Cost of Living Comparison Between Hay River, NT and Toronto Cost of Living Comparison Between Hay River, NT and Toronto

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,296 per month in Hay River, NT vs $2,811 in Toronto, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,340 per month in Hay River, NT vs $4,130 in Toronto, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,383 per month in Hay River, NT vs $5,449 in Toronto, rent included.

Hay River, NT is about 18% cheaper than Toronto, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Hay River, NT and Toronto sit above the global median – Hay River, NT by 71%, Toronto by 110%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.77 CA$23.32

$18.71 CA$26.02

-10.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.7 CA$96.9

$81.9 CA$114

-14.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.07 CA$15.39

$10.83 CA$15.06

2.22%

Cappuccino

$3.68 CA$5.11

$3.89 CA$5.41

-5.40%

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

$2.07 CA$2.87

$2.22 CA$3.09

-6.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 CA$2.39

$1.65 CA$2.29

4.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.48 CA$7.62

$6.05 CA$8.41

-9.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.01 CA$8.36

$6.58 CA$9.15

-8.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 CA$3.06

$2.73 CA$3.79

-19.41%

White Bread (500g)

$2.70 CA$3.76

$2.72 CA$3.78

-0.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.61 CA$5.01

$3.54 CA$4.92

1.98%

Eggs

$3.40 CA$4.73

$3.50 CA$4.87

-2.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.07 CA$15.39

$13.53 CA$18.81

-18.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.54 CA$16.05

$13.09 CA$18.20

-11.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.43 CA$20.07

$16.96 CA$23.59

-14.92%

Apples (1kg)

$3.96 CA$5.51

$4.16 CA$5.79

-4.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 CA$1.99

$1.18 CA$1.64

21.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.61 CA$5.03

$3.25 CA$4.52

11.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.68 CA$5.12

$4.12 CA$5.73

-10.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.38 CA$3.31

$2.50 CA$3.48

-4.80%

Onion (1kg)

$2.54 CA$3.53

$2.88 CA$4.00

-11.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.53 CA$3.52

$2.35 CA$3.27

7.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 CA$2.48

$2.00 CA$2.78

-10.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.20 CA$19.75

$14.58 CA$20.28

-2.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.85 CA$17.87

$14.18 CA$19.71

-9.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 CA$3.97

$2.80 CA$3.89

2.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 CA$4.39

$3.25 CA$4.53

-3.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 CA$3.38

$2.40 CA$3.34

1.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$62.5 CA$86.8

$114 CA$159

-45.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 CA$4.35

$3.76 CA$5.22

-16.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 CA$1.99

$1.41 CA$1.96

1.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.90 CA$36.01

$25.53 CA$35.50

1.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 CA$1.63

$1.10 CA$1.53

6.36%

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

$24.8K CA$34.5K

$25.2K CA$35.1K

-1.68%

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

$20.7K CA$28.7K

$21.1K CA$29.3K

-2.00%

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

$142 CA$197

$120 CA$166

18.66%

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

$44.25 CA$61.5

$37.54 CA$52.2

17.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.0 CA$87.6

$54.5 CA$75.8

15.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.21 CA$58.7

$55.5 CA$77.2

-23.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.15 CA$29.41

Cinema Ticket

$11.38 CA$15.82

$11.56 CA$16.07

-1.56%

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

$727 CA$1,012

$1,129 CA$1,571

-35.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K CA$16.6K

$18.0K CA$25.0K

-33.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 CA$74.6

$56.9 CA$79.2

-5.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.98 CA$55.6

$39.96 CA$55.6

0.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.0 CA$122

$89.7 CA$125

-1.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$151

$114 CA$159

-5.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,327 CA$1,846

$1,849 CA$2,572

-28.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,158 CA$1,610

$1,560 CA$2,169

-25.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,046 CA$2,845

$2,925 CA$4,068

-30.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,794 CA$2,495

$2,470 CA$3,435

-27.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,755 CA$6,613

$9,085 CA$12.6K

-47.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,160 CA$5,786

$7,036 CA$9,785

-40.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,369 CA$6,076

$3,572 CA$4,967

22.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.46

5.16

25.19%

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

Last update for Hay River, NT: June 2, 2026

Last update for Toronto: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,327 in Hay River, NT 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 22% higher in Hay River, NT, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Hay River, NT versus $82.0 in Toronto. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $363 vs $396 – making Hay River, NT 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

Hay River, NT vs Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Toronto costs about 22% more than Hay River, NT, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,444 per month in Hay River, NT 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 Hay River, NT, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,296 in Hay River, NT and $2,811 in Toronto. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 83% less in Hay River, NT. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Hay River, NT, where all-in costs run around $2,296, than in Toronto at $2,811. In Hay River, NT it covers expenses comfortably, while in Toronto it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Hay River, NT – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Hay River, NT. 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.