To choose where to rent in Toronto by commute, start from where you need to be, then look for homes within a short walk of a frequent rapid transit line (subway Lines 1, 2 or 4, or the new Line 5 Eglinton and Line 6 Finch West LRTs) that gets you there with one transfer or fewer. Before you sign, test the trip at rush hour. With PRESTO or a tapped bank card, an adult TTC fare is $3.30 and includes a two-hour transfer, and since September 2026 your trips are free after 47 paid trips in a month.
Here's how the network fits together, what it costs in late 2026, and how to estimate a commute properly.
Key takeaways
- Rapid transit first. Living within a 10-minute walk of a subway or LRT station usually beats a closer address that relies on one slow bus.
- Count transfers, not kilometres. Each transfer adds waiting time and risk.
- Fares (ttc.ca): $3.30 adult with PRESTO, debit or credit; $3.35 cash.
- Monthly fare capping: free TTC trips after 47 paid trips in a calendar month, if you tap the same way every time.
- Line 5 Eglinton and Line 6 Finch West are open, which changes the math for midtown and northwest Toronto.
The rapid transit network in late 2026
| Line | Route | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Line 1 Yonge-University | U-shaped line from Finch and Vaughan Metropolitan Centre through Union Station | The backbone for downtown commutes |
| Line 2 Bloor-Danforth | East-west from Kipling to Kennedy | Connects with Line 1 at St George, Bloor-Yonge and Spadina |
| Line 4 Sheppard | Short line from Sheppard-Yonge to Don Mills | Useful along Sheppard Avenue East; transfer to Line 1 at Sheppard-Yonge |
| Line 5 Eglinton | LRT with 25 stations and stops from Mount Dennis to Kennedy | Connects with Lines 1 and 2 and two GO lines |
| Line 6 Finch West | 11 km LRT with 18 stations and stops from Finch West Station (Line 1) to Humber College Station | Serves Humber Polytechnic's North Campus |
Line 5 Eglinton: open, in a phased start
Line 5 began a phased opening on February 8, 2026. The TTC said the introductory period would let it fine-tune operations before announcing full, regularly scheduled service, and that end-to-end trips would take about 50 to 55 minutes, compared with up to 105 minutes by bus. From April 5, 2026, train service was extended later into the night, with trains about every four minutes at the busiest times. Metrolinx describes the full line as up to 60% faster than before for crossing the city. Because service details were still being adjusted during 2026, check ttc.ca for current hours before relying on a late-night trip.
Line 5 makes midtown neighbourhoods along Eglinton, such as Mount Dennis, Forest Hill, Leaside and the Golden Mile area, far more practical for commuters heading downtown or across the city.
Line 6 Finch West: open since December 2025
Line 6 opened on December 7, 2025. It runs from Finch West Station, where you can transfer to Line 1, to Humber College Station, with connections to about 30 TTC bus routes and to regional transit such as MiWay and York Region Transit. From March 15, 2026, the TTC extended train service to 1 a.m. daily.
Line 3 Scarborough: replaced by buses
The old Line 3 Scarborough is closed. Replacement bus routes now use the Scarborough Busway, built along part of the former Line 3 corridor, between Kennedy Station and Ellesmere Road.
Streetcars, buses and late-night service
- Streetcars cover much of downtown and the inner neighbourhoods. They're convenient but can be slow in traffic.
- Buses fill in the rest of the city and feed into subway and LRT stations.
- Blue Night Network routes run overnight on most major routes, from about 1:30 a.m. until subway service starts, every 30 minutes or better. If you work late shifts, check whether a 300-series Blue Night route serves the address.
On Line 5 and Line 6 there's no onboard payment: pay before boarding (tap, or use the cash machines on surface platforms) and keep your proof of payment.
TTC fares in late 2026
According to ttc.ca:
| Payment | Adult | Youth (13-19) | Senior (65+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| PRESTO card | $3.30 | $2.35 | $2.25 |
| Debit or credit tap | $3.30 | $3.30 | $3.30 |
| Cash | $3.35 | $2.40 | $2.30 |
Children 12 and under ride free. Post-secondary students pay the adult fare per trip but can still buy a Post-Secondary Student Monthly Pass ($128.15). A PRESTO card costs $4, or you can add PRESTO to your phone's wallet for free. Since March 2, 2026, PRESTO cards need enough balance to cover the full fare before you tap.
Two-hour transfer
When you pay with a PRESTO card, PRESTO Ticket, or debit or credit card, a two-hour transfer applies automatically: further TTC taps within two hours of your first tap aren't charged again. Cash fares don't include the two-hour transfer.
One Fare means you pay only once when connecting between the TTC and GO Transit, Brampton Transit, Durham Region Transit, MiWay or York Region Transit, as long as you tap with PRESTO or a bank card (not cash or a PRESTO Ticket).
Monthly fare capping
Monthly fare capping took effect on September 1, 2026, and most monthly passes were discontinued on August 31, 2026. How it works:
- Tap the same PRESTO card, debit or credit card, or phone every time.
- Once you've made 47 paid trips in a calendar month, the rest of your TTC trips that month are free.
- A paid trip is the first tap that starts a two-hour transfer window; taps inside that window are free and don't count.
- Cash, PRESTO Tickets and paper transfers don't count toward the cap.
- Switching between a physical card and the same card in your phone counts as two separate payment methods.
- Keep tapping after you reach the cap, because your tap is your proof of payment.
At the adult PRESTO fare, 47 trips works out to $155.10 a month. A typical five-day commuter making two paid trips a day may not reach the cap every month, so they simply pay as they go. Post-secondary students who ride often may still save with the student monthly pass, which the TTC recommends they keep using.
How to estimate a commute before you sign
- List your fixed destinations: work or campus, plus anywhere you go two or more times a week.
- Plan with your real arrival time. Use the TTC trip planner or a map app set to arrive at, say, 8:55 a.m. on a weekday.
- Add the hidden minutes: the walk to the stop, the wait, each transfer and the walk at the other end.
- Do a test run at rush hour before you sign. Notice crowding and whether you'd get a seat.
- Check the return trip late in the evening and on weekends, when frequencies drop.
- Have a backup route in case of a subway closure or a missed connection.
- Price it. Two paid trips a day for most of the month is close to the cap, so budget around the capped amount if you commute daily and ride on weekends too.
Quick rules of thumb
- One frequent line with no transfers beats a shorter distance with two transfers.
- A 15-minute walk to a subway station is often faster than a bus that comes every 15 minutes.
- The new Line 5 and Line 6 stations widen your options, so compare listings along those lines too, not just near Line 1 and Line 2.
For neighbourhood ideas, see best Toronto neighbourhoods for students and for young professionals. Use our rental viewing checklist to plan the commute test around your viewing, and weigh transit costs against rent with our guide to the cost of renting a room in Toronto.
Let commute shape your search
On ColivEase, roommate matching considers area and commute along with budget and move-in date, so you can find people heading in the same direction. Listing maps show an approximate area of about 350 metres until an application is accepted, which is enough to judge the walk to a station. Search by area on ColivEase.
Bottom line
Pick the line before you pick the apartment. Aim for a short walk to Line 1, 2, 4, 5 or 6 with one transfer or fewer, test the trip at rush hour, and budget using the 2026 fares: $3.30 per adult PRESTO trip with free TTC rides after 47 paid trips a month. Check ttc.ca for the latest service changes before you sign.
This article is general information, not legal or financial advice, based on ttc.ca and Metrolinx pages checked in November 2026. Fares, service hours and policies change, so confirm details on ttc.ca. For questions about your lease or rights as a renter, contact the Landlord and Tenant Board or a community legal clinic.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a TTC fare in 2026?
According to ttc.ca, an adult fare is $3.30 with a PRESTO card or a tapped debit or credit card, and $3.35 in cash. PRESTO fares for youth (13 to 19) are $2.35 and for seniors $2.25, and children 12 and under ride free. Paying with PRESTO or a card also gives you a two-hour transfer; cash does not.
How does TTC monthly fare capping work?
Since September 1, 2026, if you tap the same PRESTO card, debit or credit card, or phone every time, your TTC trips are free after 47 paid trips in a calendar month. A paid trip is the first tap that starts a two-hour transfer window. Cash and PRESTO Tickets don't count, and the count resets on the first of each month.
Is Line 5 Eglinton open?
Yes. Line 5 Eglinton began a phased opening on February 8, 2026, with 25 stations and stops between Mount Dennis and Kennedy, connecting with Lines 1 and 2. The TTC extended its hours from April 5, 2026 as it worked toward full regular service. Check ttc.ca for current hours and any service changes.
Can I still buy a TTC monthly pass?
Most monthly passes were discontinued on August 31, 2026, when fare capping started. The Adult 12-Month Pass and the Post-Secondary Student Monthly Pass, which ttc.ca lists at $128.15, are still available. Other riders now rely on monthly fare capping instead of buying a pass upfront.
How do I test a commute before signing a lease?
Use the TTC trip planner or a map app with your real arrival time, then do the trip yourself at rush hour on a weekday. Note the walk to the stop, the wait, transfers and crowding. Check the route again for late evenings and weekends, and see whether a Blue Night route serves the area if you work late.
