Good place to live for young twenty something grad students? (apartments, rental)

[iliveinfantasy]

My girlfriend and I are currently looking into moving to Toronto. We are both halfway through graduate school for our Masters in Library Science. We are both living off of student budgets--less than $20,000 a year per person. That will hopefully change somewha quickly if we can get jobs after we graduate (in a year). Neither of us is interested in a super active nightlife, not partners or club-goers, but we do like "doing things." Parks, events, bookstores, biking, movies, etc. not super interested in suburbs.

Unknown it sounds a bit crazy, but any feedback would be super helpful! Thank you!

[Commander Beth]

Welcome, fellow MLS :-)

With your pooled income you can find a basement apartment just about anywhere, and every neighbourhood in downtown Toronto is pretty fab and has its own community amenities. Maybe try one of the Victorian houses in the Little Italy/Little Portugal/Dufferin Grove Park areas, which are all beautiful and happening. Go farther west and it gets slightly more affordable.

I'd look for something in Parkdale. You'll be close to the arts community, Queen West street car, delicious food and might even find an affordable one-bedroom. Cabbagetown and surrounding area is mixed income, too. Up around Annette Street in The Junction is a frequently overlooked nook.

I spent most of my life in the downtown west end so I'm kind of biased towards the neighbourhoods there, since it's what I know intimately. But really, you should cast your net wide and search by price, and then do some research on the neighbourhoods you find.

[iliveinfantasy]

Thank you so much! I'll have to take a look at those areas. Any idea how those areas
Are pet-wise? We have a couple of cats who have become family and we are not willing to give up.

Also, always fun to meet another MLS!

[Commander Beth]

Originally Posted by iliveinfantasy

Thank you so much! I'll have to take a look at those areas. Any idea how those areas
Are pet-wise? We have a couple of cats who have become family and we are not willing to give up.

Also, always fun to meet another MLS!

Rules about pets in apartments are not based on the area you live in, it's based on the building you choose. However, even if a landlord tries to tell you there are no pets allowed, the rule has no teeth. They can only evict you if the pet is disruptive or "a dangerous breed".

Under the law you can't prevent a tenant from bringing a pet into a rental anywhere in Toronto, (unless it's a condo with a specific declaration about that), but you can refuse to rent to someone in the first place because of it.

Good luck.