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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,450 per month in Halifax vs $2,811 in Toronto, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,580 per month in Halifax vs $4,130 in Toronto, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,710 per month in Halifax vs $5,449 in Toronto, rent included.

Halifax is about 13% cheaper than Toronto, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Halifax and Toronto sit above the global median – Halifax by 83%, Toronto by 110%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.31 CA$25.36

$18.71 CA$25.90

-2.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.4 CA$91.9

$81.9 CA$113

-18.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.47 CA$14.50

$10.83 CA$14.99

-3.32%

Cappuccino

$3.75 CA$5.19

$3.89 CA$5.38

-3.60%

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

$2.20 CA$3.04

$2.22 CA$3.07

-0.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 CA$2.26

$1.65 CA$2.28

-1.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.76 CA$7.98

$6.05 CA$8.38

-4.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.64 CA$9.20

$6.58 CA$9.11

0.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 CA$3.11

$2.73 CA$3.77

-17.95%

White Bread (500g)

$2.94 CA$4.07

$2.72 CA$3.76

8.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.83 CA$6.68

$3.54 CA$4.90

36.44%

Eggs

$4.00 CA$5.54

$3.50 CA$4.84

14.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.73 CA$13.47

$13.53 CA$18.73

-28.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.29 CA$18.40

$13.09 CA$18.12

1.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.74 CA$19.02

$16.96 CA$23.49

-18.99%

Apples (1kg)

$4.94 CA$6.84

$4.16 CA$5.76

18.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 CA$2.32

$1.18 CA$1.63

42.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.43 CA$6.13

$3.25 CA$4.50

36.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.24 CA$5.88

$4.12 CA$5.70

2.91%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 CA$4.15

$2.50 CA$3.47

20.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.58 CA$3.57

$2.88 CA$3.98

-10.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.59 CA$3.59

$2.35 CA$3.25

10.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 CA$3.05

$2.00 CA$2.77

10.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.25 CA$21.12

$14.58 CA$20.19

4.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.00 CA$22.16

$14.18 CA$19.63

12.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.88 CA$5.37

$2.80 CA$3.88

38.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 CA$6.19

$3.25 CA$4.51

37.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.15 CA$2.97

$2.40 CA$3.32

-10.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.3 CA$93.2

$114 CA$158

-41.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.72 CA$5.14

$3.76 CA$5.20

-1.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.18 CA$1.63

$1.41 CA$1.95

-16.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.21 CA$30.75

$25.53 CA$35.34

-13.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 CA$1.66

$1.10 CA$1.52

9.09%

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

$25.5K CA$35.3K

$25.2K CA$34.9K

1.04%

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

$22.2K CA$30.8K

$21.1K CA$29.2K

5.54%

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

$154 CA$213

$120 CA$166

28.68%

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

$50.3 CA$69.6

$37.54 CA$52.0

33.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.5 CA$97.6

$54.5 CA$75.5

29.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.3 CA$72.4

$55.5 CA$76.9

-5.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.78 CA$16.31

$21.15 CA$29.28

-44.30%

Cinema Ticket

$11.18 CA$15.48

$11.56 CA$16.00

-3.29%

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

$921 CA$1,275

$1,129 CA$1,564

-18.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K CA$20.6K

$18.0K CA$24.9K

-17.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.0 CA$90.0

$56.9 CA$78.8

14.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.58 CA$47.88

$39.96 CA$55.3

-13.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 CA$139

$89.7 CA$124

12.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 CA$157

$114 CA$158

-0.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,526 CA$2,113

$1,849 CA$2,561

-17.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,239 CA$1,716

$1,560 CA$2,159

-20.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,369 CA$3,280

$2,925 CA$4,051

-19.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,004 CA$2,774

$2,470 CA$3,420

-18.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,284 CA$4,547

$9,085 CA$12.6K

-63.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,748 CA$3,805

$7,036 CA$9,742

-60.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,703 CA$3,743

$3,572 CA$4,946

-24.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.12

5.16

18.60%

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

Last update for Halifax: June 1, 2026

Last update for Toronto: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,526 in Halifax versus $1,849 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 32% 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 $66.0 in Halifax versus $82.0 in Toronto. Groceries tell a different story – $409 in Halifax vs $396 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: $2,450 in Halifax, $2,811 in Toronto – roughly 15% apart. Toronto costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,675 per month in Halifax and $4,216 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 69% less in Halifax. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $921 per month in Halifax and $1,129 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 $2,450 in Halifax and $2,811 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 $2,450 in Halifax to $2,811 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.