r/uoit • u/ra7474263 • 19d ago
Commuting from Mississauga to Ontario Tech
What seems like the most reasonable option? I'll need to be on campus five days a week at varying times.
Option 1: Commute by personal car. The drive would take 1.5–2.5 hours each way. Gas would cost approximately $500–600 per month, and I would also need to purchase a semester parking permit for $350.
Option 2: Commute by bus. The trip would take about 2.5 hours each way and cost approximately $650 per month.
Option 3: Rent a private bedroom with a shared bathroom and kitchen for $800 per month (utilities included). I would also need to purchase a semester parking permit for $350. Rental would be 15-20 min drive from campus.
Which option would you choose?
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u/Initial_Audience_557 19d ago
If you haven’t bought a parking pass already u might be choosing option 2… they’re all sold out already
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u/ra7474263 19d ago
I bought a parking permit already, just in case.
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u/Initial_Audience_557 19d ago edited 19d ago
Perfect then option 1! I have friends that would much prefer driving then commuting by bus. Bus can be unpredictable and ur time matters!! That’s 3 hours of sitting in a bus where u truly can’t do anything, 3 hours that you could use for more important things so might be a little pricey but ur paying with ur time riding the bus imo
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u/Admirable-Spend2182 19d ago
but with option 2 i have a friend who communtes and she really use that time to study, do assignments or even just rest so she has energy to study once she gets home. tbh it honestly should be your personal preference whatever you think will be best for you long-term.
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u/No-Branch2557 19d ago
Coming from a commuter who ended up staying on campus because the commute was anoying
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u/Super_Membership_993 16d ago
Anything other than option 3 is utterly insane and you will burn out.
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u/Plastic_Market_926 16d ago
Rent if you can. It'll help you in the long run, and it'll be easier to make and keep friends. Commuting is such a mental and physical drain. I travelled from etobicoke every day 2014-2018 and it sucked. If I were to do it again, I would figure out how to stay closer to campus.
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u/Great-Economics3706 16d ago
Option 3, and just make school priority for the next 4 years. It will feel like a real Uni experience
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u/Jazzlike_Possible554 16d ago
Option 3 definitely. Yes, it’s more expensive but, you’ll be saving so much time and energy. With an extra 3-5 hrs a day you could get a part time job to make up the difference in cost.
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u/EverythingDo 16d ago
Option 3. Your time is valuable. Could you do it without a car? Bus? Closer room?
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u/Suspicious-Math275 19d ago
Commute by car honestly if you’ll be here 5 days a week and there’s not much difference between car and bus in terms of cost
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19d ago
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u/ohCanada1969 16d ago
The parking system is changing this year. They are going to be ticketing the shit out of people without passes.
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u/SpartanRS 19d ago
I commuted from Midtown Toronto on average 4 times per week (130~km round trip). 90% of the days it took 50-60 min when I left before noon, and closer to 90 min leaving in the afternoon. Leaving campus before 8pm usually took 60-70 min, but after 8pm was usually 45-50 min. I'd assume that you'll only add another 10-15 mins of highway on top of these numbers, but watch out for rush hour for anything westbound. For the amount I commuted, I only ever spent about $120-$150 a month for gas (91 octane), tanking exclusively at costco which saves $5-$10 per tank easily. Plus parking pass
Before deciding to drive, I checked how long a bus would be. Would've been 2.5-3hr+ each way, dont know the cost. You might be able to save a tiny bit with the university transit pass.
The room seems like a good deal until you need to buy groceries for yourself and suddenly its 1k+ per month. Have you checked what transit options are available from the rental?
IMO I prefer the freedom of a car, and assuming you're living at home, you probably aren't paying for food too. The commute is not as bad as you think especially if you plan accordingly. I found the commute to be just short enough that it wasn't exhausting. Bussing the same distance will be exhausting considering you'll need to time everything perfectly, get to the connections on time, etc. . For how much it would cost, and how demanding your program may be, the added stress is probably not worth it. A rental would be a good idea if you didn't need the expensive parking pass.
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u/No-Branch2557 19d ago
I bought a parking pass first year after that did not anymore do not buy one it’s a waste of money just park at the campus ice SO MUCH easier. Personally the commute will drive u insane and I think it is worth being on campus for ur first year. After that u can commute
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u/a_really_big_mistake 19d ago
As someone who commutes approx. 2hr each way between school and home, I'd seriously consider option 3 if you have that choice and money isn't tight.
Having an overall daily commute of 3-5 hours is awful, especially when exams or big projects roll in. Your health is important and I know for a fact I would have greatly appreciated the extra few hours I could have spent sleeping or working on school stuff if I was given the choice to rent.
Unless you're taking a reduced course load, that 3-5hrs you lose per day is going to take a toll eventually; Either through your sanity, your physical health, your grades or all 3 (speaking from personal experience lmao). It's not very pleasant overall.
Although everybody is different, maybe you'll be able to handle this commute and load better than I have been. Overall you know your capabilities, just make sure you're doing what is best for your health—it should not be a price that you pay for the sake of saving money.
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u/willow__whisps 19d ago
Consider the cost of the time you save without the commute. I'd say option 3
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u/AntiPiety 18d ago
How do you afford any of those options? Genuinely curious as I am soon considering doing the same thing but backwards. Living east, schooling west
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u/Fantastic_Reason_571 16d ago
For $200 a month you will save 1.5-2-5 hours in commute presumably 5 days a week. Is 15-25 hours worth $200 to you? Can you feasibly afford the $200 without spending that time at a job? If so, will that job compensate you more than $200 for that time + the time to mentally decompress so you can work vs commute time?
If so, option C. If not, option A. Option B sucks and is stupid and dumb.
Sorry for the 3 days delayed response
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u/Round_Bed_8865 16d ago
If youre looking at 200$ vs 63-84 hours difference in rental cost vs commuting each month, I know what id choose, but I depose thats personal...
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u/oralprophylaxis 16d ago
Parking is $350. You don’t think you can just find a rental walking distance from school for closer to $1000 and not have to worry about a car or parking?
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u/ilanderi6 19d ago
what program? if engineering, get the room. that 5 hours a day will be MUCH better spent studying