Cost of Living Comparison Between Cambridge and Toronto Cost of Living Comparison Between Cambridge and Toronto

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,479 in Cambridge versus $2,811 in Toronto.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,553 in Cambridge versus $4,130 in Toronto.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,628 in Cambridge versus $5,449 in Toronto.

Living in Cambridge costs roughly 12% less than in Toronto, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cambridge 85% above, Toronto 110% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.44 CA$20.08

$18.71 CA$26.02

-22.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.4 CA$91.0

$81.9 CA$114

-20.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.54 CA$13.27

$10.83 CA$15.06

-11.91%

Cappuccino

$3.53 CA$4.91

$3.89 CA$5.41

-9.25%

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

$2.20 CA$3.06

$2.22 CA$3.09

-0.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 CA$2.27

$1.65 CA$2.29

-1.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.95 CA$8.27

$6.05 CA$8.41

-1.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.69 CA$9.31

$6.58 CA$9.15

1.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.12 CA$2.95

$2.73 CA$3.79

-22.34%

White Bread (500g)

$2.23 CA$3.11

$2.72 CA$3.78

-18.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.95 CA$4.10

$3.54 CA$4.92

-16.67%

Eggs

$3.09 CA$4.29

$3.50 CA$4.87

-11.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.21 CA$11.41

$13.53 CA$18.81

-39.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.67 CA$16.23

$13.09 CA$18.20

-10.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.97 CA$19.43

$16.96 CA$23.59

-17.63%

Apples (1kg)

$3.78 CA$5.26

$4.16 CA$5.79

-9.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.20 CA$1.67

$1.18 CA$1.64

1.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.71 CA$5.16

$3.25 CA$4.52

14.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.72 CA$5.18

$4.12 CA$5.73

-9.71%

Potato (1kg)

$2.70 CA$3.75

$2.50 CA$3.48

8.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.49 CA$3.47

$2.88 CA$4.00

-13.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.14 CA$2.98

$2.35 CA$3.27

-8.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 CA$2.28

$2.00 CA$2.78

-18.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.68 CA$19.03

$14.58 CA$20.28

-6.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.75 CA$17.73

$14.18 CA$19.71

-10.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 CA$3.44

$2.80 CA$3.89

-11.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 CA$4.47

$3.25 CA$4.53

-1.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.51 CA$3.49

$2.40 CA$3.34

4.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.6 CA$95.4

$114 CA$159

-39.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 CA$3.51

$3.76 CA$5.22

-32.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.74 CA$2.42

$1.41 CA$1.96

23.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.06 CA$33.46

$25.53 CA$35.50

-5.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 CA$1.59

$1.10 CA$1.53

3.64%

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

$25.0K CA$34.7K

$25.2K CA$35.1K

-1.08%

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

$20.2K CA$28.1K

$21.1K CA$29.3K

-4.14%

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

$154 CA$214

$120 CA$166

28.78%

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

$38.79 CA$54.0

$37.54 CA$52.2

3.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.2 CA$76.8

$54.5 CA$75.8

1.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.12 CA$41.89

$55.5 CA$77.2

-45.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.15 CA$29.41

Cinema Ticket

$11.62 CA$16.16

$11.56 CA$16.07

0.52%

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

$561 CA$780

$1,129 CA$1,571

-50.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.1K CA$14.1K

$18.0K CA$25.0K

-43.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.6 CA$78.7

$56.9 CA$79.2

-0.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.66 CA$48.20

$39.96 CA$55.6

-13.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.3 CA$97.7

$89.7 CA$125

-21.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 CA$155

$114 CA$159

-2.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,411 CA$1,963

$1,849 CA$2,572

-23.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,378 CA$1,916

$1,560 CA$2,169

-11.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,702 CA$3,757

$2,925 CA$4,068

-7.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,106 CA$2,929

$2,470 CA$3,435

-14.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,307 CA$5,990

$9,085 CA$12.6K

-52.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,927 CA$5,461

$7,036 CA$9,785

-44.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,989 CA$4,157

$3,572 CA$4,967

-16.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.64

5.16

28.68%

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

Last update for Cambridge: May 31, 2026

Last update for Toronto: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,411 in Cambridge and $1,849 in Toronto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Toronto pays 20% 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: $65.0 in Cambridge vs $82.0 in Toronto for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $338 vs $396 per month, with Cambridge 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

Cambridge vs Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cambridge is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Toronto earns 20% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,411 in Cambridge versus $1,849 in Toronto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Toronto. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Cambridge – a meal for two runs $65.0 versus $82.0 in Toronto. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,479 in Cambridge versus $2,811 in Toronto, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Cambridge but tight or insufficient in Toronto. The gap between the two cities makes Cambridge the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 Cambridge gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.