Moving to Mississauga?

Mississauga is Toronto's neighbour and borders Lake Ontario, which provides its residents with stunning views. Home of the Toronto Pearson International Airport, Canada’s busiest airport, it is the 2nd most populated city in the GTA. Mississauga was formed by an amalgamation of small villages and hamlets, giving the city a unique feel with no single downtown area. A lot of people that live in Mississauga commute to Toronto for work and to enjoy the nightlife, clubs, theatres, restaurants, etc.

Who lives in Mississauga?

Mississauga’s residents tend to work and play in Toronto, but want more space than they can afford in the big city. Unfortunately, that means a lot of Mississauga residents haven’t really chosen the city; instead, they sort of got stuck with it due to budget. This can create some resentment among area’s many families and students. The city is diverse, with a large South Asian population, as well as a strong Chinese community, and cultural identities all tend to be strong and well-respected within Mississauga. It’s perfect for students at local schools and families who like to do their own things.

What’s Mississauga’s culture?

Life in Mississauga is lived at home or on the road. Everyone drives everywhere – and are often on the move, getting from one place to the next. Because of this, there is a sense that no one in the city really gets to know one another. But if you are willing to make your own community, Mississauga could be the perfect fit.

What is Mississauga’s housing market?

Recently, housing in Mississauga had a little dip in price, but now it is rebounding higher than ever. For the right price, you can get almost anything you want. For gorgeous condos and apartment buildings, there are the towers by Square One. For houses, there are places sprinkled throughout the city, giving you your pick of neighbourhoods. The only challenges are the prices – and the fact that places get snapped up quickly in the most desirable parts of the city, such as by the highways or GO Stations. This can make finding a place exactly where you want to live quite challenging.

Tips for apartment hunting in Mississauga

The demand for rentals in Mississauga doubled in 2021, as university students went back to classes in-person after the peak of the pandemic. With rentals in high demand, you do need to be actively looking and ready to sign an application at a showing – bring your ID and references with you to beat the rush. With the surge in demand and a forecast of an even tighter rental market, rental prices are expected to increase even further.

Something you should know:

Mississauga is pretty spread out, so it is important to have a car to get around. If you don’t have a car, be cautious about the neighbourhoods you look at, as you may find yourself having a lengthy commute. We strongly advise taking transit in any neighbourhood several times before commiting to the area if you are not moving with a vehicle.

Getting around in Mississauga

Mississauga has a strong transit system heading into and out of Toronto, but the service within town is not always the best. There are also several major highways that cut through the city, including the 401, 403, and 410. The city has a scenic waterfront area in the south, as well as the University of Toronto Mississauga campus. Close to campus is Credit Valley Hospital. If you are looking for restaurants and charm, Streetsville is the place to go. For shopping and fun, though, hit Square One Mall and Playdium – a huge arcade perfect for kids and adults. Head to the northeast to find Pearson Airport, as well as a number of large conference centres.

Mississauga points of interest:

Celebration Square
City Hall
Credit River
Port Credit Lighthouse
Playdium
Square One
Absolute World Towers
Leslie Log House
Benares Historic House
Streetsville