Temporary Housing Before You Arrive

Before moving to Toronto, our first step was to find temporary accommodation. Given our unfamiliarity with the city and the difficulty of securing a long-term rental from Turkey, we opted to book a two-week stay in an Airbnb. This choice gave us time to explore the city and find a more permanent home.

Airbnb in Toronto: The First Steps

For our initial stay, we rented a studio apartment (also known as a bachelor apartment) in a condo. These types of apartments come in various sizes, including one-bedroom and two-bedroom options. While the studio setup, where the kitchen and sleeping area are in one room, can be a downside, our unit had a large balcony which provided excellent ventilation.

Despite staying during the first two weeks of May, our condo was comfortably warm thanks to the heating system. Even the corridors were toasty, which was a pleasant surprise.

Ideal Location for Exploring

Our Airbnb was located on Jarvis Street, just 600m from the Bloor-Yonge subway station (connecting the yellow and green lines) and 650m from the Sherbourne subway station (green line). This prime location made getting around the city incredibly easy. Being within walking distance of Downtown Toronto meant we could enjoy our first days in the city to the fullest. Therefore, I highly recommend finding accommodation close to downtown for the best experience.

Condo Amenities

Most condos and apartment buildings have laundry facilities in the basement. In our building, washing and drying machines operated on quarters, and we had to supply our own detergent. Our host provided us with a card to load with coins, making it easy to use the laundry machines.

Renting Through Facebook in Toronto

Facebook can be a valuable resource for finding housing in Toronto. As our Airbnb stay was nearing its end, we hadn’t yet secured a permanent apartment, so I turned to Facebook groups. I followed “Bunz Home Zone” (in English) and “Kanada Türk İlan Yardımlaşma Grubu”. Through the latter, I found a listing for a bachelor apartment in Harbourfront available for a one-month sublet. We quickly reached an agreement with the owner and moved from downtown to the lakeside.

Our Harbourfront Sublet

We rented a furnished apartment in Harbourfront for 1400 CAD per month, with all utilities included except for the internet. We chose not to add extra internet service. The apartment came with a washer, dryer, and dishwasher. One of the highlights was the stunning view of the CN Tower from our window. Had we found a permanent place with these features at this price, we would have jumped at the chance.

Living in Harbourfront offered numerous perks, especially as we arrived in the summer. The area boasts several beaches perfect for sunbathing, such as HTO Park and Sugar Beach. While you can’t swim at these particular beaches, there are swimming spots around the city which I plan to cover in a future post.

Long-Term Rentals in Toronto: Kijiji, Craigslist, and Viewit

For long-term rentals in Toronto, the most commonly used websites are:

• Kijiji.ca
• Craigslist.ca
• Viewit.ca

While Craigslist didn’t inspire much confidence, we found Kijiji to be reliable and comprehensive for rental listings.

Final Thoughts

Finding a place to live in Toronto can be daunting, but using resources like Airbnb for temporary stays and websites like Kijiji for long-term options can simplify the process. Stay tuned for more tips on navigating life in Toronto and enjoying what this vibrant city has to offer!

When you arrive in Canada, you may need to transfer money. Regarding that, I strongly recommend checking our Wise blog post.