Cost of Living in Toronto, Canada

Candidates who intend to study, work, or settle in Toronto, Canada must know how much it costs to live. Toronto is the most expensive city in Canada and ranked #63 on the international cost of living index by city 2025. The average cost of living in Toronto is C$3,252.45 per month. For a family of four, the estimated monthly cost is C$7,761, and for a single person, it would be C$4,582, excluding rent. The cost of living in Toronto is cheaper than that of 68% of cities in North America and 86% of cities in the world. Every individual has a different cost of living in Canada when it comes to comfort and standard of living.  

Toronto, popularly known as Hogtown, is the Canadian Tech Hub. The city is home to a thriving tech community, with two world-class universities, and is a global center for business, finance, and art. Toronto has always been a top choice for aspiring international students to pursue higher studies. If you are planning to study or live in Toronto, you must be well aware of recurring expenses such as housing, food and groceries, basic utilities, transportation, etc. This article will provide all those expenses in detail to help you make an informed decision.

Note: Currency rate: 1C$ = 61.4066 INR, as per currency foreign exchange rate.

Details of Major Living Expenses in Toronto

The breakdown of major living expenses in Toronto across categories like Food, Housing, Transportation, clothing, personal care, child care, entertainment, and other basic utilities is given below.

Food Expenses

Food expenses include restaurant dining and grocery purchases. Let’s go through one by one.

Restaurant Dining

The money spent on these expenses per month depends on the individual’s choice of preference like dining out at a restaurant (expensive or cheap) or ordering online from food delivery apps like DoorDash, Instacart, etc.

Item	Approximate cost	Price Range
Meals at less expensive restaurants	C$ 25.00	C$ 16.00 - C$ 40.42
Meals at mid-range restaurants	C$ 110.00	C$ 70.00 - C$ 200.00
McMeals or Combo meals at McDonald's	C$ 15.00	C$ 13.00 - C$ 17.00
Pan pizza (6”) at Pizza Hut	C$8.02	C$ 8.02 - C$ 28.04
Water (0.33 litre bottle)	C$ 2.19	C$ 1.70 - C$ 3.00
Coffee (regular/filter)	C$ 5	C$ 5 - C$ 8
Cappuccino	C$ 5.34	C$ 3.00 - C$ 9.00
Beer (500ml or 1 pt), domestic	C$ 9.00	C$ 5.00 - C$ 11.00
Beer (300ml or 1 pt), imported	C$ 9.50	C$ 7.00 - C$ 12.00
1 bottle of red table wine	C$ 19.00	C$ 19.00
2 litre Pepsi bottle	C$ 3.45	C$ 3.45
Indian food (veg & Non-veg) per dish	C$ 8.46	$8 - $12

Groceries

For grocery shopping, the cost varies depending on where you buy (like supermarkets, or online).

Grocery Items	Approximate Price	Price Range
Milk (1 lit)	C$ 4.09	C$ 1.95 - C$ 6.00
White Bread (1 loaf)	C$ 3.78	C$ 2.50 - C$ 6.00
White Rice (1 kg)	C$ 4.86	C$ 2.20 - C$ 10.00
Eggs (1 dozen)	C$ 4.75	C$ 3.49 - C$ 7.25
Cheese (200 gms)	C$ 16.83	C$ 8.80 - C$ 25.99
Apples (1 kilogram)	C$ 5.37	C$ 2.50 - C$ 8.82
Bananas (1 kilogram)	C$ 1.90	C$ 1.28 - C$ 4.00
Oranges (1 kilogram)	C$ 5.59	C$ 2.20 - C$ 10.12
Tomatoes (1 kilogram)	C$ 4.81	C$ 2.18 - C$ 9.60
Potatoes (1 kilogram)	C$ 3.76	C$ 1.10 - C$ 6.61
Onions (1 kilogram)	C$ 3.52	C$ 1.50 - C$ 8.00
Lettuce (1 head)	C$ 3.13	C$ 2.00 - C$ 5.00

Housing

Housing costs are the major contributor to your living expenses. When you move to a new city, the first thing that comes to mind is finding a decent living space. The housing prices vary depending on the accommodation type and neighborhood. Notably, Toronto ranks as one of the top five expensive cities for housing in Canada.

Particulars	Approximate cost	Price Range
Monthly rent for 1 bedroom apartment in city center	C$ 2,505.87	C$ 2,200.00 - C$ 3,000.00
Monthly rent for 1 bedroom apartment outside of city center	C$ 2,227.59	C$ 1,800.00 - C$ 2,750.00
Monthly rent for 3 bedroom apartment in city center	C$ 4,366.96	C$ 3,500.00 - C$ 6,000.00
Monthly rent for 3 bedroom apartment outside of city center	C$ 3,568.08	C$ 3,000.00 - C$ 4,700.00
Price per square meter to buy an apartment in city center	C$ 13,990.16	C$ 10,763.91 - C$ 19,000.00
Price per square meter to buy an apartment outside city center	C$ 11,079.47	C$ 8,611.13 - C$ 15,069.47
Home insurance cost per year (for home owners)	C$ 1467	C$1,400 - C$2,500
Student housing off-campus (Ensuite/Studio) per month	C$ 1,100	C$ 1,100 - C$ 2,700
student housing On-campus per month (Ensuite/studio)	C$ 750	C$ 750- C$ 1800
Bachelor-style apartment (for 1 person) per month	C$1,306	C$ 1,306- C$ 2,550

Clothing

Clothing is an important factor in determining the cost of living. Whether you attend an international conference or a normal meeting, ensure your wardrobe is with quality dresses. To know the monthly expenses for clothing (local or branded), refer to the table below.

Particulars	Approximate cost	Price Range
1 pair of jeans (Levis 501 or similar)	C$ 78.21	C$ 45.00 - C$ 120.00
1 summer dress in retail chain stores (Zara, H&M, Gap, etc.)	C$ 49.35	C$ 35.00 - C$ 70.00
1 Pair of Sports shoes (Nike, Adidas, or equivalent)	C$ 127.88	C$ 80.00 - C$ 200.00
1 pair of Men’s leather Business Shoes	C$ 159.82	C$ 90.00 - C$ 200.00

Transportation

Monthly expenses on transportation mainly depend on the place you travel, distance of your workspace, and university. Toronto has a well connected TCC (Toronto Transit Commission) public transport system comprising buses, streetcars, subways, etc. 

Particulars	Approximate cost	Price Range
One-way Ticket (Local Transportation)	C$ 3.35	C$ 3.25 - C$ 3.75
Monthly Bus Pass (Public Transport)	C$ 156.00	C$ 140.00 - C$ 200.00
Cycle (rent per day)	C$ 45	C$ 45 - C$ 60
Taxi fare (basic fee)	C$ 4.25	C$ 4.25
Taxi fare per kilometer	C$ 1.75	C$ 1.40 - C$ 3.00
Taxi fare charged for standing and waiting time (per hour)	C$ 31	C$ 31
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)	C$ 34,256.00	C$ 33,978.00 - C$ 40,000.00
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)	C$ 30,108.46	C$ 27,382.58- C$ 34,800.00
Gasoline (1 liter)	C$ 1.61	C$ 1.40 - C$ 1.89
Car Parking Price, per day	C$ 11	C$ 11- C$ 15
Car parking price per hour	C$ 1.00	C$ 1.00- C$ 5.00
Car parking per month	C$ 347	C$ 50- C$ 375
Renting a car, (per day)	C$ 14	C$ 14 - C$ 22
Renting a bike, (per day)	C$ 45	C$ 45 - C$ 60

Basic Utilities

Understanding how much you spend on basic utilities can help you budget your living expenses that suit your lifestyle.

Particulars	Approximate cost	Price Range
Monthly expense of basic utilities (Electricity, Cooling, Heating, Garbage, Water)	C$ 197.19	C$ 100.00 - C$ 303.57
Internet plan price (60 Mbps or more, Unlimited data, Cable/ADSL)	C$ 75.23	C$ 55.00 - C$ 110.00
Mobile Phone Prepaid Tariff	C$ 65.95	C$ 40.00 - C$ 110.00
Hydro	C$161	C$ 161
House cleaning services per hour	C$ 29	C$ 25 - C$ 45
TV 40” flat screen	C$ 530	C$ 180 - C$ 848
Books and Supplies (per semester)	C$ 500	C$ 500 - C$ 1000

Personal Care

Maintaining good personal care and hygiene is most important for good health and happiness. Knowing the details of these expenses enables you to create a budget that aligns with your way of living.

Particulars	Approximate cost	Price Range
Medicine for cold and body pains for 6 days (like tylenol, frenadol,	C$ 15	C$ 15- C$ 18
Prescription medications like Antibiotics	C$ 52	C$ 18- C$ 390
15-minute short visit to a private doctor	C$ 83	C$ 80 - C$ 100 up
1 box of 32 tampons	C$ 9	C$ 8.98 - C$ 14
Hair Shampoo	C$ 9	C$ 4.31 - C$ 9
Deodorant	C$ 8	C$ 8 - C$ 14.97 up
Toilet paper, 4 rolls	C$ 4.83	C$ 2.89 - C$ 4.83
Toothpaste (1 tube)	C$ 4.54	C$ 3.49 - C$ 4.54
Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.)	C$ 15	C$ 15 - C$ 25
Men’s haircut in expat areas of the city	C$ 38	C$ 10- C$ 80
Women’s haircut in expat areas of the city	C$ 80 up	C$ 80- C$ 85 up

Child Care

If you are moving abroad with your kids, finding a good school or kindergarten is important. The monthly or yearly tuition fees of the education institutions also impact living expenses for families.

Particulars	Approximate cost	Price Range
Private Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full day, Monthly fee for 1 child	C$ 1,528.09	C$ 800.00 - C$ 2,200.00
International primary school, yearly for 1 child	C$ 26,109.29	C$ 18,000.00 - C$ 37,000.00
Infant care (birth to 18 months), daily fee	$45.45	$45.45
Toddle care (18 to 30 months), daily fee	$43	$42.50

Sports & Entertainment

Entertainment cost primarily depends on the place you visit and the time you spend over there.

Particulars	Approximate cost	Price Range
Fitness Club, Monthly fee for 1 Adult	C$ 72.16	C$ 40.00 - C$ 140.00
Tennis court Rent on weekend (per hour)	C$ 30.06	C$ 20.00 - C$ 40.00
1 seat at Cinema hall (International release) cost	C$ 18.00	C$ 15.00 - C$ 20.00
1 cocktail drink in downtown club	C$ 17	C$ 6- C$ 17
`1 beer price in a neighborhood pub (500ml or 1pt.)	C$ 9	C$ 8.50 - C$ 13.50

Briefly, the cost of living in Toronto is influenced by the factors mentioned above. The prices represented above are very reliable and are based on abundant and consistent data. 

Average Cost of Living in Toronto using Statistics Model

 

University Tuition fees in Toronto

Toronto’s educational institutions are internationally recognized for their high standards. The city has strong primary and secondary education system with hundreds of public and private schools. Universities and colleges in Toronto offer widerange of diploma, Bachelor, Masters and Dcotoral programs that prepare students for various careers in wide range of industries. Here are the details of some of the leading universities in Toronto.

University Name	Approx. Tuition fees (CAD per year)	Accommodation	Books and Supplies	Health Insurance
University of Toronto	$61,350	Dormitory style- $12,580 to $22,447 (meals included) Suite style- $11,628 to $11,803	$1000- $2000	UHIP- $756
Toronto Metropolitan University	$31749 - $38,472	Residence Housing- $6,935 to $11,697	$1,400- $ 9,400	UHIP- $756
York University	$30,000.00	Residence (traditional single room for 8 months) cost- $7,512 Living off-campus - $12,500	$1,200 - $ 2,600	UHIP- $1026

Tips to Budget on Cost of living in Toronto

It is really important for Indian students to be able to take care of their own living costs. Spending wisely helps to handle their living expenses better. Here are some tips to help them save money:

• Eat home-cooked meals
• Utilize internet in the campus library to complete online works.
• Do shopping from the thrift stores
• Buy the second-hand books
• If your destination is nearby, prefer to walk or use cycle.
• Find a shared and an affordable accommodation.

Also Check: Cost of living in Montreal

How expensive is Toronto Compared to other Top Cities?

Toronto is one of the most expensive cities in the world and ranked #571 out of 9294 on the global list. The average income of around C$52,000 per year in the province of Ontario is sufficient to cover living expenses in Toronto. When it comes to comparison of Toronto with other top cities, Toronto is 152.8% more expensive than Bangalore. On average, rent in Toronto is 400.4% higher than in Bangalore. The restaurant prices in Toronto are 21% higher than in Singapore. Furthermore, the monthly rent in Toronto is 76.9 % higher than that in Tokyo. In contrast, the consumer prices in Toronto are 12.5% lower than those in London.

City Name	Cost of Living (including rent)	Cost of Living Index
Toronto, ON	8,300 C$	70.53
Montreal, QC	6,754 C$	64.96
Vancouver, BC	8,977.8 C$	$75.31
Edmonton, AB	6,200 C$	$64.23
Calgary, AB	7,400 C$	71.77
Ottawa	7,700 C$	72.53
New York, NY	13,822 C$	100

In Toronto, the housing costs and transportation are greater than they are in London and New York. When it comes to utilities, expenses are quite low compared to most American cities, but still, the prices create an impact on your budget. Suburban living offers substantially lower costs compared to urban living. Overall, All we can say is that the cost of living in Toronto depends on where you live, and how much you spend and manage.  

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the cost of living in Toronto for indian students?

The average cost of living in Toronto for international students ranges from CAD 1,945 and CAD 3,713 per month. The rent is the major component that student needs to pay.  The rent in Toronto for an international student ranges between CAD 1,100 to CAD 2,700 per month.

2. What is the average cost of living in Toronto for Indian families?

The average cost of living in Toronto for a family of four is approximately C$ 7,761 (INR 4,76,755) per month, depending on one’s lifestyle and preferences.

3. What salary is needed to live comfortably in Toronto?

People living in Toronto and the greater Toronto area need to make at least $25.05 per hour to live comfortably, according to the latest data released by the Ontario Living Wage Network (OLWN).

4. Is downtown Toronto expensive to live?

Yes, Living in Toronto, especially anywhere near the downtown area can be expensive. Rents are among the highest and other standard monthly expenses like groceries, transit, and phone plans are not cheap either.

5. What is the salary of a software developer in Toronto?

The average salary of a software developer in Toronto is CAD 85,000 per year. However, salaries can range between CAD 75,000 and CAD 1,16,000 per year, depending on education and experience. There is a high demand for software developers in Toronto.

6. What is the average cost of living in Toronto for international students? 

The average cost of living in Toronto for international students ranges from CAD 1,945 and CAD 3,713 per month, depending on one’s lifestyle and preferences. The living expenses in Toronto are affordable if you are smart enough to manage.