I'm a software engineer who moved from Lagos to Toronto. The difference in office cultures shocked me.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Daniel Fayemi, a 28-year-old senior software and blockchain engineer living in Toronto. It has been edited for length and clarity.

Over the past seven years, I’ve worked for multiple companies shipping blockchain integrations and production-grade financial infrastructure in Lagos, Amsterdam, and now Toronto.

I started my career in Nigeria, where I was born and raised, and moved to Amsterdam in May 2023 after a short career break for a job as a senior software engineer. I returned to Nigeria after a year and worked until I received my Canadian work visa through my wife in October 2024.

Since May 2025, I’ve worked as a senior software engineer at Source Inc. in Toronto, and I do some consulting on the side. I make a six-figure salary, plus restricted options in the same range.

I really like living in Canada.

My move to Toronto started as a personal decision

My then-girlfriend, now wife, was in school in Toronto, and I decided to join her. Professionally, I was also excited to work in the North American market and build products for a global audience from here.

I was excited about moving, but mostly I was nervous. The costs add up fast … legal fees, travel, and finding a home in Toronto where my wife and I could settle. We put a lot of our savings on the line, and I was scared of not making something meaningful out of that money, effort, and sacrifice.

Housing in Toronto is much pricier than in Amsterdam and Lagos

“Expensive” is relative, but it’s not just the price in Toronto; it’s the space. You pay a lot for not much.

Food can be expensive here, too. I saved more in Lagos and Amsterdam than I do here. One thing that makes everything feel pricier is taxes being added after purchase.

Tips, too, were a real money culture shock. In Lagos and Amsterdam, tipping is fully voluntary and even a little frowned upon. Here, they say it’s optional, but the prompts are right there, leaving you with little choice. I get why it exists, but it took getting used to.

Compared to Nigerian groceries, Amsterdam was actually more expensive than Toronto and harder to find, so I understand those prices. The funniest adjustment for me was actually grocery shopping.

I landed last year, thinking I would do a classic Nigerian bulk run so I wouldn’t have to keep going out in the cold. I pushed three heavy grocery bags through the lobby and the concierge, two neighbors in the elevator, and a guy in my hallway all asked if we were throwing a party. I learned fast.

Canadians bring a calm, easygoing energy to work

My first culture shocks in Canada were the weather and the work culture. I’m usually fast-paced at work, and I’ve had to tone it down a bit. Also, as someone from Lagos who thought Amsterdam cold was “real,” Toronto taught me otherwise. I love the cold, or maybe I’m just not scared of it now.

In Toronto, if it’s pouring or a heat alert is in effect, our team quietly switches to working from home. No drama, just “see you on Slack.” In the Netherlands, we still went in unless the weather was truly extreme. In Nigeria, you went in, period.

The second shock was leadership. My managers are genuinely kind and low-ego. There’s no visible “upper floor.” People jump into the same document and solve the problem. Coming from what I joke is the “Respect Capital of the World,” Lagos, that felt radical at first.

I haven’t plugged into a formal tech community yet, but I keep a tight circle of coworkers and friends

I like the occasional chit-chat with folks just starting out. Because most of my close friends here are software engineers at different levels, I don’t feel a strong need for what the broader tech community has to offer. I still run a small mentorship back in Nigeria, and I think I need to focus on getting my feet under me here first.

Compared with Lagos and parts of Europe, Canada feels more workplace-centered, so in Toronto, I rely on LinkedIn, Slack, and Discord for news and new opportunities. I found my current role on LinkedInand I still get about two recruiter messages a week there.

The groups I’m in are private circles of friends and friends-of-friends where we swap opportunities, do interview prep, workshop startup ideas, and sometimes just hop on to play video games. Sometimes I go on outings with colleagues and friends. We went to an arcade together recently.

Right now, I’m not considering another international move

Our move has had some challenges. Finding a suitable place in Toronto has been one of the hardest parts of moving here. I recently left the first place I rented when I arrived, and it still took me four months to find a new one, even with all my documents.

It was a joint application with my wife, who has a good credit score. Because my credit score was still new, landlords kept requesting bank statements for my savings account, and a few also questioned my income. I think we only got this apartment because our real estate agent knew the landlady.

The people in Canada have been kind from day one

I haven’t had a single bad experience here. Toronto has a wide range of food, which I also appreciate. I can get authentic Lebanese shawarma at Shelby’s Shawarma one night and the best pasta at Trattoria Mercatto the next, and yes, I’ve tried the whole menu.

Every day feels different, and the weather can change multiple times before lunch. I love that on a random Monday at 9 a.m., you might see a long line of people waiting to try a new ice cream brand. Toronto’s interesting to watch, and I love it.

I plan to grow into more leadership roles here, work more with AI, and maybe one day build something of my own, most likely something related to blockchain and AI.