Having made the move to Vancouver and back again, six years later, I thought it would be appropriate to post the following as I'm asked constantly the comparison between Toronto and Vancouver. Here are a list of the most common, starting with...
Weather: if you love four seasons, stay in Toronto. Although Vancouver and most of the west coast for that matter is in a very temperate zone that renders the surroundings Green and lush, that comes at the expense of an above average amount of rain versus the rest of the country. I sometimes wonders how could anyone in Vancouver or Victoria deserve having a Canadian passport where winter tires are a rarity.
The Landscape: hands down Mother Nature has blessed the west coast with mountains resulting from plate tectonics on the Pacific side of the country. Despite that, skiing does exist in Ontario and Quebec although not to the same degree of elevation as in BC.
Health care: if anyone has reviewed the financial statements of your province (like I have), Canada's provinces and territories are essentially health care providers as that is the number one expenditure (with education a distant second). However, in BC, an extra charge of ~$75 is billed on top of one of the cheapest provincial tax rates in the country )unlike here in Ontario). This is covered by most employers.
Marijuana: the laws may be the same but the attitudes are not. Just saying away from encouragement but beyond acceptance is where the marijuana issue lies. Some thing changes West of the Rockies and as such interpretation of rules are...misinterpreted or even flat out ignored.
Physical Activity: it is contagious when your co-workers are cycling to work in the morning or running during the lunch hour or come in Monday morning full of skiing or hiking stories. However, there is a certain smugness too about it on top of British Columbians' luck of living in God's country.
Music: with the exception of the Commodore, the smaller venues and live music events tend to come and go in Vancouver. Due to the sheer size of Toronto, the choices between an open mic event and the top grossing concert at ACC are endless and it is likely you will find something for any eclectic interest in between.
Restaurants: Yaletown is concentrated between two short streets where you will find most of the restaurant scene in Vancouver with exception of establishments in Coal Harbour, Stanley Park or Queen Elizabeth Park. Toronto is much more spread out making it difficult to answer the questions "what do you feel like?" Or "where do you want to go?" . Lots of amazing seafood and sushi restaurants in Vancouver, of course.
Electricity/Power: most of the power needs to heat your home, run the laundry machine etc comes from BC Hydro only (yes, no additional gas bill at the end of the month). In other words, logic has prevailed in BC whereby a 1,000 sq ft uses approximately $26 to $28 per month and is bulled $26 to $28 per month. Not so in Toronto. With some Liberal math and the "greening" (in others words, past Liberal mistakes of cancelling contracts, shutting down coal plants, wind turbines at all costs and selling power away to neighbouring States), that same electricity bill will run you three to four times higher.
Taxes: BC has the lowest provincial tax rate in the country. While in Ontario, the provincial government is copying the Federal Liberal government in spending like drunken sailors and taxing us to oblivion.
Property Taxes: from my limited experience there was not much difference, I think lower in BC; however, in BC you can receive a credit in the amount of approximately $400.
Cycling: I will need a season to reply objectively; however, a very under rated waterfront trail system exists in Toronto connecting you to as far as Niagara in the south west and Prince Edward county in the east.
So take your pick on the aforementioned items and make your own scorecard based on your priorities.
More about BC and the recent election forthcoming....
