Travel west from Toronto to Mississauga; & the cost of a very similar house, drops by roughly 70K - just because it is no longer Metro TO. One GoTrain stop, maybe 5 minutes of additional commute, train goes every 30 minutes until 1AM in the morning. Keep going west from Mississauga, & the same thing happens again as you pass through Oakville & Burlington. A similar thing happens if you go north or east of Metro Toronto.
Go really west to Hamilton; same GoTrain line (no drive, no parking), but maybe a 90 minute commute to bank land. A many roomed century, & very modernized, mansion may set you back 650-750K; the similar mansion in a Toronto Parkdale (cruddy area) would cost you 1-1.25M, & a 30-40 minute subway commute to bank land. Buy that mansion in Rosedale (Toronto tony area), with maybe 5 minutes less commute, & its 1.75-2.25M. As property tax in Hamilton is less than 35% of what it would be in Toronto (lower value + lower mill rate), the cost of a monthly GoTrain pass is essentially free. Choice of lifestyle cost.
Toronto is no different to New York, London, Paris, SFO, etc.
Vancouver is just joining the club.
SD