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I am trying to find a city that matches NYC in the western hemisphere.. I think Toronto maybe it (I'm watching House Hunters International on HGTV).. Has anyone lived/been to both? How do they compare as far as city life, night life, mass transit(subways,light rails,easy access with no car) ,diversity, opportunity?
I've lived in Toronto and moved to NYC area. To me they are very different. NYC feels like a real big city while Toronto feels more like a typical American mid-sized city. NYC is just in a totally different league in terms of urban life. Maybe Chicago is a much closer match.
Though I would still say if you wanna live more peacefully with Canadian system, Toronto is probably a better place.
Last edited by JMT; 05-15-2012 at 09:38 AM..
Reason: Comparing North American to non-N.A. cities is not allowed.
I agree with everyone else. I think Toronto matches or is slightly better thanevery other major US city like DC, Philly, Chicago, San Fran etc. NYC is way bigger and way more of everything (including crime though).
I've lived in Toronto and moved to NYC area. To me they are very different. NYC feels like a real big city while Toronto feels more like a typical American mid-sized city. NYC is just in a totally different league in terms of urban life. Maybe Chicago is a much closer match (or London or Paris if you include Europe too).
Though I would still say if you wanna live more peacefully with Canadian system, Toronto is probably a better place.
Agree-- Toronto is somewhere between Chicago and Philadelphia in size, scope and feel. Toronto is probably much more liveable than NYC as well. NYC is great, but it's a beast.
I don't agree that Toronto merely matches other American cities, city life, night life and mass transit are superior to American cities as is quality of life, as defined by low crime and access to medical care etc. Toronto is a top-tier cultural capital and is built out on a scale that can impress a New Yorker, but make no mistake Yonge St. is like having ONE of Manhattans great avenues. New York has a whole bunch of them. Chicago has the 'magnificent mile'... but that's not a whole avenue.
Regardless, visually Chicago is the only city that really competes with New York. Toronto achieves the highest population that is strictly 'urban', far more than any American city outside of new York. So if it's city living you are looking for maybe it'll do.
oh wow, any Canadian city is close? maybe montreal? (well that reminded me more of new orleans)
Toronto is the closest in Canada, but no Canadian city is really comparable to New York City. And that's understandable when you consider that the New York City CSA population is almost two-thirds the entire population of Canada.
In the western hemisphere, Mexico City and Sao Paulo might be closest to New York City. But I can't say for sure since I haven't been to those two cities.
Toronto is probably the closest thing to NYC in The US and Canada in terms of urban living, density, diversity, nightlife, glitz, creative vibe, interesting neighbourhoods, hi-rise living, skyscraper construction, mass transit, media concentration etc., and may match or even exceed NYC in some ways (such as skyscraper construction), but NYC is obviously a much bigger city - 3 times the size to be exact.
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