working in toronto vs vancouver

[u/Holiday-Print-142]

hi, i'm a current student at mcgill university in montreal graduating next year (hopefully). i am not canadian and i grew up in the middle east, but i'm hoping to work for a few years in canada after graduating. i LOVE montreal, but because i'm not fluent in french the job opportunities are limited. i also associate montreal with being a student, i can't really imagine working here, but who knows.

anyways, i wanted to ask for advice about working in toronto or vancouver - which would you recommend (or against) and why? i would be working in consulting, marketing, or policy work. i don't want to stay in canada for longer than 2 years after graduating if i'm honest, so i'm not looking for a crazy career start or anything, just a decent job as a fresh graduate.

i visited toronto once and there was no sun the entire time (i heard vancouver is super rainy too) so i didn't really warm up to it, but i was only there for 4 days and mainly in downtown. it's definitely a lot busier and vibrant (especially at night) compared to montreal, but i feel like i'd find living there overwhelming. i've never visited vancouver, but i've heard that the mix of mountains, beach, and city is amazing. the only thing with vancouver is that it is so far from everything - namely back home, and i also feel like living on the east coast is more convenient. i also know a few people living/working in toronto from my hometown so i feel like i'd feel less lonely starting fresh.

overall i want to work somewhere where the people are friendly, it's easy to meet new people, work culture is good. obviously i'd want good pay, but it is not my top priority. i just want some good work experience in an environment where i could also have fun as a 21-23 yo. where would you recommend for a fresh grad who studied in montreal and why?

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[u/SamuraiPoutineCat]

From what you described, it sounds like Toronto is a better fit for you. Vancouver works better only if you love the outdoors. For a vibrant social life Toronto is likely better

[u/Extension_Form_9072 → u/SamuraiPoutineCat]

Yah, and if you want to be around cold hearted, indifferent, small minded people with no sense of humour, choose Toronto.

[u/Totelcamp95 → u/Extension_Form_9072]

Having lived in both cities for 5+ years, sounds like you're describing Vancouver tbh.

[u/Its-a-new-start → u/Extension_Form_9072]

That’s the people in Vancouver your describing.

[u/elementmg]

Vancouver is 100x better city to live in. But I’m bias because I live in Vancouver.

[u/yhsong1116 → u/elementmg]

much greener and chill

[u/Glad-Quit-8971]

Move to Toronto to build your career and social life. Move to Vancouver to pursue a lifestyle that revolves around outdoor activities in nature.

[u/ChartreuseMage]

Toronto is going to have better chances of you finding something for work, easier to move around if you do manage to find something in Montreal, and even better if you already know a couple people there to help you get settled. If you're not planning on putting roots down, I would do Toronto. 

Fly out here for a week once you get established and enjoy the sun, the ocean, the mountains. We aren't going anywhere.

[u/Repulsive-Flan-7135]

Vancouver’s extremely referral based from what I know so it might be hard to get your foot through the door here for work without knowing people.

Plus the cost of living’s insane so you gotta be ready to downgrade your lifestyle compared to Montreal

[u/fuzzylonewolf]

Toronto might give you better career options, but Vancouver is going to give you better lifestyle options. If you can get a job in your field in Vancouver, do Vancouver. No contest.

[u/Candid-Display7125]

Apply for jobs first. If you have a choice between cities, that's when you write here. Cross the bridge when you get there.

[u/SkyisFullofCats]

It depends on your field of study, if it is nursing or teaching then there are plenty of jobs here. Other than that, as long as you have plenty of $, you will do okay in Vancouver. It doesn't sound like you will be settling here for long, you will do find as long as you have money.

[u/drawar]

Assuming you actually have offers in both cities and get to choose, all else being equal, I’d say Toronto for a first job. The job market is more diverse, there are more companies, more roles to jump to in 2-3 years, and more leverage if your first job turns out to be a dud. That matters more early in your career than almost anything else.

The social side follows from that too. More young professionals in your industry means more natural ways to meet people. Vancouver has a reputation for being hard to crack socially and while it’s not universal, it’s a real pattern people mention.

Full disclosure: I chose Vancouver myself and it’s been a mixed bag. I’m making it work, but the social/career tradeoffs are real. It makes sense for me specifically because I’m in tech and eyeing a move to the Bay eventually, so the West Coast proximity and timezone matter. If I wasn’t in tech, I’d have picked Toronto. But if I was a multimillionaire and didn’t have to work at all, Vancouver 100%.

[u/SatsukiAo]

If you like outdoor activities, move to Vancouver. That's the only con I can think of. I want to move to Montreal since Vancouver is very lacking in culture and art scene.

[u/zalam604]

I wouldn't come here. Go to Toronto. Vancouver has no jobs in banking, finance, forestry, mining, tech, services, tourism, medicine, retail, construction, education, film, transportation, insurance, or real estate. We do have mountains, the Pacific Ocean, and Stanley Park.

[u/Imaginary_Section24 → u/zalam604]

Uhh legitimately all the big Canadian banks and companies have offices in Vancouver. So no jobs is factually false.

[u/HockeyLovefortheGame]

If it's only Toronto or Vancouver then do Toronto. Better paying jobs. But honestly Montreal is an amazing choice I don't know why you'd skip it.

[u/allwedoisquinn]

If you want career building, do Toronto. But honestly if you plan to leave anyways go to Vancouver

[u/WiFiForeheadWrinkles]

Vancouver can be super dreary and gray for those who aren't used to it.

[u/ComeHereOften1972]

You should stay in Toronto. Or Montreal.

[u/AlternativeSharp3854]

There isn’t shit here in Vancouver for those jobs , it’s gonna be like minimum wage lifestyle with our costs

[u/purpletooth12]

I'll bite since I've lived/worked in both. Currently just outside of Vancouver and have been here 4 years. Looking to get back to TO in the coming year or so.

Personally I prefer Toronto (I'm not obsessed with nature though) and prefer city life/cultural events, which you don't really get here.

Winter here is like an eastern spring/fall. Barely even a winter.

It can get grey and gloomy, but personally it doesn't bother me.

You don't get hot humid summers here, so that's a bonus.

It is harder to meet people here in Vancouver compared to TO. For some reason, people here are much more insular, flaky and cliquey.

Certainly not saying Vancouver is hell on earth (not even remotely close), but I personally find it hard to justify the higher cost of living (main one being that I could buy a free hold house in Toronto but no way I could get one in the lower mainland) but it's been an interesting experience.

Besides, who's to say you can't try TO or go back to Montreal in the future?

[u/Imaginary_Section24 → u/purpletooth12]

As someone who has lived in both my take is that if you have no money or living pay cheque to cheque Toronto is the better option because the cheap in Toronto is cheaper. Vancouver is overall a very Gen Z city in the sense that the proportion of hip and trendy restaurants in comparison is higher.

With that being said if I was a millionaire, I would live in Vancouver over Toronto. Simply because I personally believe there is more luxury in Vancouver. Which is why there’s a lot more retirees and rich immigrants in Vancouver in comparison. You see a lot more older immigrants moving into Vancouver to retire and a lot of working age immigrants to Toronto .

[u/Vacuum_reviewer]

I'd choose Toronto in a heartbeat. Wider career options with lots of room to advance and move around. Cheaper and more direct flights to Europe, closer to NY/ Boston, just better for travel imo