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: $2,646 in Austin, TX versus $2,620 in Toronto.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,220 in Austin, TX versus $3,866 in Toronto.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,794 in Austin, TX versus $5,111 in Toronto.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 1% more expensive than in Toronto, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 92% above, Toronto 90% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.88 $19.88

$17.85 CA$24.75

11.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.0 $84.0

$86.8 CA$120

-3.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.27 $12.27

$10.94 CA$15.17

12.16%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$4.01 CA$5.57

40.40%

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

$3.59 $3.59

$2.19 CA$3.04

63.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$1.69 CA$2.34

40.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$6.45 CA$8.94

21.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.10 $9.10

$7.05 CA$9.77

29.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$2.71 CA$3.77

-57.93%

White Bread (500g)

$3.64 $3.64

$2.92 CA$4.05

24.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$2.48 CA$3.44

33.47%

Eggs

$4.44 $4.44

$3.85 CA$5.34

15.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.01 $13.01

$10.10 CA$14.01

28.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.69 $14.69

$12.02 CA$16.66

22.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.42 $17.42

$15.61 CA$21.65

11.60%

Apples (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$3.90 CA$5.41

18.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.24 CA$1.72

16.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.76 $4.76

$3.78 CA$5.24

25.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.95 $4.95

$4.38 CA$6.08

13.01%

Potato (1kg)

$3.01 $3.01

$1.93 CA$2.67

55.96%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.50 CA$2.08

82.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.28 CA$3.17

-14.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.46 CA$2.02

50.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.26 $9.26

$14.52 CA$20.14

-36.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.90 $14.90

$14.42 CA$20.00

3.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.26 CA$3.14

26.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 $3.59

$2.59 CA$3.60

38.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.36 CA$3.28

-30.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.90 $41.90

$114 CA$159

-63.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.82 $2.82

$3.16 CA$4.38

-10.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.26 CA$1.74

26.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.68 $34.68

$22.57 CA$31.30

53.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.24 CA$1.72

-23.39%

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

$35.7K $35.7K

$27.3K CA$37.9K

30.64%

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

$26.9K $26.9K

$20.7K CA$28.8K

29.42%

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

$229 $229

$124 CA$172

85.15%

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

$58.6 $58.6

$32.72 CA$45.38

78.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.3 $69.3

$48.79 CA$67.7

42.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.8 $65.8

$40.27 CA$55.9

63.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.75 $14.75

$23.84 CA$33.06

-38.13%

Cinema Ticket

$13.86 $13.86

$12.82 CA$17.77

8.11%

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

$1,501 $1,501

$787 CA$1,092

90.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.9K $20.9K

$24.5K CA$34.0K

-14.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 $53.7

$54.2 CA$75.2

-1.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.41 $44.41

$43.10 CA$59.8

3.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.8 $90.8

$97.9 CA$136

-7.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 $108

$126 CA$175

-14.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,660 CA$2,303

16.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,265 $1,265

$1,483 CA$2,057

-14.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,776 $3,776

$2,800 CA$3,883

34.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,595 $2,595

$2,157 CA$2,991

20.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,340 $7,340

$8,381 CA$11.6K

-12.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,231 $3,231

$6,842 CA$9,489

-52.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,039 $5,039

$3,799 CA$5,269

32.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

4.47

44.07%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: September 5, 2026

Last update for Toronto: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,931 in Austin, TX and $1,660 in Toronto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 33% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $87.0 in Toronto. Groceries flip the comparison at $419 vs $364, with Toronto cheaper for home cooking.

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

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

Average pay runs 33% 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: $1,931 in Austin, TX versus $1,660 in Toronto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,646 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,620 in Toronto – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Toronto runs roughly 173% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Toronto 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 Toronto gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.