Cost of Living Comparison Between Iqaluit, NU and Toronto Cost of Living Comparison Between Iqaluit, NU and Toronto

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,053 in Iqaluit, NU versus $2,811 in Toronto.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,047 in Iqaluit, NU versus $4,130 in Toronto.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,042 in Iqaluit, NU versus $5,449 in Toronto.

Living in Iqaluit, NU is roughly 9% more expensive than Toronto, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Iqaluit, NU 128% above, Toronto 110% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.29 CA$43.33

$18.71 CA$25.90

67.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.7 CA$91.0

$81.9 CA$113

-19.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.97 CA$17.96

$10.83 CA$14.99

19.76%

Cappuccino

$6.69 CA$9.26

$3.89 CA$5.38

71.98%

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

$3.99 CA$5.53

$2.22 CA$3.07

79.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 CA$2.33

$1.65 CA$2.28

1.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.89 CA$9.53

$6.05 CA$8.38

13.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.99 CA$8.30

$6.58 CA$9.11

-8.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.44 CA$3.37

$2.73 CA$3.77

-10.62%

White Bread (500g)

$2.69 CA$3.72

$2.72 CA$3.76

-1.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.00 CA$4.16

$3.54 CA$4.90

-15.25%

Eggs

$4.41 CA$6.11

$3.50 CA$4.84

26.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.17 CA$16.85

$13.53 CA$18.73

-10.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.62 CA$18.86

$13.09 CA$18.12

4.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.77 CA$34.30

$16.96 CA$23.49

46.05%

Apples (1kg)

$2.03 CA$2.82

$4.16 CA$5.76

-51.20%

Banana (1kg)

$2.98 CA$4.12

$1.18 CA$1.63

152.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.97 CA$2.72

$3.25 CA$4.50

-39.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 CA$2.81

$4.12 CA$5.70

-50.73%

Potato (1kg)

$2.96 CA$4.10

$2.50 CA$3.47

18.40%

Onion (1kg)

$3.90 CA$5.41

$2.88 CA$3.98

35.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.99 CA$4.14

$2.35 CA$3.25

27.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.55 CA$4.92

$2.00 CA$2.77

77.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.43 CA$19.98

$14.58 CA$20.19

-1.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.80 CA$17.73

$14.18 CA$19.63

-9.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 CA$2.02

$2.80 CA$3.88

-47.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 CA$3.03

$3.25 CA$4.51

-32.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.35 CA$3.25

$2.40 CA$3.32

-2.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$144 CA$200

$114 CA$158

26.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.82 CA$9.44

$3.76 CA$5.20

81.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 CA$0.98

$1.41 CA$1.95

-49.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.47 CA$35.26

$25.53 CA$35.34

-0.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 CA$1.76

$1.10 CA$1.52

15.45%

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

$50.5K CA$70.0K

$25.2K CA$34.9K

100.20%

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

$45.7K CA$63.3K

$21.1K CA$29.2K

116.86%

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

$119 CA$164

$120 CA$166

-0.69%

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

$54.3 CA$75.2

$37.54 CA$52.0

44.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.3 CA$77.9

$54.5 CA$75.5

3.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.07 CA$58.3

$55.5 CA$76.9

-24.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.02 CA$30.49

$21.15 CA$29.28

4.11%

Cinema Ticket

$8.50 CA$11.77

$11.56 CA$16.00

-26.47%

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

$1,019 CA$1,411

$1,129 CA$1,564

-9.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,997 CA$5,534

$18.0K CA$24.9K

-77.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.9 CA$87.0

$56.9 CA$78.8

10.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.88 CA$51.1

$39.96 CA$55.3

-7.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 CA$143

$89.7 CA$124

15.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 CA$167

$114 CA$158

5.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,687 CA$2,336

$1,849 CA$2,561

-8.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,567 CA$2,169

$1,560 CA$2,159

0.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,136 CA$4,342

$2,925 CA$4,051

7.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,838 CA$2,545

$2,470 CA$3,420

-25.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,603 CA$6,373

$9,085 CA$12.6K

-49.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,811 CA$5,277

$7,036 CA$9,742

-45.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,299 CA$5,952

$3,572 CA$4,946

20.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.1

5.16

56.98%

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

Last update for Iqaluit, NU: May 31, 2026

Last update for Toronto: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,687 in Iqaluit, NU and $1,849 in Toronto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Iqaluit, NU pays 20% 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: $66.0 in Iqaluit, NU vs $82.0 in Toronto. Groceries flip the comparison at $414 vs $396, 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

Iqaluit, NU vs Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Toronto is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Groceries & Markets, Getting Around, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Iqaluit, NU pays 20% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,687 in Iqaluit, NU versus $1,849 in Toronto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,019 in Iqaluit, NU versus $1,129 in Toronto. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Iqaluit, NU. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Toronto is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 Toronto gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Iqaluit, NU. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.