The two most popular cities in Canada are arguably Vancouver and Toronto. While neither of them is the capital, the standard of living in either city has made them the most desirable for several residents and newcomers. So, is Toronto bigger than Vancouver?
Yes, Toronto is bigger than Vancouver, both in landmass and residents. The difference also extends to economy, weather conditions, lifestyle, and location. However, both cities have a similar standard of living, expensive real estate market, and diverse population. These make them quite livable.
While no other city in Canada has a similar profile with these two cities, there are many others that come close. This article discusses whether Toronto is bigger than Vancouver and compares the two cities.
Quick navigation
Toronto vs Vancouver
Toronto is a bigger city than Vancouver. It’s the biggest city in Canada and outstrips Vancouver’s size. Despite its popularity, Vancouver isn’t even the second biggest city after Toronto. Montreal is still bigger. Toronto has a population of around 3 million residents, while the population in Vancouver is around $. In terms of land space, it’s not even the biggest city in British Columbia and is far behind many other cities. Its proximity to the ocean and mountains significantly reduces its space growth. The whole size of Vancouver is 115 km square while Toronto is 630.2 km square.
The Greater Toronto Area is equally bigger than Metro Vancouver, with the former having a landmass of 7,124 km square compared to the latter’s 2,877-kilometre square.
What are the Similarities between Toronto and Vancouver?
Toronto and Vancouver have some features that are common to both cities. These include:
1. Real Estate Market
The cost of real estate in Vancouver and Toronto are similar enough to make both warrants a comparison. Rents are very high in both cities, and owning a home will likely cost you an arm and a leg. For the past 30 years until February 2022, Vancouver had the most expensive real estate market in Canada, with Toronto always coming behind in the second state. But that changed recently when Toronto overtook Vancouver as the most expensive real estate market in the country. Regardless, the average cost of homes in both cities is over a million, which means only slight differences. The same thing applies to rent. The high cost of real estate in both cities has made them the most expensive places to live in Canada by a mile.
2. Standard Of Living
The only thing that comes close to the cost of living in both cities is the standard of living. Both Vancouver and Toronto boast of an incredible standard of living and highly satisfied residents. Even though there are slight differences in the atmosphere of both cities, they both have the facilities and amenities necessary to guarantee a wonderful standard of living for their residents. They also have some of the best higher institutions in the country, which makes them even more attractive to international students, and they have the highest average income and minimum wage in the country.
3. Diversity
Toronto is more diverse than Vancouver, and that’s not surprising given that it’s bigger than it. But both cities embody the multiculturalism that Canada is renowned for. More than half of the population in Vancouver have another language apart from English as their first language. Toronto also boasts of over 200 nationalities within it. Thus, both cities are quite diverse and welcoming. However, the proximity of Vancouver to the pacific ocean means that it has more east Asian influence than Toronto and a more prominent Chinese community.
What are the differences between Toronto and Vancouver?
Apart from size, there are still other things that distinguish both cities. That include:
1. Lifestyle
The city of around 6 million residents is as busy as it gets in Canada. Toronto has a fast-paced lifestyle similar to what you’ll get in other global cities like Tokyo and New York City, even if it still retains the reserved nature of Canadians. Vancouver, on the other hand, is a more reserved place. You can still tell that you’re in a city when you’re here, but it’s not as rough as Toronto, and people here take life a lot slower. This also extends to entertainment. Toronto is a lively place with lots of nightlife and incredible spots even during the day. Vancouver is a bit boring. If you have lived in Toronto and experienced the nightlife and its entertainment scene, you’ll find Vancouver to be a lot less fun. That’s why many people thinking of starting a family usually consider moving to Vancouver. This isn’t to say that Vancouver doesn’t have interesting spots, but Toronto beats it hands down. The city’s laws and cultural policies also make the lifestyle here a bit boring, especially for those who aren’t used to this type of lifestyle.
2. Weather
Another significant difference between the two cities is the climate. As cities in Canada, both of them are cold. But Vancouver has warmer weather throughout the year compared to Toronto. The stability of Vancouver weather is due to being near the ocean. Beyond the fact that it has a warmer winter than Toronto, there’s another difference in the weather, and that’s in the precipitation. Vancouver generally experiences more rain than Toronto, and it has less snow annually compared to Toronto.
3. Location
Toronto has one of the proximate locations among Canadian cities. It’s close to Ottawa, Chicago, Montreal, and New York City. This proximity is what has made it an economic hub in the country. On the other hand, Vancouver is mostly bordered by the ocean and mountains. The closest major city to it is Seattle. Thus, it’s a bit far out and not as accessible. But, of course, that’s unlikely to bother many people that live there.
4. Economy
No city in Canada comes close to Toronto when it comes to the size of the economy. Toronto’s economy is bigger than that of many top countries, and it contributes 1/5 of Canadian GDP. Thus, its size dwarves that of Vancouver significantly. Moreover, the economy is equally diverse, with almost every major industry from manufacturing and service to technology and finance thriving significantly. So, if a city’s economy is ever a major consideration when moving to a city, then Toronto will always be the first choice.
In Conclusion
Toronto is the biggest city in Canada, both in population and landmass. Apart from the size, there are other differences between the two cities. But there are a few similarities too. One of such is the high standard of living which makes both cities great places to live.