Relocating to Markham , need advices

[soulbadguy]

Hi,I am currently in montreal and i might get a job in Markham . I know pretty much nothing about this (new) town, and i have only been in Toronto proper twice.So i would nice to hear from people from there , or better yet from people who relocated from Montreal to there. Especially i want to know

: 1 - How much should i be expecting to pay for the rent (for a 3 1/2)?


2 - How good is the public transportation service ? How much does the monthly card cost ?


3 - Could someone compared the cost of living with montreal ?Any additional information is welcome Thanks

[torontogal12]

Can't offer too much advice but here's what I can say.

Cost of living in Montreal will always be cheaper than anywhere near Toronto. I was shocked by how cheap everything (especially rent) is in MTL.

Look at Viva Buses and York Region Transit to learn more about transit. Markham is now officially a "city" because it has a large population, but it is suburban. You need to drive everywhere. No car= prison or very long commutes in Markham. Highway 407 cuts through Markham and makes it easy to get around but it is Ontario's only toll road and it really adds up. My husband spends $$$ on it

Markham has a lot of tech companies there. It's like Silicon Valley North.

I grew up in Toronto proper and have lived here most of my life. We visit my husband's family in Markham all the time and as a city girl I think it can be an entertaining place. They have a cute little museum, and a city fair. There's a big mall there (Markville) but most people seem to drive down to Fairview Mall to get a bigger selection. Pacific Mall has exclusively Chinese stores and is great if you're looking for that kind of stuff

There's a lot of great Asian grocery stores in Markham too. Foody Mart is a big one but you might have to run someone down to find a parking spot there because they need crowd control. Otherwise there is a very nice Italian grocery store (Garden Basket) that has impeccable produce, and a huge Loblaws and Walmart. Lots of restaurants, both chains and independents (though mostly chains). Markham is close to Stouffville and Durham Region where there are a lot of farmers fields if you like going to the farm to get produce or feel like hanging around a small town. Buttonville airport (for small planes) is going to close soon to fit a new upscale retail complex.

The Markham-Stouffville hospital is under major renovations and is getting a huge extension.

There is a nice new GO Transit station too which can connect you to Toronto's large Union Station which gives you access to subway and via rail. You can also take a Viva Bus to Finch subway station but it takes a long time. Most people just drive to Finch and park at that subway station. There's some new condo buildings being built near the GO station.


Markham wants to rival Toronto. They want a big stadium to steal all the concerts from us, and seem to want to grow even bigger than they are. Their city council makes good decisions though unlike the clowns in Toronto.

You should read the Markham Economist and Sun newspaper to find out more about local issues

Good luck with your move if you end up taking the job!

[Shwa Girl]

Hi,I am currently in montreal and i might get a job in Markham . I know pretty much nothing about this (new) town, and i have only been in Toronto proper twice.So i would nice to hear from people from there , or better yet from people who relocated from Montreal to there. Especially i want to know

: 1 - How much should i be expecting to pay for the rent (for a 3 1/2)?

Markham is becoming expensive to rent and to buy. Many people live in Markham and travel to Toronto to live. Get a recommendation from a real estate agent in Montreal, for a good one in Markham. Show them your budget and ask for at least 10 good, reputable rental choices. Can your new company help with temporary hotel accommodation so you can do some research when you are in Markham? It doesn't hurt to ask. Some companies do this. Ask your Human Resources department.


2 - How good is the public transportation service ? How much does the monthly card cost ?

Markham Transit (VIVA) is very well used. Many people use VIVA to connect to TTC to go to Toronto. VIVA can get a little pricey.
http://www.yrt.ca/en/

3 - Could someone compared the cost of living with montreal ?Any additional information is welcome

Food and groceries choices are very good -- competitive. Super Walmart, Food Basics, and No Frills are in Markham.

Money Sense magazine does a comparison of living in Canadian cities, every year.
http://www.moneysense.ca/2012/03/20/canadas-best-places-to-live-2012/

Thanks

Welcome to the GTA!

[soulbadguy]

Thanks for you advices guy , i guess i need to chat with the human resources departement.
My current worry is that i have been asked for salary expectation.I want to keep the same level of life i have in montreal.I now make about 60k and have a rent of 710 $. Want kind of money should i be making a year to maintain the same lifestyle ?
Thanks

[Ciel]

http://www.yorkregiontransit.com/en/aboutus/history.asp

Something that the transit service in York Region can offer that seems to be missing in Toronto is the real-time update of service at bus shelters on electronic signs (unlike Toronto unless you are down in the subway system where there are screens). Be aware that the public transit service is delivered through 3 companies-there was a contract (or were contracts) that workers went on strike over in the fall of 2011. Two of the companies, I believe, ended up accepting some kind of contract early this year.
Check to see if your prospective employer's office building is anyway near a transit route. It could be located by a major highway for visibility or access reasons, which could mean that buses may not be travelling nearby.


Markham is known to have a large demographic of residents of Asian heritage. http://www.torontosun.com/news/toron.../13166701.html

Besides Pacific Mall, there is another mall (one-storey?)next door plus a third one nearby on the south side of Steeles Ave. Pacific Mall is a hard spot to find parking at on a holiday when everyone and their visiting friends and family are at the mall.

The Markham Fairgrounds, besides hosting an annual fair, rents out its facilities for warehouse sales and large shows/events too.
Here's the city's website-read through it and see if it gives you an idea of the community.
City of Markham website:
http://www.markham.ca/wps/portal/Mar...vZ0FBIS9nQSEh/

There's a new arena coming to the area:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/arti...-massive-arena

[josephhinds]

I think relocating is the most important factor! If you plan to move one place to another place, then you needs to keep lots of things in your mind...like school, hospital and malls which are near or not?