Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lakewood, WA and Toronto

For one person, living is cheaper in Toronto: $2,610 a month against $3,284 in Lakewood, WA, rent and utilities included – about $8,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lakewood, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,284
/mo nomad
Toronto
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,610
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lakewood, WA and in Toronto

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lakewood, WA and in Toronto actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,284 in Lakewood, WA versus $2,610 in Toronto.

  • Lakewood, WA $3,284
  • Toronto $2,610

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,777 in Lakewood, WA versus $3,727 in Toronto.

  • Lakewood, WA $4,777
  • Toronto $3,727

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,270 in Lakewood, WA versus $4,844 in Toronto.

  • Lakewood, WA $6,270
  • Toronto $4,844

Living in Lakewood, WA is roughly 26% more expensive than in Toronto, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lakewood, WA 142% above, Toronto 93% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lakewood, WA
Toronto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.09 $18.09
$17.59 CA$24.87
2.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.6 $67.6
$78.8 CA$111
-14.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.71 $12.71
$10.73 CA$15.16
18.45%
Cappuccino
$5.20 $5.20
$4.09 CA$5.78
27.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 $2.98
$2.10 CA$2.97
41.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$1.72 CA$2.43
19.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.90 $3.90
$6.36 CA$8.99
-38.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.10 $6.10
$7.08 CA$10.01
-13.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lakewood, WA
Toronto
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.02 $1.02
$2.54 CA$3.59
-59.84%
White Bread (500g)
$3.68 $3.68
$2.72 CA$3.85
35.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.24 $4.24
$2.18 CA$3.09
94.50%
Eggs
$3.92 $3.92
$3.63 CA$5.13
7.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.72 $13.72
$9.46 CA$13.37
45.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.69 $8.69
$11.54 CA$16.32
-24.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.21 $11.21
$14.37 CA$20.32
-21.99%
Apples (1kg)
$4.38 $4.38
$3.70 CA$5.23
18.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.94 $1.94
$1.19 CA$1.68
63.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.16 $4.16
$3.46 CA$4.90
20.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.52 $4.52
$4.22 CA$5.97
7.11%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 $1.97
$1.79 CA$2.52
10.06%
Onion (1kg)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.65 CA$2.33
30.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.20 CA$3.11
-8.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.49 $2.49
$1.26 CA$1.78
97.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.36 $12.36
$13.97 CA$19.75
-11.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.84 $15.84
$14.20 CA$20.07
11.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.25 CA$3.18
-12.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.53 CA$3.58
64.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Lakewood, WA
Toronto
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.32 CA$3.28
-12.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$197 $197
$112 CA$158
76.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.02 $2.02
$3.06 CA$4.33
-33.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 $0.64
$1.22 CA$1.72
-47.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.31 $27.31
$21.69 CA$30.66
25.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.21 CA$1.72
10.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K $28.1K
$26.1K CA$37.0K
7.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$21.1K CA$29.9K
24.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lakewood, WA
Toronto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$289 $289
$120 CA$169
141.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$74.0 $74.0
$32.21 CA$45.54
129.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$89.5 $89.5
$48.88 CA$69.1
83.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lakewood, WA
Toronto
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.00 $41.00
$39.34 CA$55.6
4.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.97 $24.97
$23.58 CA$33.34
5.89%
Cinema Ticket
$18.08 $18.08
$12.58 CA$17.79
43.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lakewood, WA
Toronto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,965 $1,965
$832 CA$1,176
136.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.7K $25.7K
$23.6K CA$33.4K
8.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lakewood, WA
Toronto
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.1 $50.1
$52.3 CA$73.9
-4.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.11 $38.11
$39.44 CA$55.8
-3.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 $100
$99.0 CA$140
1.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$136 $136
$122 CA$172
11.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lakewood, WA
Toronto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,961 $1,961
$1,631 CA$2,306
20.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,733 $1,733
$1,448 CA$2,048
19.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,365 $3,365
$2,737 CA$3,869
22.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,047 $3,047
$2,129 CA$3,010
43.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,359 $2,359
$8,206 CA$11.6K
-71.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,606 $2,606
$6,838 CA$9,666
-61.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lakewood, WA
Toronto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$3,520 CA$4,976
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.81
4.47
52.35%

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

Last update for Lakewood, WA: October 19, 2026

Last update for Toronto: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lakewood, WA
$1.7K
Toronto
$1.4K 16.4% $285
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lakewood, WA
$452
Toronto
$201 55.6% $252
Groceries & Markets
Lakewood, WA
$369
Toronto
$343 7% $26
Eating Out
Lakewood, WA
$297
Toronto
$283 4.7% $14
Getting Around
Lakewood, WA
$210
Toronto
$130 38.1% $80
Clothing & Footwear
Lakewood, WA
$146
Toronto
$141 3.6% $5.3
Sport & Entertainment
Lakewood, WA
$77
Toronto
$65 16.4% $13

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,961 in Lakewood, WA and $1,631 in Toronto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $68.0 in Lakewood, WA vs $79.0 in Toronto. Groceries flip the comparison at $369 vs $343, with Toronto cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Lakewood, WA
🇨🇦 Toronto
🕒 Local time
07:51 7:51 AM
10:51 10:51 AM
3 h ahead of Lakewood, WA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
140,024
2,731,571
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lakewood, WA Toronto 3,350 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Lakewood, WA
  • Toronto

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Lakewood, WA vs Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lakewood, WA and in Toronto?
Lakewood, WA and Toronto differ by about 26% in total monthly costs ($3,284 vs $2,610 including rent). Toronto is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lakewood, WA compared to Toronto?
You'd need roughly $4,926 in Lakewood, WA and $3,916 in Toronto to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Lakewood, WA and in Toronto?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,961 in Lakewood, WA versus $1,631 in Toronto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Toronto – a meal for two runs $79.0 versus $68.0 in Lakewood, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lakewood, WA or Toronto?
All in, you'll spend $3,284 per month in Lakewood, WA versus $2,610 in Toronto – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is feasible on a $2,500 budget?
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.
How does quality of life compare between Lakewood, WA and Toronto?
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.
Is Lakewood, WA or Toronto safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lakewood, WA and Toronto are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lakewood, WA or Toronto?
Expats usually find Toronto gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Lakewood, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Lakewood, WA vs other spots: cost of living compared

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