Cost of Living Comparison Between Halifax and Toronto Cost of Living Comparison Between Halifax and Toronto

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,537 per month in Halifax vs $2,628 in Toronto, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,643 per month in Halifax vs $3,848 in Toronto, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,749 per month in Halifax vs $5,067 in Toronto, rent included.

Halifax is about 3% cheaper than Toronto, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Halifax and Toronto sit above the global median – Halifax by 85%, Toronto by 91%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.97 CA$24.97

$17.88 CA$24.85

0.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.6 CA$102

$87.9 CA$122

-16.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.71 CA$14.88

$10.93 CA$15.19

-2.01%

Cappuccino

$4.53 CA$6.29

$4.06 CA$5.64

11.58%

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

$2.45 CA$3.40

$2.18 CA$3.03

12.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 CA$2.56

$1.70 CA$2.36

8.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.81 CA$8.08

$6.69 CA$9.29

-13.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.34 CA$8.81

$7.35 CA$10.21

-13.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 CA$3.12

$2.78 CA$3.86

-19.42%

White Bread (500g)

$2.82 CA$3.91

$2.89 CA$4.02

-2.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.01 CA$5.57

$2.56 CA$3.56

56.64%

Eggs

$3.80 CA$5.28

$3.79 CA$5.26

0.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.09 CA$12.63

$10.17 CA$14.13

-10.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.13 CA$18.24

$11.95 CA$16.60

9.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.88 CA$20.68

$16.12 CA$22.40

-7.69%

Apples (1kg)

$5.06 CA$7.03

$3.89 CA$5.41

30.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 CA$2.63

$1.27 CA$1.77

48.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.52 CA$6.27

$3.88 CA$5.39

16.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.09 CA$7.08

$4.33 CA$6.02

17.55%

Potato (1kg)

$2.70 CA$3.75

$1.83 CA$2.54

47.54%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 CA$4.21

$1.50 CA$2.08

102.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.61 CA$3.62

$2.28 CA$3.16

14.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 CA$2.80

$1.44 CA$2.00

40.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.14 CA$23.82

$14.20 CA$19.73

20.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.91 CA$23.50

$14.24 CA$19.79

18.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.52 CA$6.29

$2.25 CA$3.12

100.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.28 CA$7.34

$2.53 CA$3.52

108.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.19 CA$3.04

$2.47 CA$3.43

-11.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.9 CA$90.2

$112 CA$156

-42.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 CA$4.65

$3.05 CA$4.24

9.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 CA$1.71

$1.24 CA$1.72

-0.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.97 CA$30.53

$22.44 CA$31.18

-2.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 CA$1.81

$1.24 CA$1.72

5.65%

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

$28.6K CA$39.8K

$27.5K CA$38.2K

4.08%

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

$22.5K CA$31.3K

$21.1K CA$29.4K

6.43%

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

$146 CA$202

$128 CA$177

14.19%

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

$44.67 CA$62.1

$33.79 CA$46.95

32.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.2 CA$96.2

$49.25 CA$68.4

40.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.62 CA$57.8

$40.93 CA$56.9

1.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.38 CA$25.54

$24.62 CA$34.21

-25.35%

Cinema Ticket

$11.45 CA$15.91

$13.16 CA$18.29

-12.99%

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

$977 CA$1,358

$792 CA$1,101

23.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.2K CA$21.2K

$24.1K CA$33.5K

-36.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.5 CA$84.1

$54.5 CA$75.8

10.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.10 CA$48.77

$43.11 CA$59.9

-18.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 CA$144

$102 CA$141

2.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 CA$158

$123 CA$171

-7.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,484 CA$2,063

$1,653 CA$2,297

-10.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,269 CA$1,764

$1,452 CA$2,017

-12.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,486 CA$3,454

$2,694 CA$3,744

-7.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,976 CA$2,746

$2,149 CA$2,987

-8.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,233 CA$4,493

$8,347 CA$11.6K

-61.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,807 CA$3,901

$6,816 CA$9,471

-58.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,807 CA$3,901

$3,614 CA$5,022

-22.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.98

4.49

10.91%

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

Last update for Halifax: August 31, 2026

Last update for Toronto: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,484 in Halifax 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 29% 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 Halifax versus $88.0 in Toronto. Groceries tell a different story – $415 in Halifax vs $365 in Toronto – so Toronto wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Halifax vs Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,537 in Halifax, $2,628 in Toronto – roughly 4% apart. Toronto costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,806 per month in Halifax and $3,942 in Toronto. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 73% less in Halifax. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $977 per month in Halifax and $792 in Toronto. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,537 in Halifax and $2,628 in Toronto. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Halifax has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,537 in Halifax to $2,628 in Toronto. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Halifax. 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.