Lifestyle and Daily Life

Transportation 

Moving around Kingston is easy with a well-connected public transit system, dedicated cycling lanes, and pedestrian-friendly pathways. Ridesharing services and car rentals add flexibility to transportation options, making it simple for residents and visitors.
 
Kingston Transit
Kingston Transit provides a sustainable and convenient transportation option. Passes or purchasing multiple rides at once offer added convenience. Payment methods accepted include cash and electronic smart card transit passes. Children aged 14 and under can travel for free on Kingston Transit and do not need a bus pass or identification when accompanied by an adult.

See Transit fares and passes here.
 
SOURCE- Kingston Transit - City of Kingston
SOURCE-Transit Fares & Passes - City of Kingston

Cycling & Pedestrian Infrastructure
The city of Kingston has dedicated bike lanes, bike boxes, cycle tracks, signed bike routes, and bike-sharing programs to help in a better eco-friendly, and healthy lifestyle for residents. 
SOURCE-Cycling Infrastructure - City of Kingston

Ridesharing
Platforms like Amey’s taxi, Uber and Lyft operate in the city, offering an alternative to busses. This addition to the transportation landscape gives Kingstonians more choices for getting around the city. Several Park and Ride lots located at key city locations allow for more possibilities to get safely into the city.

Inter-City Transportation
It is easy and simple to travel from one area to another because of the Commuter trains and bus services which enhance connectivity and accessibility for both residents and visitors.

Kingston Bus Terminal
The Kingston Bus Terminal in Ontario, Canada, is located at 1175 John Counter Boulevard, next to the Kingston Transit head office and bus garage. With four bays to handle four buses simultaneously, it is in the northern part of Kingston near Highway 401. The terminal is serviced by FlixBus and Mega Bus. For bus schedules and ticket prices, visit the Busbud website.

• Flix Bus has 2 stops in Kingston, Ontario, at 275 Wellington St., on its Toronto to Ottawa route. The bus makes two trips daily in each direction, starting at $21.19 to Toronto and $19.99 to Ottawa. The bus stop is on Wellington Street between Barrack Street and Tragically Hip Way. Flix Bus is the only platform globally allowing passengers to offset CO2 emissions.
  SOURCE-New intercity bus option launches in Kingston - Canada Info (canada-info.ca)
• Mega Bus offers service to Kingston, from Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa. Visit ca.megabus.com
• VIA Rail provides train services with a station at 1175 John Counter Boulevard. The Kingston station is part of the Toronto-Montreal corridor, and VIA Rail offers various classes of service. Passengers can check schedules and purchase tickets online or at the station. 

SOURCE- Kingston train station | VIA Rail
SOURCE- Community Services - City of Kingston

Airport Access
Kingston has one airport, the YGK airport, about 10 km from the city center. It's easy to get there using private vehicles, taxis, limos, car rentals, or public transit, and there's free Wi-Fi for passengers.

Accessibility and Inclusivity
The city guarantees that all citizens may fully participate in daily life as part of its commitment to inclusion by providing public spaces, buildings, and transportation that are designed to accommodate individuals with diverse mobility needs.

SOURCE-Community Services - City of Kingston

Income & Cost of Living 

The city is also recognized as one of the best cities to live in Canada and a highly livable city in Ontario.

Some key facts about income and cost of living include:

• Kingston received an A+ rating from Areavibes regarding cost of living, crime, and housing compared to the provincial and national averages. 

Calculate your cost of living in Kingston. 

Housing 

Kingston offers different housing options, from apartments to single-family homes. Affordable housing programs, including CFHA (Canadian Forces Housing Agency) for support, help individuals find budget-friendly living solutions. The city also has started different initiatives like Kingston-Frontenac Renovates and Home Ownership to enhance affordability.

Temporary housing options in Kingston, include hotels, motels, and extended-stay accommodations with kitchen facilities. Platforms like Airbnb, Kijiji and Zumper offer diverse listings and provide temporary choices. 

In the event of an emergency requiring immediate housing assistance, please reach out to the KMFRC Information Services Desk for to learn about emergency options.

 We also recommend to visit Cityofkingston  and for more information.

Child Care

The city offers a convenient centralized child care registry, streamlining the process of finding suitable providers based on location and preferences. Kingston boasts various licensed child care options, including centers, home-based care, nursery schools, camps, and before & after-school programs.

All Residents from the City of Kingston and Frontenac County seeking child care services are required to register with the Kingston Centralized Childcare Registry. The registry allows parents and/or caregivers to place their name on the waitlist of multiple agencies; and parents are no longer required to contact each agency to be added to their wait list. The child care agency will contact you when a space becomes available.

Military Families registering with the KMFRC Les Petits Amis Childcare Centre (LPA) need to enroll in the Kingston Centralized Childcare Registry. For LPA, prioritizing military families, include 'military family' in the comment section of the application. After completing registration, ensure account activity by logging in monthly; otherwise, it may be deactivated, requiring a reapplication. An active account secures your position on the waitlist.

There are community resources available to support families with the cost of licensed child care. For more information on child care subsidies, please visit the City of Kingston Community Services.

Click here for more information on other child care services available  

Post Living Differential (PLD) 

The PLD (Post Living Differential) is support designed to reduce the adverse financial impact on military members and their families when posted to a Post Living Differential Area (PLDA). To learn about eligibility and/or entitlements, visit this website for compensation and benefits instructions. Please confirm your eligibility and most current rate with the local Orderly Room. 

Tax Information 

Tax rates includes property taxes, income taxes, and various levies. These rates are subject to variation, influenced by factors like property type, assessed value, and income brackets for income taxes. 

To learn more about Kingston tax rates visit the following links to make sure you keep up to date with all the current rates and can plan your finances accordingly.  

• Provincial Taxes
  - Income Tax Rates
  - Provincial and Territorial Tax Rates
  - Retail Tax (HST) 
• Federal Taxes
  - Federal Income Tax Rates 

Connect with SISIP Financial to learn about tax-saving strategies, TFSAs, and RRSPs: SISIP Financial | Book an appointment | CFMWS

2SLGBTQ+ 

The city has a lively 2LGBTQ+ community, supported by groups like TransFamily. They foster connections for transgender and gender-diverse individuals through events like Pride Weekend. The Sexual Health Resource Centre (SHRC) at Queen's campus provides LGBTQ+ positive support. Kingston's commitment to 2SLGBTQ+ activism is evident in the Pride-colored crosswalk at City Hall, celebrating Pride Month and reflecting a history of acceptance. Additionally, Kingston hosts numerous 2SLGBTQ+ affirming mental health practitioners.

Employment 

Discover local employment resources or contact the KMFRC to learn more about employment options for spouses.

Provincial Services

Updating vehicle registrations, drivers’ licenses, and health cards can be a real chore. Fortunately, this process (relatively) straightforward. Information on these various Provincial services include:  

Provincial Documents
Service Ontario in Kingston is your one-stop destination for crucial provincial documents like driver's licenses, marriage licenses, birth certificates, and more. It simplifies the process, making it easy for residents to handle essential administrative matters efficiently.

Vehicle Registration
Individuals purchasing a vehicle from another province for registration in Ontario must undergo a mandatory inspection, presenting ownership documents like the Bill of Sale or current registration from the other province at Service Ontario. Military personnel can use NDI 20 and NDI 21 military IDs for verification, and those from outside Ontario can easily transfer license plate validation time onto an Ontario sticker without a commanding officer's letter. Visit the website for more details.  
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Health Care
Healthcare in Kingston, Ontario is primarily managed through the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). To apply for Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) or make changes to your information:

1. Download and complete the appropriate form
2. Send the completed form to Service Ontario online or in-person.

Utilities 

Electricity

Kingston and his surrounding are served by three electricity providers: Kingston Hydro (Central Kingston, Canadian Forces Base Kingston, and parts of Barriefield Village), Eastern Ontario Power (Gananoque area), and Hydro One. Residential customers can choose to pay Time-of-Use (TOU) electricity prices or tiered prices. 

Kingston Hydro

(Central Kingston, Canadian Forces Base Kingston, and parts of Barriefield Village), Eastern Ontario Power (Gananoque area), and Hydro One. Residential customers can choose to pay Time-of-Use (TOU) electricity prices or tiered prices.  

Water, Wastewater & Septic.
Water meters are used in Kingston and surrounding areas. Utilities Kingston provides water and wastewater services to the residents of Kingston. For those using a residential septic system and learn about different local companies servicing septic systems, please visit ThreeBestRated.

Garbage & Recycling
The City of Kingston collects one untagged bag or container of garbage each week. If you have more than that, you will need to buy bag tags to go on extra garbage bags or containers. The City will collect any number of garbage bags/containers – if they have a bag tag on them. The Loyalist Township and Gananoque are using a Pay as you throw system for garbage. Every bag needs a tag.  

Recycling must be sorted and placed in the blue bin if it is plastic, aluminum and glass or in the gray bin if it is paper, cardboard or plastic bags. Not sure where to put an item? Find out with the Garbage and Recycling Waste Tool.
 
To keep track of the City’s waste collection calendar, download the Waste App - City of Kingston.