Cost of Living Comparison Between Burlington and Toronto Cost of Living Comparison Between Burlington and Toronto

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,778 per month in Burlington vs $2,811 in Toronto, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,107 per month in Burlington vs $4,130 in Toronto, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,436 per month in Burlington vs $5,449 in Toronto, rent included.

Burlington is about 1% cheaper than Toronto, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Burlington and Toronto sit above the global median – Burlington by 107%, Toronto by 110%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.15 CA$28.02

$18.71 CA$26.02

7.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.4 CA$104

$81.9 CA$114

-9.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.96 CA$15.24

$10.83 CA$15.06

1.20%

Cappuccino

$3.67 CA$5.11

$3.89 CA$5.41

-5.66%

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

$2.01 CA$2.80

$2.22 CA$3.09

-9.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 CA$2.41

$1.65 CA$2.29

4.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.85 CA$8.14

$6.05 CA$8.41

-3.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.54 CA$9.09

$6.58 CA$9.15

-0.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.99 CA$2.76

$2.73 CA$3.79

-27.11%

White Bread (500g)

$3.07 CA$4.26

$2.72 CA$3.78

12.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.31 CA$5.99

$3.54 CA$4.92

21.75%

Eggs

$3.19 CA$4.43

$3.50 CA$4.87

-8.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.65 CA$18.98

$13.53 CA$18.81

0.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.14 CA$12.72

$13.09 CA$18.20

-30.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.94 CA$30.51

$16.96 CA$23.59

29.36%

Apples (1kg)

$3.46 CA$4.81

$4.16 CA$5.79

-16.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 CA$1.98

$1.18 CA$1.64

20.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.73 CA$5.19

$3.25 CA$4.52

14.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.49 CA$4.86

$4.12 CA$5.73

-15.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.95 CA$2.71

$2.50 CA$3.48

-22.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.79 CA$2.48

$2.88 CA$4.00

-37.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 CA$2.93

$2.35 CA$3.27

-10.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 CA$2.78

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.74 CA$20.50

$14.58 CA$20.28

1.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.63 CA$17.56

$14.18 CA$19.71

-10.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 CA$3.29

$2.80 CA$3.89

-15.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 CA$3.24

$3.25 CA$4.53

-28.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.39 CA$4.72

$2.40 CA$3.34

41.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$105 CA$146

$114 CA$159

-7.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.32 CA$3.22

$3.76 CA$5.22

-38.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 CA$2.37

$1.41 CA$1.96

20.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$43.79 CA$60.9

$25.53 CA$35.50

71.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 CA$1.63

$1.10 CA$1.53

6.36%

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

$25.1K CA$34.9K

$25.2K CA$35.1K

-0.44%

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

$21.4K CA$29.8K

$21.1K CA$29.3K

1.66%

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

$131 CA$182

$120 CA$166

9.20%

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

$53.2 CA$74.0

$37.54 CA$52.2

41.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.1 CA$86.3

$54.5 CA$75.8

13.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.44 CA$63.2

$55.5 CA$77.2

-18.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.28 CA$32.38

$21.15 CA$29.41

10.07%

Cinema Ticket

$11.22 CA$15.60

$11.56 CA$16.07

-2.94%

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

$952 CA$1,324

$1,129 CA$1,571

-15.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.0K CA$33.3K

$18.0K CA$25.0K

33.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.1 CA$86.4

$56.9 CA$79.2

9.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.4 CA$96.5

$39.96 CA$55.6

73.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.5 CA$122

$89.7 CA$125

-2.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$136 CA$189

$114 CA$159

19.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,733 CA$2,410

$1,849 CA$2,572

-6.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,470 CA$2,045

$1,560 CA$2,169

-5.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,640 CA$3,671

$2,925 CA$4,068

-9.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,440 CA$3,393

$2,470 CA$3,435

-1.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,745 CA$7,989

$9,085 CA$12.6K

-36.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,546 CA$6,322

$7,036 CA$9,785

-35.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,278 CA$4,559

$3,572 CA$4,967

-8.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.4

5.16

24.03%

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

Last update for Burlington: May 31, 2026

Last update for Toronto: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,733 in Burlington versus $1,849 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 9% higher in Toronto, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Burlington versus $82.0 in Toronto. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $375 vs $396 – making Burlington the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Burlington vs Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Toronto is pricier by about 1%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,167 per month in Burlington and $4,216 in Toronto. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Burlington, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $952 per month in Burlington and $1,129 in Toronto. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 6% more in Toronto, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,778 in Burlington and $2,811 in Toronto. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Burlington – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Burlington. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Toronto makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.