Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Denver, CO and Toronto

For one person, living is cheaper in Toronto: $2,530 a month against $3,160 in Denver, CO, rent and utilities included – about $7,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Denver, CO
🇺🇸 United States
$3,160
/mo nomad
Toronto
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,530
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Denver, CO 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 Denver, CO and in Toronto actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,160 in Denver, CO versus $2,530 in Toronto.

  • Denver, CO $3,160
  • Toronto $2,530

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,580 in Denver, CO versus $3,646 in Toronto.

  • Denver, CO $4,580
  • Toronto $3,646

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,000 in Denver, CO versus $4,761 in Toronto.

  • Denver, CO $6,000
  • Toronto $4,761

Living in Denver, CO is roughly 25% more expensive than in Toronto, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Denver, CO 136% above, Toronto 89% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Denver, CO
Toronto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.90 $19.90
$17.67 CA$25.13
12.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.7 $87.7
$77.4 CA$110
13.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.72 $11.72
$10.47 CA$14.90
11.94%
Cappuccino
$5.84 $5.84
$4.08 CA$5.80
43.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 $3.00
$2.12 CA$3.01
41.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 $2.29
$1.76 CA$2.50
30.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.01 $7.01
$6.17 CA$8.78
13.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.94 $7.94
$6.89 CA$9.80
15.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Denver, CO
Toronto
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$2.43 CA$3.46
-52.26%
White Bread (500g)
$5.26 $5.26
$2.75 CA$3.91
91.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.19 $7.19
$2.23 CA$3.17
222.42%
Eggs
$5.24 $5.24
$3.45 CA$4.90
51.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.13 $16.13
$8.93 CA$12.71
80.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.04 $17.04
$11.44 CA$16.27
48.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.89 $17.89
$14.61 CA$20.78
22.45%
Apples (1kg)
$5.24 $5.24
$3.75 CA$5.33
39.73%
Banana (1kg)
$2.07 $2.07
$1.15 CA$1.63
80.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.88 $4.88
$3.55 CA$5.05
37.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.34 $5.34
$4.28 CA$6.09
24.77%
Potato (1kg)
$2.63 $2.63
$1.85 CA$2.62
42.16%
Onion (1kg)
$2.78 $2.78
$1.67 CA$2.37
66.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.27 $2.27
$2.22 CA$3.15
2.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.49 $2.49
$1.21 CA$1.72
105.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.41 $10.41
$13.88 CA$19.74
-25.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.12 $19.12
$14.25 CA$20.27
34.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.20 CA$3.12
26.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 $3.60
$2.42 CA$3.44
48.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Denver, CO
Toronto
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.71 $2.71
$2.42 CA$3.44
11.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$88.6 $88.6
$111 CA$158
-20.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.51 $3.51
$2.90 CA$4.12
21.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.26 CA$1.79
35.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.38 $30.38
$22.03 CA$31.33
37.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.22 CA$1.74
-11.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8K $34.8K
$27.6K CA$39.3K
25.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K $25.4K
$19.8K CA$28.2K
28.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Denver, CO
Toronto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$167 $167
$122 CA$173
36.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$75.9 $75.9
$32.03 CA$45.56
136.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.1 $69.1
$47.92 CA$68.2
44.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Denver, CO
Toronto
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.5 $61.5
$38.90 CA$55.3
58.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.75 $24.75
$23.24 CA$33.05
6.50%
Cinema Ticket
$14.82 $14.82
$12.61 CA$17.94
17.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Denver, CO
Toronto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,416 $2,416
$834 CA$1,186
189.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$34.5K $34.5K
$23.3K CA$33.2K
47.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Denver, CO
Toronto
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.6 $71.6
$52.6 CA$74.8
36.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.65 $45.65
$40.26 CA$57.3
13.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 $103
$96.2 CA$137
6.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129 $129
$123 CA$175
5.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Denver, CO
Toronto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,012 $2,012
$1,598 CA$2,273
25.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,713 $1,713
$1,435 CA$2,041
19.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,277 $3,277
$2,657 CA$3,779
23.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,619 $2,619
$2,096 CA$2,981
24.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,649 $5,649
$8,033 CA$11.4K
-29.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,760 $3,760
$6,557 CA$9,327
-42.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Denver, CO
Toronto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,413 $4,413
$3,743 CA$5,324
17.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.9
4.47
54.36%

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

Last update for Denver, CO: October 5, 2026

Last update for Toronto: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Denver, CO
$1.7K
Toronto
$1.4K 16.2% $278
Groceries & Markets
Denver, CO
$498
Toronto
$340 31.7% $158
Eating Out
Denver, CO
$337
Toronto
$282 16.3% $55
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Denver, CO
$312
Toronto
$202 35.3% $110
Clothing & Footwear
Denver, CO
$157
Toronto
$140 10.6% $17
Getting Around
Denver, CO
$111
Toronto
$130 16.3% $18
Sport & Entertainment
Denver, CO
$91
Toronto
$64 29.7% $27

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,012 in Denver, CO and $1,598 in Toronto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Denver, CO pays 18% 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: $88.0 in Denver, CO vs $77.0 in Toronto for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $498 vs $340 per month, with Toronto cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Denver, CO
🇨🇦 Toronto
🕒 Local time
19:18 7:18 PM
21:18 9:18 PM
2 h ahead of Denver, CO
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
715,522
2,731,571
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.42 CAD (1 CAD = 0.703 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.627 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Denver, CO Toronto 2,160 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Denver, CO
  • 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
Denver, CO vs Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Denver, CO or Toronto?
Toronto wins on cost – living expenses run 25% lower than in Denver, CO. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Toronto the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Denver, CO or in Toronto?
Average pay runs 18% higher in Denver, CO, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Denver, CO compared to Toronto?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,012 in Denver, CO versus $1,598 in Toronto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Denver, CO or in Toronto?
Supermarket bills run roughly 46% higher in Denver, CO. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Denver, CO and in Toronto?
Dining out is cheaper in Toronto – a meal for two runs $77.0 versus $88.0 in Denver, CO. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Denver, CO or in Toronto?
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.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Denver, CO or Toronto?
Both work as nomad bases, but Toronto delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,530 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Toronto hard to pass up.
How safe is Denver, CO compared to Toronto?
Safety-wise, Denver, CO and Toronto are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Toronto gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Denver, CO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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