Dear friends,
I have received my visa (valid till first week of Feb. 2018) and COPR. I am planning to land in the first week of Jan. 2018.
I need your kind advice on my landing options. I am willing to land and settle either in Toronto or Ottawa. I actually don't have any close relative at any part of Canada. So all provinces are same to me. However, I am considering factors like living expenses, job opportunities, weather, diversity and access to higher education (PhD) in making my decision about landing.
I know Toronto is a bigger, diverse and more vibrant city. Bigger cities offer more job opportunities but the level of competition is also high. Toronto also has a larger corporate landscape, which adds to the diverse job opportunities of the city. The cultural and entertainment options are also abundant compared to Ottawa. Also Toronto has a larger Asian migrant community, which makes you feel at home. Toronto also has a warmer weather compared to Ottawa. However, Toronto is more expensive and hyper. It's a bit like London, where I stayed for my Postgraduate study for sometimes.
Ottawa, on the other hand, is less expensive and has a lower unemployment rate. It's less hyper and less competitive to some extent (correct me if I am wrong). However, many people say being bilingual gives you an edge in getting a job in Ottawa. It's also a bit colder than Toronto and many people say it's a boring city.
I will be grateful if friends in the forum help me make a wiser decision.
Should it be Toronto or Ottawa?
I am not super rich by the way! I work in the higher education sector.