Posted on: 05-04-10 02:59:34
Hi all – My PR has come through and so my family and me plan to move to Toronto from Delhi sometime in end of May /early June. Like all immigrants we are also a bit apprehensive and so had a few questions to ask and would be grateful for any information that you could provide.
1) What is the cost of living for a family of three (my daughter is 1.5 years) in Toronto?
2) Since I don’t want to get into a long term lease right now could you suggest some places to stay in Toronto that are child friendly and reasonably priced (The best scenario would be if I could get a furnished 1 Br apartment for 1 month in the Toronto area which would be close to the subway and market)
3) Can I get a prepaid mobile connection the day I land and if yes then from where and what documents will I have to show? Also if I get a tri-band phone from India then will it work in Canada?
4) Can I drive in Canada on a US license? (I was in the US for a couple of years and so have a valid US drivers license and so was wondering if I could use it up-till the time I get a Canadian license) If not then can I drive on an international license (I can get one from India)
I know some of these questions are pretty loaded but would really appreciate any help that I could get
Quote:
Originally posted by confu
Hi all – My PR has come through and so my family and me plan to move to Toronto from Delhi sometime in end of May /early June. Like all immigrants we are also a bit apprehensive and so had a few questions to ask and would be grateful for any information that you could provide.
1) What is the cost of living for a family of three (my daughter is 1.5 years) in Toronto?
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It is hard to provide you unless you specify. For an example
1BRHK Basement Apt. will be around >$800.00 You have to be here at the right time, At the start of the school year, it will be hard to find one. Make sure you have all of the facilities, such as Free Hydro, Phone, TV and Internet and laundry facilities. That is bonus for the price. But a 2BHK in a condo will go for $1000.00 But then you will have to add all of the costs of the frills.
Food will be around $3.00 per person per day or $300.00 for all of you. Add other costs if you are eating outside. Cook one meal and eat one outside is also possible, play with the figure's quoted.
Transportation around $100/m. for each of you. The kid rides free.
Medicals around $3.00/day for the whole family or about $100/m
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Quote:
Originally posted by confu
Hi all –
....
2) Since I don’t want to get into a long term lease right now could you suggest some places to stay in Toronto that are child friendly and reasonably priced (The best scenario would be if I could get a furnished 1 Br apartment for 1 month in the Toronto area which would be close to the subway and market)
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You will have to look into Kijiji, Craigslist and the CD Classified here, for rooms, Basements and condo's etc., and find one suitable, right from where you are. Short list them. Then when you land here for a first few days go to a Guest House. Then while you are there, visit the rentals that you short listed, and select that apartment. OR if you have friends, ask them for such help. You might loose a day in the move. But it will be well worth it. It will cost you another Taxi fare when you move a second time. Also pay a little extra for a good furnished place. If the place is in GTA you will have all of what you are looking for within in a short distance of all of these rentals. A block is about a mile and half square. There is a plaza in each block. So, you can't go wrong.
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Quote:
Originally posted by confu
Hi all –
4) Can I drive in Canada on a US license? (I was in the US for a couple of years and so have a valid US drivers license and so was wondering if I could use it up-till the time I get a Canadian license) If not then can I drive on an international license (I can get one from India)
I know some of these questions are pretty loaded but would really appreciate any help that I could get
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You can drive in Canada with a US License, if your US License has a Valid address. Since you don't, I am unable to comment, so go for the International One and the Indian Automobile Association or the AAA in US will be able to provide you with one. See where you can get it. Join and pay their annual dues and then consider getting the I.D.L. (Since you can)
The questions are not loaded, but needs careful evaluation and I may be off by a mile or pretty close, only if things pan out the way i am thinking. It is the thought process that counts and I am level headed while I respond to each one's query and some times I miss half the query. That is because it is passed my bed time.
Freddie.
Hi Freddie - thanks for the quick response. your replies were pretty much on target. However i had one more query and would be grateful if you could answer
Can I get a prepaid mobile connection the day I land and if yes then from where and what documents will I have to show? Also if I get a tri-band phone from India then will it work in Canada with a Canadian prepaid connection?
TKS
confu
Most of the phone manufacturers make a QUAD Band phone. So, see if you can get one. That should work in most of the places. CDMA is slowly getting replaced. So, avoid them.
We are mostly on the GSM Mode. So, one with a chip might work here also. I have seen a FEW Blackberries, that do. There are a few service suppliers of Paygo services, such as Rogers, Koodoo, and currently there is public mobile, I have not talked with them to give you an estimate, BUT, if there are no contracts as they say, see if you can get their $40 package,for unlimited use of talk and text.
http://www.publicmobile.ca/portal/consumer/home/home.xhtml
Then there are more.... Please see the topics on CD. They have covered them all.
Freddie.
check on solo, virgin, and wind. depends on your needs. If you are interested in sending sms/text international free then solo is good deal. They give $25/- unlimited international text. After 7 pm to 7 am and weekend free unlimited calls. But during daytime, calls are charged.
if you go for wind, unlimited free 24 hours incoming and outgoing for $35 pm but they charge for sms/text.
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The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
Mahatma Gandhi
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The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
Mahatma Gandhi
