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: $2,732 in Austin, TX versus $2,843 in Toronto.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,139 in Austin, TX versus $4,122 in Toronto.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,545 in Austin, TX versus $5,402 in Toronto.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 4% less than in Toronto, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 105% above, Toronto 114% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.47 $19.47

$18.86 CA$26.47

3.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.4 $75.4

$84.0 CA$118

-10.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 $9.89

$11.20 CA$15.72

-11.70%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$3.93 CA$5.52

39.69%

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

$2.69 $2.69

$2.15 CA$3.01

25.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.61 CA$2.26

32.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.91 $5.91

$5.85 CA$8.22

1.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$6.75 CA$9.48

16.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$2.69 CA$3.78

-57.25%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.74 CA$3.85

21.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.54 CA$4.97

-1.69%

Eggs

$4.42 $4.42

$3.48 CA$4.88

27.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.79 $11.79

$13.55 CA$19.01

-12.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.65 $10.65

$13.13 CA$18.43

-18.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.80 $14.80

$16.52 CA$23.19

-10.41%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$4.11 CA$5.77

16.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.13 CA$1.58

38.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$3.39 CA$4.75

28.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.01 $4.01

$4.04 CA$5.67

-0.74%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.56 CA$3.60

5.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.82 CA$3.97

0.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.47 CA$3.47

-17.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.92 CA$2.69

17.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.78 $8.78

$14.66 CA$20.58

-40.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.03 $15.03

$13.89 CA$19.50

8.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.71 CA$3.81

-15.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$3.17 CA$4.45

9.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

$2.46 CA$3.45

-37.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.99 $43.99

$114 CA$160

-61.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.30 $4.30

$3.60 CA$5.06

19.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.36 CA$1.91

33.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 $35.23

$25.82 CA$36.24

36.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 $0.73

$1.14 CA$1.59

-35.96%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$24.7K CA$34.6K

4.88%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$21.2K CA$29.8K

24.72%

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

$172 $172

$119 CA$167

45.20%

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

$58.4 $58.4

$36.98 CA$51.9

57.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.1 $66.1

$54.3 CA$76.2

21.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.6 $63.6

$56.0 CA$78.6

13.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.15 $10.15

$20.56 CA$28.86

-50.63%

Cinema Ticket

$15.05 $15.05

$11.59 CA$16.26

29.85%

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

$1,399 $1,399

$1,155 CA$1,621

21.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K $22.0K

$17.9K CA$25.1K

23.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.6 $56.6

$58.3 CA$81.8

-2.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.66 $46.66

$39.15 CA$55.0

19.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.4 $86.4

$87.5 CA$123

-1.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$115 CA$162

3.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,228 $2,228

$1,785 CA$2,505

24.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,399 $1,399

$1,543 CA$2,165

-9.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,821 $3,821

$2,918 CA$4,096

30.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,648 $2,648

$2,471 CA$3,468

7.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,237 $7,237

$8,725 CA$12.2K

-17.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,127 $3,127

$6,800 CA$9,544

-54.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,009 $5,009

$3,476 CA$4,879

44.10%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Toronto: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,228 in Austin, TX and $1,785 in Toronto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 44% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $84.0 in Toronto for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $378 vs $393 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 4% 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.

Average pay runs 44% higher in Austin, TX, 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: $2,228 in Austin, TX versus $1,785 in Toronto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,732 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,843 in Toronto – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 160% 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 4% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.