Why Is Dating in Toronto So Hard? (No, It’s Not Just You)

Why it feels so hard to meet someone real in this city, and how to protect your peace while trying.

If dating in Toronto has ever made you want to delete every app, move to a cottage, and raise a dog alone - you’re not the only one. This city is vibrant, diverse, and full of interesting people… and yet, finding a real connection can feel impossible.

Whether you’re juggling hinge fatigue, dealing with flaky “let’s hang soon” people, or stuck in the “we’re basically dating but not actually” grey zone - Toronto’s dating scene is a special kind of chaos.

Dating in the city can feel like a full-time job with no benefits, and if you’re someone in your late 20s to mid-30s, the emotional whiplash is real.

Let’s talk about it.

Too Many Options… Yet Somehow, None?

Thanks to apps, we technically have access to thousands of people - but when everyone’s one swipe away from the next “maybe,” it’s easy to feel disposable. The paradox of choice is alive and well here: it’s hard to feel excited about getting to know someone when you suspect they’re texting five other people before bed. Toronto's fast-paced, career-driven culture often means people are "dating casually" (read: non-committal) while figuring out their own stuff. And it leaves many of us asking: Is anyone actually emotionally available?

Toronto can feel like a city where feelings are… optional. There’s pressure to be effortlessly chill - low-maintenance, up for spontaneous hangs, emotionally self-sufficient but not too much. Many people end up feeling like they need to downplay what they want in fear of “scaring someone off.” But let's pause right there because being honest about your needs isn’t the problem. The real issue? People expecting connection without communication.

Toronto is a beautifully diverse city, but that can come with its own set of dating challenges, especially for BIPOC women navigating cultural expectations around dating, marriage, or “success.” Whether it’s the pressure to settle down, or constantly having to explain your values or background to someone unfamiliar, dating can feel less like connection and more like a negotiation.

Everyone’s “Working On Themselves” (But Still Dating?)

Therapy is more mainstream than ever (yay!), but “I’m working on myself right now” has become a soft launch for avoidant behaviour. Healing is important, but it doesn’t always stop people from dragging others through confusing, inconsistent dating dynamics. If you’ve found yourself caught in a situationship with someone who says they “just need to focus on their goals,” while texting you at 11pm on a Friday… you’re not the only one.

It’s easy to internalize all of this and wonder if you’re the problem. You're trying to build meaningful connections in a city that often rewards surface-level encounters. And if you’re showing up with honesty, curiosity, and care - that’s something to be proud of.

So, What Can You Do?

• Get clear on what you want: even if it changes. Boundaries and confidence are attractive.

• Stop trying to earn someone’s attention: If they’re unsure, let that be your answer.

• Seek connection over performance: You don’t have to impress. You get to be known.

• Talk to a therapist: (Like one of us at Infinite Horizons Psychotherapy!) Dating often unearths old patterns - attachment styles, self-worth stuff, past relational trauma. Therapy can help you sort through what’s yours… and what’s just Toronto.

Dating in this city can be hard. But you don’t have to settle, shrink yourself, or stay stuck in cycles that leave you doubting your worth. Whether you’re dating for fun, for love, or figuring it out as you go - you deserve connection that feels good, mutual, and honest.

You’re not asking for too much. You’re just asking the right person.

Want to unpack your dating patterns or get support navigating modern love?

We’re here to help. Book a free 20-minute consult with one of our therapists and take the first step toward deeper connections - with others and yourself.