Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort St John, BC and Toronto Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort St John, BC and Toronto

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,730 in Fort St John, BC versus $2,788 in Toronto.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,740 in Fort St John, BC versus $4,110 in Toronto.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,751 in Fort St John, BC versus $5,432 in Toronto.

Living in Fort St John, BC costs roughly 38% less than in Toronto, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Fort St John, BC 29% above, Toronto 109% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.92 CA$19.52

$18.51 CA$25.96

-24.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.98 CA$61.7

$83.8 CA$118

-47.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.45 CA$13.24

$10.97 CA$15.38

-13.86%

Cappuccino

$4.42 CA$6.20

$3.99 CA$5.59

10.78%

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

$1.86 CA$2.61

$2.11 CA$2.96

-11.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 CA$1.84

$1.69 CA$2.37

-22.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.68 CA$9.37

$5.92 CA$8.30

12.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.59 CA$7.84

$6.48 CA$9.08

-13.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.38 CA$3.33

$2.71 CA$3.80

-12.18%

White Bread (500g)

$3.40 CA$4.77

$2.85 CA$4.00

19.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.81 CA$5.34

$3.56 CA$4.99

7.02%

Eggs

$3.91 CA$5.48

$3.54 CA$4.96

10.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.51 CA$9.13

$13.26 CA$18.59

-50.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.39 CA$17.37

$13.05 CA$18.29

-5.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.09 CA$26.77

$16.77 CA$23.51

13.83%

Apples (1kg)

$5.25 CA$7.35

$4.11 CA$5.77

27.74%

Banana (1kg)

$0.67 CA$0.94

$1.14 CA$1.60

-41.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.98 CA$5.58

$3.40 CA$4.76

17.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.59 CA$5.03

$4.02 CA$5.64

-10.70%

Potato (1kg)

$5.23 CA$7.33

$2.43 CA$3.41

115.23%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 CA$4.02

$2.94 CA$4.12

-2.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.46 CA$3.44

$2.47 CA$3.47

-0.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 CA$3.07

$1.92 CA$2.69

14.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.61 CA$20.48

$14.99 CA$21.01

-2.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.01 CA$29.46

$14.34 CA$20.10

46.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 CA$4.00

$2.71 CA$3.80

5.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 CA$4.32

$3.12 CA$4.38

-1.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 CA$2.09

$2.45 CA$3.44

-39.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.99 CA$40.64

$113 CA$158

-74.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.23 CA$10.13

$3.63 CA$5.08

99.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.07 CA$1.50

$1.34 CA$1.88

-20.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.59 CA$35.88

$25.55 CA$35.82

0.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 CA$1.77

$1.11 CA$1.55

13.51%

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

$25.0K CA$35.0K

$25.3K CA$35.4K

-1.16%

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

$20.3K CA$28.5K

$21.8K CA$30.5K

-6.72%

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

$87.8 CA$123

$117 CA$164

-24.77%

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

$103 CA$144

$37.60 CA$52.7

173.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 CA$92.9

$53.7 CA$75.3

23.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.6 CA$79.3

$57.1 CA$80.1

-0.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.86 CA$29.24

Cinema Ticket

$11.09 CA$15.55

$11.56 CA$16.20

-4.07%

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

$746 CA$1,047

$1,125 CA$1,577

-33.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K CA$16.7K

$18.4K CA$25.9K

-35.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.7 CA$102

$57.3 CA$80.4

26.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.98 CA$67.3

$39.05 CA$54.8

22.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.6 CA$117

$87.6 CA$123

-4.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 CA$207

$114 CA$159

29.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$578 CA$811

$1,842 CA$2,582

-68.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$541 CA$759

$1,531 CA$2,146

-64.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,340 CA$1,879

$2,925 CA$4,101

-54.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,094 CA$1,534

$2,502 CA$3,508

-56.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,725 CA$12.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,867 CA$9,628

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,079 CA$4,317

$3,454 CA$4,842

-10.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.45

5.16

44.38%

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

Last update for Fort St John, BC: July 13, 2026

Last update for Toronto: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $578 in Fort St John, BC and $1,842 in Toronto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Toronto pays 12% 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: $44.00 in Fort St John, BC vs $84.0 in Toronto. Groceries flip the comparison at $411 vs $395, with Toronto cheaper for home cooking.

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

Fort St John, BC vs Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fort St John, BC is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 61% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 12% lower in Toronto. 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: $578 in Fort St John, BC versus $1,842 in Toronto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Fort St John, BC – a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $84.0 in Toronto. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,730 per month in Fort St John, BC versus $2,788 in Toronto – a 61% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,730 in Fort St John, BC versus $2,788 in Toronto, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Fort St John, BC but tight or insufficient in Toronto. The gap between the two cities makes Fort St John, BC 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 Fort St John, BC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 61% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.