Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Toronto Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Toronto

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,754 in Toronto.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,104 in Austin, TX versus $4,090 in Toronto.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,490 in Austin, TX versus $5,427 in Toronto.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 1% less than in Toronto, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Toronto 105% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.36 $19.36

$18.93 CA$26.48

2.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.7 $73.7

$81.9 CA$115

-10.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.19 $10.19

$11.13 CA$15.57

-8.45%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.00 CA$5.60

42.75%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.18 CA$3.05

21.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.69 CA$2.36

29.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.91 $5.91

$5.93 CA$8.29

-0.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$6.58 CA$9.20

22.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$2.83 CA$3.96

-61.48%

White Bread (500g)

$3.38 $3.38

$2.73 CA$3.81

23.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.65 CA$5.10

-8.49%

Eggs

$4.44 $4.44

$3.54 CA$4.95

25.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.87 $11.87

$13.49 CA$18.87

-12.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.81 $10.81

$13.06 CA$18.27

-17.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$16.51 CA$23.09

-13.57%

Apples (1kg)

$4.82 $4.82

$3.99 CA$5.58

20.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.18 CA$1.65

30.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$3.21 CA$4.50

42.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.98 $3.98

$4.04 CA$5.65

-1.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.54 CA$3.56

12.60%

Onion (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.81 CA$3.93

-1.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.46 CA$3.44

-20.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.92 CA$2.68

15.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.07 $9.07

$14.85 CA$20.78

-38.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.95 $14.95

$14.22 CA$19.90

5.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.69 CA$3.76

-14.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 $3.40

$3.27 CA$4.58

3.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$2.40 CA$3.36

-37.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.63 $42.63

$113 CA$158

-62.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.32 $4.32

$3.71 CA$5.19

16.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.41 CA$1.97

26.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.51 $34.51

$25.53 CA$35.72

35.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 $0.75

$1.14 CA$1.59

-34.21%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.2K $25.2K

$24.7K CA$34.5K

2.39%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.6K $26.6K

$21.6K CA$30.2K

23.05%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$176 $176

$120 CA$168

46.42%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$59.6 $59.6

$36.76 CA$51.4

62.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$54.9 CA$76.8

21.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.4 $62.4

$57.2 CA$80.0

9.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.96 $9.96

$21.05 CA$29.45

-52.68%

Cinema Ticket

$15.04 $15.04

$11.74 CA$16.43

28.11%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,387 $1,387

$1,142 CA$1,598

21.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.4K $22.4K

$18.0K CA$25.2K

24.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.4 $56.4

$56.7 CA$79.3

-0.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.71 $46.71

$39.80 CA$55.7

17.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$88.6 CA$124

-2.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$116 CA$162

3.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,174 $2,174

$1,830 CA$2,560

18.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,439 $1,439

$1,580 CA$2,211

-8.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,754 $3,754

$2,989 CA$4,181

25.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,698 $2,698

$2,511 CA$3,512

7.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,033 $7,033

$9,084 CA$12.7K

-22.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,113 $3,113

$6,885 CA$9,631

-54.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,081 $5,081

$3,555 CA$4,973

42.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

5.16

25.00%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Austin, TX: June 8, 2026

Last update for Toronto: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,174 in Austin, TX and $1,830 in Toronto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 43% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $82.0 in Toronto for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $394 per month, with Austin, TX cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Austin, TX vs Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Toronto. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 43% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,174 in Austin, TX versus $1,830 in Toronto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,719 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,754 in Toronto – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 165% less than in Toronto. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.