I get most as a French working holiday maker in Canada. For some context, my partner and I embarked on a working holiday to see whether the grass is truly greener on the other side of the Atlantic, and to form our own opinion about life abroad.

I left France because I was tired of the social climate, while my partner left for reasons relating to professional development. At the moment, I prefer life in Canada and I’ll explain why below.

1. Safety

Life in Toronto feels more peaceful to me. I feel less watched in the street, under less social pressure, and generally safer. That said, in major Canadian cities there are significant social inequalities, so don’t expect a paradise either. The cost of living is high, homelessness is widespread, and many people struggle with drug addiction. Despite this, I still feel more comfortable walking alone here than I did in France.

2. Habits

Toronto is a lively city but Canadians are particularly slow-paced. I often think to myself they wouldn’t stand a chance in the Paris metro! I sometimes catch myself getting annoyed at someone walking too slowly on the pavement. When you’re in a rush, it can be frustrating.

In France, we might just sit down in the evening for a soft drink, but in Canada, if you order a drink but no food, the server will look at you oddly. Also, whether it’s restaurants, bars or social venues (bowling alleys, mini golf, etc.), places in North America are very noisy. The loud music forces you to shout to be heard. The lighting is usually dimmed after 7 p.m., as if you were attending some kind of secret meeting.

Takeaway culture is everywhere. North Americans’ love of takeout knows no limits: drive-throughs, cafes without seating… your bougie pistachio latte is meant to be taken to go.

3. Cost of living

We weren’t living in Paris before leaving France, so the shock of the cost of living in Canada (see by province) was particularly big, as we were moving from a cheaper French city to Canada’s most expensive.

Here are a few typical expenses to give you an idea:

• $2,600 for a one-bedroom flat in downtown Toronto
• $300 every three weeks for groceries, often with extra top-ups
• Around $200 a month on coffee (I know, I really should buy a coffee machine)

Rent was by far the biggest shock.

To enjoy the city or nature, it’s hard to not spend any money. That’s one of the downsides of living in a big city. Want to visit a large natural park? You’ll need to rent a car. Want to visit an attraction? It’s usually paid.

Exploring the city by foot costs nothing, of course.

4. Healthcare

Let’s address an important topic: how much does it cost to see a specialist in Canada?

First of all, most care is reimbursed by the mandatory private insurance (such as Globe WHV) that all IEC permit holders are required to get, so you don’t end up paying everything out of pocket. I personally received reimbursements through their online platform.

Now for the costs. My experience with the dentist was as follows: I had several appointments for cavities. In total, for the initial consultation, X-rays and treatment of two cavities, I paid around $1,000.

• Initial consultation: $80
• X-rays: $179
• Simple cavity treatment (price varies depending on the number of surfaces): $820

I later requested a quote for a root canal on a premolar: $883, on top of an estimated $1,400 for a crown if needed. This really shows how important it is to make sure your healthcare needs are taken care of before going abroad on a working holiday.

The bill is steep, but I do highly recommend Dr. Ponciano, who is very kind and attentive.

In Ontario, if you’ve been in the province for more than 153 days, you may also be eligible for the Ontario Health Insurance Plan, which can cover part of your healthcare costs.

When going on a working holiday, I also strongly recommend bringing a basic first-aid kit, including paracetamol. I only brought a small amount and when I had to restock here, it cost me a whopping $26. Check what medicines can and cannot be brought into the country on the website of the government of Canada.

5. Working in Canada

My situation is somewhat specific as I work with French colleagues, so the balance is quite good.

However, here are some observations by other working holiday makers I’ve met:

• Employment is at will: you can quit overnight, just as you can be let go overnight.
• Conflict avoidance: a boss or colleague will rarely tell you directly if you’re doing something wrong.
• Once the workday is over, work stays in the office and personal life is respected.
• Workdays often start earlier, which means you also finish earlier.
• Lunch breaks are short compared to those in France.
• Like Americans, Canadians also enjoy organising “White Elephant” gift exchanges at Christmas.
• Some people work out during the lunch break, especially in large companies with gyms.
• Colleagues usually remain colleagues and don’t necessarily become friends.
• It’s generally frowned upon to voice your opinions too directly.
• Job interviews in cafés are common.
• To build a network, it’s commonplace to suggest an informal coffee chat or lunch meeting.

Finding a job in a large city can take longer than in less popular regions. Read this guide on Finding a job and working in Canada.

Moving abroad as a couple: good or bad idea?

As mentioned earlier, we got the IEC Working Holiday permit together and a year later, we’re still together. So yes, our relationship survived the move.

People often say that moving abroad as a couple is make or break for the relationship. When you move abroad together, it’s a shared project, sometimes even a shared dream. Other times, it’s one person who follows the other, which already implies compromise.

To prepare, we decided to move in together in France before leaving for Canada. That way, we could see whether our lifestyles were actually compatible.

We faced many challenges and doubts in the past year in Canada: why did we leave? Why give up comfort for the unknown? Did we make the right choice? Job searching was particularly tough. I adapted to the new environment quite well, while my partner struggled more. Sometimes, one person has to stay strong for both. Psychologically it was exhausting, which is why we set ourselves a clear goal: if things didn’t improve by a certain date, we would go back to France.

Fortunately, things worked out and we were able to stay. The most important thing is to really hear each other, acknowledge frustrations, and make decisions together.
Managing distance from loved ones

Missing loved ones

This reflection wouldn’t be complete without mention of one of the hardest aspects: missing loved ones. When you leave, you inevitably leave friends and family behind. For some people, that thought alone is enough to stop them from going.

Thankfully, in the digital age, staying in touch is easy. Time differences can be tricky, but you quickly learn to adapt.

We call our families every day, just as we did when we lived in different cities in France. WhatsApp groups are just as active, though you do sometimes wake up to 150 unread messages.

Time passes quickly. Despite initial fears, you soon realise how fast it goes. If you feel the need to go home for a while, listen to yourself. You can always return for a short visit to recharge.

Remember that your family can come and visit you too. It’s the perfect excuse to discover your adoptive country together.

We went back to France twice during our first year and our family also came to visit us. Despite the difficulties of the first months, these visits helped us keep going. The hardest moments are holidays, family celebrations, and big announcements such as pregnancies.

Let go of the guilt and think of yourself. Before leaving, I thought to myself: I’m doing this for me, to live out my own adventure. And that’s what matters most. We decided that even if the experience turned out to be not right for us, it still wouldn’t be a failure.

Making friends on a working holiday abroad

This title might sound like a cheesy self-help course, but it’s one of the biggest concerns for working holiday makers and digital nomads. Wherever you go, you have to push yourself to meet people.

That’s not easy if, like me, you have limited social energy or are more introverted. It can feel overwhelming to constantly meet new people. Shyness, fatigue, and social anxiety are all very real things. I recommend you read the article on How to make friends during a working holiday (WHV) abroad.

One year in: my honest opinion of Canada

Disclaimer: this is my personal opinion and nothing more than that.

Canada has many things going for it and I feel good here. I like the diversity, the freedom to be myself, and the general sense of safety. I appreciate not constantly feeling on alert.

That said, big cities everywhere have their dark sides. When I talk about safety, I mean the general feeling, not the absence of problems. I’ve seen issues here too.

Homelessness and addiction are very visible. People become desensitised to it when they see it so often. Emergency services intervene, but the high cost of living and healthcare under pressure only worsen the situation.

I love the landscapes in Ontario and Quebec, the wildlife you don’t see in France: black squirrels, raccoons rummaging through bins, chipmunks. I love Toronto, its CN Tower, the view from the islands, and the outdoor exhibitions across the city.

I also love how multicultural the city is: festivals, food stalls, traditional clothing, concerts — diversity is openly celebrated.

That said, there are things I like less. The cost of living, especially rent, is a major issue. In Ontario, landlords can increase rent every year. If your unit was occupied before November 2018, the increase is capped (around 2.5% in 2024–2025). If not, there is no limit. A landlord could, for example, raise your rent by $1,000 to get you to leave.

Job hunting is competitive and finding a qualified position can take time. Some professions also require diploma recognition. On the upside, once you have a job, career progression can be faster and employers may trust you with responsibilities even without prior experience.

Then there are the shop assistants who follow you around and bring you the wrong shoe size “just in case”. In many stores, staff are paid on commission, so they’re very persistent.

And finally, the price of French pastries: paying $7 for a pain au chocolat (or “chocolate croissant”, as they say here) is simply unacceptable to me as a French person. Baguettes are a similar story.

Of course, all of this is part of the experience. Living abroad means seeing a country as it truly is, with its strengths and its flaws. After a year, we’ve had time to settle, to understand what works for us, and to build a new routine far from home.

So, do I prefer Canada or France? The answer is somewhere in between. I love both, and for now, I’m happy where I am.