Moving from Toronto to London, Ontario

Why so many GTA households are looking at London

London sits about 190 kilometres west of downtown Toronto along Highway 401. It's the largest city in Southwestern Ontario: Statistics Canada counted roughly 422,000 people in the city itself in the 2021 Census, and about 544,000 in the wider London census metropolitan area. That makes it big enough to have a teaching hospital network, a major university, a large college, a real downtown and an international airport, but small enough that most people can drive across it in about 25 minutes outside rush hour.

The reason most people from the GTA start looking is housing. A budget that buys a condo or an older semi in much of Toronto can often buy a detached house with a yard in London. We don't print price claims on this site because they go stale quickly. For current numbers, compare the monthly market reports from the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS (LSTAR) with the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB).

Housing isn't the only reason, though. Other common reasons include shorter commutes inside the city, space for kids, being closer to family in Southwestern Ontario, and remote or hybrid work that finally makes it possible. Moves tend to work best when people decide what they want first and then check whether London delivers it, rather than moving just because it's cheaper.

What this guide covers

The short version: who London suits

London tends to suit people who want more house and more green space for their money and are comfortable driving for most errands. It suits families who want a big-city hospital and university nearby without big-city prices. It suits hybrid workers who go into a Toronto office once or twice a week, or not at all. It also suits retirees who want to be close to family in the region.

It suits you less if you need to be in a downtown Toronto office five days a week (the drive and the rail options are covered honestly on our getting around page). It's also a harder fit if you depend on very specialised industries that cluster in Toronto, or if you'd miss Toronto's scale of nightlife, food and culture. London has a lively downtown and plenty to do. We list our favourites on the things to do page. But it's a mid-sized city, and it's better to know that going in.

How a typical GTA-to-London move unfolds

1. Decide what you're optimising for

   Space, schools, commute, being near family, lifestyle. Rank them. It will make every later decision easier.

2. Do a weekday scouting trip

   Come on a Tuesday, not a Saturday. Drive your likely commute at rush hour, visit two or three neighbourhoods, and walk around after dinner.

3. Get your financing in order

   Talk to a lender or mortgage broker about whether you'll sell first, buy first, or need a bridge loan.

4. Line up local help

   A London-based agent, a real estate lawyer and a home inspector who knows the city's older housing stock.

5. Coordinate closing dates

   Ideally your GTA sale closes a few days after your London purchase, so you have keys before you have to leave.

6. Set up your new life

   Utilities, address changes, school registration and a family doctor search. See our setup checklist.

A few things GTA movers are often surprised by

• No municipal land transfer tax. Toronto charges its own land transfer tax on top of Ontario's. London doesn't, so you'll pay only the provincial tax on a London purchase.
• The snow. London generally gets more snow than Toronto because of lake-effect bands off Lake Huron. Read our winter guide before you choose between a long driveway and a short one.
• Traffic is different, not absent. Rush hour exists, especially on a few north–south arteries, but a "bad" commute here is usually measured in extra minutes rather than extra hours.
• The beaches. Grand Bend on Lake Huron and Port Stanley on Lake Erie are both close enough for an easy day trip.

RE

Your local agent

Rayna Elabed, Sales Representative

When you're moving from the GTA, the hardest things to judge from a distance are local: which streets back onto a busy arterial, how a neighbourhood feels on a weekday evening, and whether a list price is in line with what similar homes nearby actually sold for. That's where a London-based agent earns their keep.

Rayna Elabed is a Sales Representative with CENTURY 21 First Canadian Corp., Brokerage, based at the brokerage's downtown office on York Street. She works with buyers on the search and the negotiation, and with sellers on pricing and marketing. You can browse current London listings and reach her directly through her CENTURY 21 page.

Browse London listings with Rayna Why use a local agent?

Start here

If you're early in your thinking, read Is London right for you? next. If you've decided and need a plan, go straight to the 12-month timeline. And if you have a specific question, such as whether OHIP changes or whether you can keep your Toronto job, our FAQ probably answers it.

Last reviewed October 30, 2026.