Moving from Toronto to Burlington

What the move
changes

For houses, Burlington costs less. In September 2026 a typical detached home was about $235,000 below the City of Toronto’s, and a semi about $238,000 below. For townhouses and condos the gap is much smaller.

You also skip Toronto’s municipal land transfer tax, which on most homes doubles the tax you pay on closing. Burlington’s property tax rate is higher than Toronto’s, and three GO stations on the Lakeshore West line connect the city to Union Station.

Toronto and Burlington,
September 2026

Source: TRREB Market Watch, MLS® Home Price Index, September 2026. A benchmark is the modelled price of a typical home of that type, not an average sale. We use TRREB for both cities here so the comparison is like for like; our market report uses Cornerstone’s Burlington figures, which differ slightly.

From a year earlier, benchmarks fell in both: Toronto’s detached by 4.48% and Burlington’s by 2.90%.

The tax
you skip

In Toronto, buyers pay the Ontario land transfer tax and the City’s municipal land transfer tax. Toronto’s rates match Ontario’s up to $3,000,000, so on most homes the tax is paid twice. Burlington has no municipal land transfer tax.

First-time buyers get up to $4,000 back on the Ontario tax wherever they buy, and in Toronto up to $4,475 more on the municipal tax. See closing costs and land transfer tax for the rest of what you pay on closing day.

A higher rate
in Burlington

Toronto’s 2026 total residential rate is 0.767311% of assessed value. Burlington’s 2026 urban residential rate is $1,015.29 per $100,000, about 1.015%, covering the city, Halton Region and education.

On a home assessed at $700,000, that is about $5,371 a year in Toronto and $7,107 in Burlington. Both are charged on MPAC assessed values, which for 2026 are still based on January 1, 2016, so compare the actual tax bills of the homes you’re looking at.

Three GO
stations

Burlington has three stations on GO Transit’s Lakeshore West line, with trains to Union Station:

• Appleby GO — 5111 Fairview Street, east Burlington
• Burlington GO — 2101 Fairview Street, central Burlington
• Aldershot GO — 1199 Waterdown Road, west Burlington

Trip times depend on the station and the train, so check GO Transit’s schedule for the trips you would actually take, at the times you would take them. By car, the QEW, Highway 403 and Highway 407 all run through Burlington.

Burlington areas
Toronto buyers consider

Downtown Burlington. The city’s walkable core, by the lake and Spencer Smith Park, with many condos and townhomes. See Downtown Burlington.

Aldershot. West Burlington, with its own GO station and the Royal Botanical Gardens nearby. See Aldershot.

Roseland and the south end. Mature, tree-lined streets close to the lake. See Roseland.

Alton Village and the north. Newer family subdivisions with Highway 407 access. See Alton Village.

Compare every area in our Burlington neighbourhood guide, or take the neighbourhood quiz.

Timing
both moves

Selling in Toronto first tells you exactly what you have to spend, but you may need somewhere to stay between closings.

Buying in Burlington first secures the home you want, but you may carry two homes or need bridge financing until the sale closes.

Either way, ask your lender early about moving your mortgage to the new home and what a payout would cost. Our cost to sell guide covers the selling side, and our moving to Burlington guide covers schools, parks and daily life.

Toronto to Burlington FAQ

General information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Prices from TRREB Market Watch, September 2026. Tax rates from the City of Toronto, the City of Burlington, ontario.ca and MPAC. Station addresses from GO Transit.