Mississauga is considered to be a great place to call home by the more than 600,000 people who live there. However, many people moving to Mississauga are coming from small towns in Canada or rural areas in other countries, and being dumped straight into one of Canada's largest cities causes a fair amount of culture shock. We've created this article to help introduce you to the ways your life will be different if you move from a small town to a big city.

The first thing you're going to have to get used to is that there are going to be a lot more people around than you're used to. The streets and parks are never empty. The stores and malls are never without lineups. The trains and buses are always crowded. Even your dentist or doctor will have a lot more clients than your old one and it will take you a lot longer to get fit into his schedule for an appointment. If you're a private person who likes to be alone, this will be a big adjustment, as the only place you can really be alone is your own home.

When it comes to getting your own home, you might also have to accept a smaller space if you want to be able to afford your dream home. Housing is much more expensive in a city like Mississauga than in your average small town, sometimes as much as twice as expensive. Space is at a premium, so the house that you owned in your town will cost about as much as a small apartment. You'll find that in Mississauga, houses are smaller, they're built on smaller lots, even the rooms are smaller, especially in high rises.

So how does the city make up for taking away your breathing room and privacy? By being absolutely chock full of things to do. Back home an afternoon out might have meant going to the library, but here you can see a movie, go to a concert, visit the art gallery, shop in a mall with 200+ stores, explore a manicured park, check out an attraction, or attend one of the many sponsored events and festivals that occur throughout the year. You'll never be alone, but you'll never be bored, either.

You'll also discover that there are many more products and services available in a bigger centre than in a small community. Mississauga has more choices when it comes to dining, clothes shopping, gourmet & unique grocery foods, and services. Need to furnish your new home? Visit a local furniture shop, there are plenty of options in the area. Need to find a local marketing company such as to help you promote your business? Looking for a support group to ease your transition to the new community, or someone to help with child care? You'll find it, and anything else right here.

You'll also never have to drive again if you don't want to. In a small town if you didn't have a car, you didn't get to the dentist. Mississauga is different. It has an extensive public transit system that will take you anywhere you want to go, often faster and cheaper than if you drove your car on the congested streets and highways.