Why you'd want to live in Mississauga

Mississauga has grown over the years from a suburb of Toronto to the sixth largest city in Canada. It has recently developed an urban skyline of its own, and has seen many years of prosperity under legendary former mayor, Hazel McCallion — known as Hurricane Hazel — who served for 36 years before her retirement in 2014. A strong economy, good infrastructure, decent property sizes, recognition for being the safest city in Canada, and relative proximity to Toronto, among other factors, have all contributed to Mississauga’s explosive growth. The city’s population has nearly doubled over the past two decades, welcoming many new immigrants. With its close proximity to Toronto, the city has become a post-secondary hub. Mississauga is home to a satellite campus for University of Toronto (with enrollment growing by roughly 1,000 students each year), and the opening of the Hazel McCallion Campus of Sheridan College in 2011. Housing With its robust economy, the cost of housing has gone up in Mississauga in recent years with the average cost for a single family now at $480,000. This is still below the average Toronto price but it is above the $400,000 average cost of a single family home in Canada. The cost of rental housing averages $1,325 per month for a one bedroom apartment in the city centre and $2,075 for a three bedroom apartment. Rental costs can be brought down by renting outside the city centre where one bedroom rents are an average of $915 per month and a three bedroom apartment averages $1,435 per month. While the cost of living in Mississauga is still less than in Toronto, as the economy and reputation of the city grows, so do the costs of living. Given its proximity to Toronto, and its lower housing prices, Mississauga is a popular place to live for commuters. Overall, general consumer prices are 2.4 per cent lower than in Toronto, and rental costs are a significant 19.5 per cent lower, making it an attractive option for newcomers. via Canadian Immigrant