Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lansing, IL and Toronto

For one person, living is cheaper in Lansing, IL: $2,424 a month against $2,610 in Toronto, rent and utilities included – about $2,200 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Toronto outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Lansing, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,424
/mo nomad
Toronto
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,610
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lansing, IL 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 Lansing, IL and in Toronto actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,424 per month in Lansing, IL vs $2,610 in Toronto, rent included.

  • Lansing, IL $2,424
  • Toronto $2,610

A couple spends around $3,690 per month in Lansing, IL vs $3,727 in Toronto, rent included.

  • Lansing, IL $3,690
  • Toronto $3,727

A family of three spends $4,956 per month in Lansing, IL vs $4,844 in Toronto, rent included.

  • Lansing, IL $4,956
  • Toronto $4,844

Lansing, IL is about 7% cheaper than Toronto, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Lansing, IL and Toronto sit above the global median – Lansing, IL by 79%, Toronto by 93%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lansing, IL
Toronto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.66 $19.66
$17.59 CA$24.87
11.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.6 $74.6
$78.8 CA$111
-5.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.59 $11.59
$10.73 CA$15.16
8.01%
Cappuccino
$5.19 $5.19
$4.09 CA$5.78
26.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 $2.72
$2.10 CA$2.97
29.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 $1.96
$1.72 CA$2.43
13.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.90 $5.90
$6.36 CA$8.99
-7.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.22 $7.22
$7.08 CA$10.01
1.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lansing, IL
Toronto
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$2.54 CA$3.59
-61.02%
White Bread (500g)
$3.57 $3.57
$2.72 CA$3.85
31.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.45 $4.45
$2.18 CA$3.09
104.13%
Eggs
$4.11 $4.11
$3.63 CA$5.13
13.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.76 $12.76
$9.46 CA$13.37
34.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.39 $11.39
$11.54 CA$16.32
-1.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.88 $16.88
$14.37 CA$20.32
17.47%
Apples (1kg)
$5.10 $5.10
$3.70 CA$5.23
37.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 $1.64
$1.19 CA$1.68
37.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.39 $4.39
$3.46 CA$4.90
26.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.79 $4.79
$4.22 CA$5.97
13.51%
Potato (1kg)
$2.82 $2.82
$1.79 CA$2.52
57.54%
Onion (1kg)
$2.91 $2.91
$1.65 CA$2.33
76.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.19 $2.19
$2.20 CA$3.11
-0.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$1.26 CA$1.78
76.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.96 $9.96
$13.97 CA$19.75
-28.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.07 $15.07
$14.20 CA$20.07
6.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 $1.92
$2.25 CA$3.18
-14.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 $3.27
$2.53 CA$3.58
29.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Lansing, IL
Toronto
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.32 CA$3.28
-11.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$112 CA$158
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.69 $2.69
$3.06 CA$4.33
-12.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.22 CA$1.72
27.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.26 $33.26
$21.69 CA$30.66
53.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 $1.13
$1.21 CA$1.72
-6.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K $27.9K
$26.1K CA$37.0K
6.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$21.1K CA$29.9K
24.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lansing, IL
Toronto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$196 $196
$120 CA$169
63.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$66.0 $66.0
$32.21 CA$45.54
104.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.0 $71.0
$48.88 CA$69.1
45.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lansing, IL
Toronto
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.95 $40.95
$39.34 CA$55.6
4.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$23.58 CA$33.34
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.18 $14.18
$12.58 CA$17.79
12.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lansing, IL
Toronto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,377 $1,377
$832 CA$1,176
65.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.8K $26.8K
$23.6K CA$33.4K
13.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lansing, IL
Toronto
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.9 $55.9
$52.3 CA$73.9
6.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.58 $43.58
$39.44 CA$55.8
10.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 $101
$99.0 CA$140
2.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 $120
$122 CA$172
-1.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lansing, IL
Toronto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,607 $1,607
$1,631 CA$2,306
-1.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,143 $1,143
$1,448 CA$2,048
-21.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,651 $2,651
$2,737 CA$3,869
-3.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,131 $2,131
$2,129 CA$3,010
0.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,439 $2,439
$8,206 CA$11.6K
-70.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,500 $2,500
$6,838 CA$9,666
-63.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lansing, IL
Toronto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,105 $3,105
$3,520 CA$4,976
-11.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
4.47
46.98%

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

Last update for Lansing, IL: October 18, 2026

Last update for Toronto: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lansing, IL
$1.1K
Toronto
$1.4K 26.7% $305
Groceries & Markets
Lansing, IL
$398
Toronto
$343 13.9% $56
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lansing, IL
$333
Toronto
$201 39.7% $132
Eating Out
Lansing, IL
$317
Toronto
$283 10.7% $34
Clothing & Footwear
Lansing, IL
$144
Toronto
$141 2.5% $3.6
Sport & Entertainment
Lansing, IL
$69
Toronto
$65 6.9% $4.8
Getting Around
Lansing, IL
$19 *
Toronto
$130 597% $111

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,607 in Lansing, IL versus $1,631 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 13% 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 $75.0 in Lansing, IL versus $79.0 in Toronto. Groceries tell a different story – $398 in Lansing, IL vs $343 in Toronto – so Toronto wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Lansing, IL
🇨🇦 Toronto
🕒 Local time
15:43 3:43 PM
16:43 4:43 PM
1 h ahead of Lansing, IL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
112,644
2,731,571
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 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
  • Lansing, IL Toronto 710 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Lansing, IL
  • 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
Lansing, IL vs Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Toronto cheaper than Lansing, IL?
Yes – Toronto is pricier by about 8%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in transport.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,636 per month in Lansing, IL and $3,916 in Toronto. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Lansing, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Lansing, IL and in Toronto?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,424 in Lansing, IL and $2,610 in Toronto. That's a gap of about 8%.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,377 per month in Lansing, IL and $832 in Toronto. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Lansing, IL or in Toronto?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,424 in Lansing, IL and $2,610 in Toronto. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Lansing, IL or Toronto more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Lansing, IL – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Lansing, IL. 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.

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