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 $2,307 per month in Hay River, NT vs $2,628 in Toronto, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,315 per month in Hay River, NT vs $3,848 in Toronto, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,323 per month in Hay River, NT vs $5,067 in Toronto, rent included.

Hay River, NT is about 12% cheaper than Toronto, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Hay River, NT and Toronto sit above the global median – Hay River, NT by 68%, Toronto by 91%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.25 CA$25.25

$17.88 CA$24.75

2.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.7 CA$92.3

$87.9 CA$122

-24.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.97 CA$15.17

$10.93 CA$15.13

0.37%

Cappuccino

$3.69 CA$5.11

$4.06 CA$5.62

-9.11%

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

$1.84 CA$2.55

$2.18 CA$3.02

-15.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 CA$2.40

$1.70 CA$2.35

2.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.92 CA$8.19

$6.69 CA$9.25

-11.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.00 CA$6.92

$7.35 CA$10.16

-31.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 CA$2.85

$2.78 CA$3.85

-25.90%

White Bread (500g)

$2.62 CA$3.62

$2.89 CA$4.00

-9.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.00 CA$4.15

$2.56 CA$3.55

17.19%

Eggs

$3.92 CA$5.43

$3.79 CA$5.24

3.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.54 CA$15.96

$10.17 CA$14.07

13.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.48 CA$15.88

$11.95 CA$16.53

-3.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.73 CA$20.38

$16.12 CA$22.31

-8.62%

Apples (1kg)

$4.24 CA$5.86

$3.89 CA$5.39

9.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.25 CA$1.73

$1.27 CA$1.76

-1.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.22 CA$4.45

$3.88 CA$5.37

-17.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.84 CA$5.32

$4.33 CA$5.99

-11.32%

Potato (1kg)

$2.34 CA$3.24

$1.83 CA$2.53

27.87%

Onion (1kg)

$2.50 CA$3.46

$1.50 CA$2.07

66.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.37 CA$3.28

$2.28 CA$3.15

3.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 CA$1.97

$1.44 CA$1.99

-1.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.91 CA$17.87

$14.20 CA$19.64

-9.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.51 CA$17.31

$14.24 CA$19.71

-12.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 CA$3.67

$2.25 CA$3.11

17.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 CA$4.38

$2.53 CA$3.50

24.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 CA$3.09

$2.47 CA$3.42

-9.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.0 CA$83.1

$112 CA$155

-46.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.36 CA$4.64

$3.05 CA$4.22

10.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.56 CA$2.15

$1.24 CA$1.71

25.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.40 CA$32.37

$22.44 CA$31.05

4.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 CA$1.58

$1.24 CA$1.71

-8.06%

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

$27.7K CA$38.4K

$27.5K CA$38.1K

0.82%

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

$20.4K CA$28.2K

$21.1K CA$29.3K

-3.69%

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

$139 CA$193

$128 CA$177

9.33%

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

$38.54 CA$53.3

$33.79 CA$46.75

14.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.8 CA$78.6

$49.25 CA$68.2

15.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.92 CA$56.6

$40.93 CA$56.6

-0.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.63 CA$23.01

$24.62 CA$34.07

-32.45%

Cinema Ticket

$12.92 CA$17.88

$13.16 CA$18.21

-1.82%

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

$818 CA$1,132

$792 CA$1,097

3.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.2K CA$16.9K

$24.1K CA$33.4K

-49.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.3 CA$76.5

$54.5 CA$75.4

1.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.25 CA$50.2

$43.11 CA$59.7

-15.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.3 CA$119

$102 CA$140

-14.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.8 CA$137

$123 CA$171

-19.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,132 CA$1,566

$1,653 CA$2,287

-31.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$982 CA$1,359

$1,452 CA$2,009

-32.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,025 CA$2,801

$2,694 CA$3,728

-24.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,738 CA$2,405

$2,149 CA$2,974

-19.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,703 CA$6,508

$8,347 CA$11.6K

-43.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,866 CA$5,349

$6,816 CA$9,431

-43.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,268 CA$5,906

$3,614 CA$5,001

18.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.68

4.49

4.23%

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

Last update for Hay River, NT: August 31, 2026

Last update for Toronto: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,132 in Hay River, NT 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 18% 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 $67.0 in Hay River, NT versus $88.0 in Toronto. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $355 vs $365 – 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 14% 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 $3,460 per month in Hay River, NT 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 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 $2,307 in Hay River, NT and $2,628 in Toronto. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 87% 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 $2,307, than in Toronto at $2,628. 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.