Cost of Living Comparison Between Dartmouth and Toronto Cost of Living Comparison Between Dartmouth and Toronto

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,050 per month in Dartmouth vs $2,628 in Toronto, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,065 per month in Dartmouth vs $3,848 in Toronto, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,080 per month in Dartmouth vs $5,067 in Toronto, rent included.

Dartmouth is about 22% cheaper than Toronto, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Dartmouth and Toronto sit above the global median – Dartmouth by 49%, Toronto by 91%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dartmouth
Toronto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.99 CA$15.16
$17.88 CA$24.66
-38.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.3 CA$86.0
$87.9 CA$121
-29.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.15 CA$9.86
$10.93 CA$15.08
-34.58%
Cappuccino
$3.73 CA$5.14
$4.06 CA$5.60
-8.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 CA$2.86
$2.18 CA$3.01
-5.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 CA$2.58
$1.70 CA$2.34
10.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.44 CA$6.12
$6.69 CA$9.22
-33.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88 CA$8.11
$7.35 CA$10.13
-20.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dartmouth
Toronto
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.44 CA$3.36
$2.78 CA$3.83
-12.23%
White Bread (500g)
$2.11 CA$2.90
$2.89 CA$3.99
-26.99%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.52 CA$4.85
$2.56 CA$3.54
37.50%
Eggs
$3.69 CA$5.09
$3.79 CA$5.22
-2.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.78 CA$10.72
$10.17 CA$14.02
-23.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.27 CA$12.78
$11.95 CA$16.48
-22.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.07 CA$15.26
$16.12 CA$22.23
-31.33%
Apples (1kg)
$3.67 CA$5.06
$3.89 CA$5.37
-5.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 CA$2.23
$1.27 CA$1.76
27.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.79 CA$6.61
$3.88 CA$5.35
23.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.62 CA$7.75
$4.33 CA$5.97
29.79%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 CA$2.75
$1.83 CA$2.52
8.74%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 CA$3.01
$1.50 CA$2.06
46.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.57 CA$3.54
$2.28 CA$3.14
12.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.14 CA$2.95
$1.44 CA$1.98
48.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.24 CA$19.64
$14.20 CA$19.58
0.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.15 CA$19.52
$14.24 CA$19.64
-0.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.47 CA$4.79
$2.25 CA$3.10
54.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00 CA$5.51
$2.53 CA$3.49
58.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Dartmouth
Toronto
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.95 CA$2.69
$2.47 CA$3.41
-21.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$62.0 CA$85.5
$112 CA$154
-44.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.95 CA$4.06
$3.05 CA$4.20
-3.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 CA$1.86
$1.24 CA$1.70
8.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.83 CA$30.10
$22.44 CA$30.94
-2.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 CA$1.53
$1.24 CA$1.70
-10.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K CA$38.6K
$27.5K CA$37.9K
1.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.6K CA$27.1K
$21.1K CA$29.2K
-7.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dartmouth
Toronto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.5 CA$110
$128 CA$176
-37.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.74 CA$57.6
$33.79 CA$46.59
23.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.0 CA$91.0
$49.25 CA$67.9
33.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dartmouth
Toronto
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.67 CA$50.6
$40.93 CA$56.5
-10.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$24.62 CA$33.95
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.10 CA$18.07
$13.16 CA$18.15
-0.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dartmouth
Toronto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$380 CA$524
$792 CA$1,093
-52.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.8K CA$19.1K
$24.1K CA$33.3K
-42.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dartmouth
Toronto
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.23 CA$56.9
$54.5 CA$75.2
-24.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.05 CA$46.96
$43.11 CA$59.5
-21.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.3 CA$94.1
$102 CA$140
-32.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.8 CA$103
$123 CA$170
-39.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dartmouth
Toronto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,242 CA$1,713
$1,653 CA$2,279
-24.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,073 CA$1,480
$1,452 CA$2,002
-26.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 CA$2,786
$2,694 CA$3,716
-25.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,859 CA$2,564
$2,149 CA$2,964
-13.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$8,347 CA$11.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,816 CA$9,399
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dartmouth
Toronto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,629 CA$3,625
$3,614 CA$4,984
-27.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.6
4.49
2.45%

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

Last update for Dartmouth: August 30, 2026

Last update for Toronto: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,242 in Dartmouth versus $1,653 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 37% 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 $62.0 in Dartmouth versus $88.0 in Toronto. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $365 – making Dartmouth 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
Dartmouth vs Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Dartmouth and in Toronto compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,050 in Dartmouth, $2,628 in Toronto – roughly 28% apart. Toronto costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Dartmouth compared to Toronto?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,076 per month in Dartmouth and $3,942 in Toronto. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Dartmouth and Toronto?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Dartmouth, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Dartmouth or Toronto?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,050 in Dartmouth and $2,628 in Toronto. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Dartmouth and in Toronto?
Public transport costs about 80% less in Dartmouth. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Dartmouth, where all-in costs run around $2,050, than in Toronto at $2,628. In Dartmouth it covers expenses comfortably, while in Toronto it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Dartmouth or Toronto?
Families tend to lean toward Dartmouth – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Dartmouth and Toronto?
If budget matters most, go with Dartmouth. 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.

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