What to know
- 37 per cent of Torontonians surveyed said they are at least somewhat likely to leave the city within the next five years. 11 per cent were certain and 26 per cent were considering it.
- Affordability is the biggest factor, with 65 per cent citing the cost of living, followed by traffic at 41 per cent, lifestyle changes at 35 per cent and concerns about safety at 34 per cent.
- Younger adults were more likely to consider leaving, with 48 per cent of those aged 18–34 and 45 per cent of those aged 35–54 saying they may move.
- Toronto residents had mixed views, with some saying they feel priced out, particularly artists and renters facing higher costs, while others said rent-controlled housing, career opportunities, family benefits and a strong sense of community make staying worthwhile.
Lifestyle changes, congestion, and a high cost of living are just some of the reasons a fraction of Torontonians are possibly looking to move out of the city in the coming years.
According to a new study by Ipsos and the Toronto Star, more than a third of the 1,006 participants polled are at least somewhat likely to leave the city within the next five years.
Of the 37 per cent thinking of moving, eleven per cent were certain they’d leave, while 26 per cent were considering it.
When asked why they were considering moving, 65 per cent polled said the city’s cost of living was too expensive, while 41 per cent said they couldn’t handle the traffic.
Additionally, 35 per cent wanted to leave the city for a lifestyle change, while caution around a dangerous city (34 per cent), better job opportunities (31 per cent) and exploring other areas to raise a family (31 per cent) were also part of the reasoning.
The decision to leave saw a higher trend among adults aged 18 to 34 (48 per cent), but adults aged 35 to 54 (45 per cent) weren’t too far behind.
The poll comes as the city and province of Ontario see further affordability issues due to the tariff war with the United States. Coupled with gas prices rising due to the ongoing U.S. – Israel conflict with Iran, as well as housing costs making buying a home nearly impossible for some, residents are looking to move somewhere more financially forgiving.
Torontonians react
Many Toronto residents in the Liberty Village and Parkdale area had mixed feelings about leaving the city.
However, many agreed that the city was unaffordable.
“Honestly, I feel a lot of us are being priced out,” one Torontonian and artist told Now Toronto. “I feel that the city’s changed a lot in the last 10 years, and for working artists, it’s becoming harder to live here.”
He also added that affordability has impacted spaces in the creative community, with
multiple venues and third spaces across the city closing as well.
One resident said the rising costs all come with living in a metropolitan area like Toronto.
“Rent, of course, is pricey, but that’s what you get when you’re in Toronto, right?” he said.
One Parkdale resident said she wasn’t looking to move out of the city because she lived in a rent-controlled apartment, but she understood why others would leave.
“I can work my job and afford to live there, whereas my friends are looking at the same unit that I have, and it’s three times the cost,” she explained.
However, one Torontonian said it was all worth it in the end, especially for those with kids.
“The opportunities kids can get here are unmatched… Leaving when your kids are in high school doesn’t make sense,” she said.
“…There’s such a strong sense of community.”
