Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bellingham, WA and Toronto

For one person, living is cheaper in Toronto: $2,589 a month against $3,010 in Bellingham, WA, rent and utilities included – about $5,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Bellingham, WA, United States
Toronto, Canada
Bellingham, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,010
/mo nomad
Toronto
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,589
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bellingham, WA and in Toronto

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bellingham, WA and in Toronto actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,010 per month in Bellingham, WA vs $2,589 in Toronto, rent included.

  • Bellingham, WA $3,010
  • Toronto $2,589

A couple spends around $4,448 per month in Bellingham, WA vs $3,710 in Toronto, rent included.

  • Bellingham, WA $4,448
  • Toronto $3,710

A family of three spends $5,886 per month in Bellingham, WA vs $4,831 in Toronto, rent included.

  • Bellingham, WA $5,886
  • Toronto $4,831

Bellingham, WA costs about 16% more than Toronto, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Bellingham, WA and Toronto sit above the global median – Bellingham, WA by 121%, Toronto by 90%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bellingham, WA
Toronto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.70 $24.70
$17.60 CA$24.70
40.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101 $101
$77.8 CA$109
29.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.26 $13.26
$10.59 CA$14.86
25.21%
Cappuccino
$5.94 $5.94
$4.16 CA$5.83
42.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 $3.16
$2.04 CA$2.87
54.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$1.75 CA$2.46
25.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.87 $6.87
$6.58 CA$9.23
4.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.90 $6.90
$7.11 CA$9.98
-2.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bellingham, WA
Toronto
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 $1.13
$2.53 CA$3.56
-55.34%
White Bread (500g)
$3.82 $3.82
$2.70 CA$3.79
41.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.91 $4.91
$2.24 CA$3.14
119.20%
Eggs
$4.96 $4.96
$3.48 CA$4.89
42.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.80 $18.80
$9.38 CA$13.16
100.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$18.61 $18.61
$11.60 CA$16.28
60.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.00 $23.00
$14.68 CA$20.61
56.68%
Apples (1kg)
$5.14 $5.14
$3.74 CA$5.26
37.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.89 $1.89
$1.22 CA$1.72
54.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.32 $5.32
$3.48 CA$4.88
52.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.32 $6.32
$4.32 CA$6.07
46.30%
Potato (1kg)
$3.61 $3.61
$1.85 CA$2.60
95.14%
Onion (1kg)
$3.16 $3.16
$1.69 CA$2.37
86.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.23 CA$3.13
14.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$1.28 CA$1.79
92.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.44 $12.44
$14.04 CA$19.71
-11.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.95 $14.95
$14.43 CA$20.25
3.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$2.16 CA$3.03
-18.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74 $5.74
$2.52 CA$3.54
127.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Bellingham, WA
Toronto
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.99 $1.99
$2.37 CA$3.32
-16.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.51 $30.51
$112 CA$158
-72.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.68 $2.68
$3.04 CA$4.27
-11.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.70 $1.70
$1.24 CA$1.74
37.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.27 $30.27
$22.55 CA$31.65
34.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 $1.44
$1.24 CA$1.75
16.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K $27.5K
$26.9K CA$37.8K
2.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$21.4K CA$30.0K
20.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bellingham, WA
Toronto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$217 $217
$125 CA$175
74.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.4 $57.4
$33.05 CA$46.39
73.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$81.3 $81.3
$47.96 CA$67.3
69.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bellingham, WA
Toronto
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.0 $62.0
$36.69 CA$51.5
69.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.82 $14.82
$23.67 CA$33.22
-37.39%
Cinema Ticket
$18.31 $18.31
$13.08 CA$18.35
39.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bellingham, WA
Toronto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,125 $1,125
$759 CA$1,065
48.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.7K $31.7K
$23.8K CA$33.4K
33.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bellingham, WA
Toronto
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.5 $80.5
$53.5 CA$75.1
50.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.32 $28.32
$40.44 CA$56.8
-29.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$109 $109
$100 CA$141
8.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$149 $149
$125 CA$176
19.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bellingham, WA
Toronto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,707 $1,707
$1,630 CA$2,287
4.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,458 $1,458
$1,416 CA$1,987
2.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,598 $2,598
$2,694 CA$3,781
-3.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,347 $2,347
$2,101 CA$2,949
11.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,441 $4,441
$7,551 CA$10.6K
-41.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,925 $3,925
$6,674 CA$9,366
-41.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bellingham, WA
Toronto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,391 $4,391
$3,543 CA$4,973
23.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.68
4.45
50.11%

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

Last update for Bellingham, WA: October 24, 2026

Last update for Toronto: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bellingham, WA
$1.5K
Toronto
$1.4K 2.9% $42
Groceries & Markets
Bellingham, WA
$505
Toronto
$345 31.7% $160
Eating Out
Bellingham, WA
$378
Toronto
$285 24.7% $93
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bellingham, WA
$356
Toronto
$206 42.2% $150
Clothing & Footwear
Bellingham, WA
$165
Toronto
$144 12.9% $21
Sport & Entertainment
Bellingham, WA
$99
Toronto
$63 36.3% $36
Getting Around
Bellingham, WA
$50
Toronto
$131 164% $82

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,707 in Bellingham, WA versus $1,630 in Toronto. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 24% higher in Bellingham, WA. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Bellingham, WA versus $78 in Toronto. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $505 vs $345 – making Toronto the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Bellingham, WA
🇨🇦 Toronto
🕒 Local time
13:18 1:18 PM
16:18 4:18 PM
3 h ahead of Bellingham, WA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
91,482
2,731,571
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.713 USD). 1 EUR = 1.56 CAD (1 CAD = 0.64 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bellingham, WA Toronto 3,320 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Bellingham, WA
  • Toronto

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Bellingham, WA vs Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bellingham, WA or Toronto?
Bellingham, WA costs about 16% more than Toronto, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bellingham, WA and in Toronto?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,515 per month in Bellingham, WA and $3,883 in Toronto. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bellingham, WA compared to Toronto?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $1,707 in Bellingham, WA and $1,630 in Toronto. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
How do childcare costs compare in Bellingham, WA and in Toronto?
Kindergarten costs $1,125 per month in Bellingham, WA and $759 in Toronto. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Bellingham, WA or in Toronto?
Groceries cost about 46% more in Bellingham, WA, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Bellingham, WA or in Toronto?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,010 in Bellingham, WA and $2,589 in Toronto. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Toronto – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Bellingham, WA or to Toronto?
If budget matters most, go with Toronto. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bellingham, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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