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Ontario, Canada

ben//._

ben//._

Member
Joined
Jun 25, 2005
Messages
24
Location
Ontario, Canada
Hey great peeps from Canada. I've been msging some of the guys that are living in Ontario and i think it'll be easier if i set up a thread here where everyone can give me their insights.

I'll be heading to ontario in september for my culinary course. I've enrolled with the culinary arts school of ontario which is located at 95 Dundas st west, Mississauga, Ontario. I've no idea where's that and i guess i'll be looking for a studio apartment around that area. And insights on that area that i'll be in ?

From what i gather, Canada is a pretty cold country when winter comes and coming from a country where it's always summer i might not be able to adapt when it winter comes.

The exchange rate is currently 1 canadian dollar is to 1.3 singaporean dollar, which is not that bad. What i'm scared of is the standard of living. If it's gonna be like singapore then it's gonna be pretty high for me.

I'm not sure about the prices when it comes to dining out or getting stuff from the market, movie prices, car prices, etc etc.. Hope you guys can tell me all about this.

Thanks to the guys that has replied my pm msgs !
 
In addition to what I PM'd you...we don't buy stuff from the market. You just go to Walmart, or Zehrs or Loblaws or IGA for food. Eating out - Kelsey's, Montana's, East Side Mario's, Jack Astor's, etc are pretty good. A good meal will run you 40-60 dollars.

Movies - midweek are about 12, weekend 15-20 depending where you go.
Cars - what do you want?
 
SiR_dude said:
In addition to what I PM'd you...we don't buy stuff from the market. You just go to Walmart, or Zehrs or Loblaws or IGA for food. Eating out - Kelsey's, Montana's, East Side Mario's, Jack Astor's, etc are pretty good. A good meal will run you 40-60 dollars.

Movies - midweek are about 12, weekend 15-20 depending where you go.
Cars - what do you want?
Click to expand...

Whoa.. movies are really ex over there ! Seems like the standard there is much higher then Singapore.

Well, i'm looking into a ford focus. Just to take me from point a - b. Nothing too fancy..
 
SiR_dude said:
A good meal will run you 40-60 dollars.
Click to expand...

Damn, you're not living on a student's budget at all - You can get get a decent meal at Quiznos for $7-10, and from my experience movies are about $10-12.

I don't know how much things cost in Singapore, but I'd guess you need about $5-10k/year to live modestly in the Toronto area.

The winter will be unlike anything you can imagine. I've lived in Canada my whole life and I'm still amazed people decide to live here. It's an amazing country, but the weather is brutal for 6 months of the year. February temperatures will regularly go below -20 degrees celcius.

Think of the difference between a warm day and the temperature that water freezes - it gets twice that cold in the winter. :thumbsdown:
 
Ultra_Kool_Dude said:
SiR_dude said:
A good meal will run you 40-60 dollars.
Click to expand...

Damn, you're not living on a student's budget at all - You can get get a decent meal at Quiznos for $7-10, and from my experience movies are about $10-12.

I don't know how much things cost in Singapore, but I'd guess you need about $5-10k/year to live modestly in the Toronto area.

The winter will be unlike anything you can imagine. I've lived in Canada my whole life and I'm still amazed people decide to live here. It's an amazing country, but the weather is brutal for 6 months of the year. February temperatures will regularly go below -20 degrees celcius.

Think of the difference between a warm day and the temperature that water freezes - it gets twice that cold in the winter. :thumbsdown:
Click to expand...

Thats VERY COLD ! The coldest country i've been to is Korea and it was only around -5 deg cel & i was already freezing my ass off !

I'll be in ontario for about one and a half years. Which part of Ontario is my school at ? Ottawa or Toronto ?
 
I was referring to a good meal at Kelsey's, etc...not a student meal. If you're eating cheap, Tim Horton's, Wendy's, McDonalds, Burger King, etc, will get you full for $7-10.

And movies - been a while since I've gone...I think on Tuesdays Famous Players shows for cheaper? Not sure..

For car prices, check www.autotrader.ca
 
ben//._ said:
Which part of Ontario is my school at ? Ottawa or Toronto ?
Click to expand...
It's just outside Toronto.

SiR_dude said:
I was referring to a good meal at Kelsey's, etc...not a student meal.
Click to expand...
How do you spend $60 for a meal at Kelsey's? Maybe if you drank like 10 beers... :p

SiR_dude said:
And movies - been a while since I've gone...I think on Tuesdays Famous Players shows for cheaper? Not sure..
Click to expand...
In Ottawa at least, they are never more than $12, and on Tuedays they are $6.
 
Ultra_Kool_Dude said:
ben//._ said:
Which part of Ontario is my school at ? Ottawa or Toronto ?
Click to expand...
It's just outside Toronto.
Click to expand...

Ahh thats nice ! I have a friend studying there too.. Are there alot of asians in Ontario ?
 
SiR_dude said:
I was referring to a good meal at Kelsey's, etc...not a student meal. If you're eating cheap, Tim Horton's, Wendy's, McDonalds, Burger King, etc, will get you full for $7-10.

And movies - been a while since I've gone...I think on Tuesdays Famous Players shows for cheaper? Not sure..

For car prices, check www.autotrader.ca
Click to expand...

Ok.. Phew ! Scared me for a while... $7 - 10 sounds alright.. Pretty much like Sg.

Thanks for the link mate !
 
Mississauga will be a bit warmer than Ottawa (I think) but you're still looking at -20 weather in the dead of winter...might want to stock up on sweaters, warm socks, a winter hat & gloves, and a nice warm coat.

We'll make a man out of you yet :twisted: :lol:

***EDIT: I'm used to paying for a good meal for TWO people (My girlfriend and myself)...and it's usually 50-55 dollars....sorry.... :lol:
 
ben//._ said:
Ultra_Kool_Dude said:
ben//._ said:
Which part of Ontario is my school at ? Ottawa or Toronto ?
Click to expand...
It's just outside Toronto.
Click to expand...

Ahh thats nice ! I have a friend studying there too.. Are there alot of asians in Ontario ?
Click to expand...

The Toronto area is probably at least 30% Asian, especially in the places like Markham (sp.) or Kitchener. :mrgreen:
 
Ahh thats nice to hear ! From what i gather from the school, Canada seems like a great place to be living in just the winter can be a lil crazy !

My budget for a car is nothing above $20k. Is that good enough ? I wanna save as much as possible and don't want my folks to fork out too much for me. Selling my Saab here should gather me some cash !
 
OMG ! RX-7 ! I always wanted one of those ! Argh ! There are sooo many choices ! Ahahaha !

Thanks for shortlisting the cars for me mates ! I can't wait to go over.. !!
 
For the studio apartment, make sure you live in a decent place, or else you'll really hate it. Try to get a flat monthly rate that covers all utilities.

About the Focus, I drive one, it's a great little car. If you need an A -> B car, though, go for a Corolla or a Civic. You'll get less problems.

The standards of living depends on how much money you have, simple as that. I don't know how big your school is, but in University, you can get free meals quite easily. Just attend all these meetings at different faculties, there's ALWAYS free pizza being offered.

About the cold, just make sure you spend money on good winter gear. Don't go for the cheap stuff. Columbia and The North Face come to mind. I spend atleast $300 on a winter jacket if I want to stay warm. I wouldn't worry too much, though. I came to Canada from one of the hottest countries in the world, and the winter's have been bearable. It helps alot if you have a car.

Entertainment depends on what you like doing, there's something for everyone in Ontario.

Seeing as how you're a chef, I'd suggest you buy food from smaller stores and markets. Stay away from IGA, Food Basics, Dominion, all these big box stores care about profit, not quality. I'm not sure about 'Sauga, but in Toronto you can get good, fresh food at Kensington Market, St. Lawrence Market, and any one of the ethnic enclaves.
 
Ontario is the cheapest big city to live in Canada :) good choice.

BTW Toronto is the most expensive one
 
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