Cost of Living Comparison Between Laurel, MD and Toronto Cost of Living Comparison Between Laurel, MD and Toronto

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,646 in Laurel, MD versus $2,628 in Toronto.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,280 in Laurel, MD versus $3,848 in Toronto.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,913 in Laurel, MD versus $5,067 in Toronto.

Living in Laurel, MD is roughly 1% more expensive than in Toronto, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Laurel, MD 93% above, Toronto 91% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Laurel, MD
Toronto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.62 $14.62
$17.88 CA$24.75
-18.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.0 $91.0
$87.9 CA$122
3.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.12 $11.12
$10.93 CA$15.13
1.74%
Cappuccino
$5.91 $5.91
$4.06 CA$5.62
45.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 $2.68
$2.18 CA$3.02
22.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 $2.39
$1.70 CA$2.35
40.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.94 $7.94
$6.69 CA$9.25
18.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.70 $8.70
$7.35 CA$10.16
18.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Laurel, MD
Toronto
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.20 $1.20
$2.78 CA$3.85
-56.83%
White Bread (500g)
$4.56 $4.56
$2.89 CA$4.00
57.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.39 $5.39
$2.56 CA$3.55
110.55%
Eggs
$5.17 $5.17
$3.79 CA$5.24
36.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.51 $16.51
$10.17 CA$14.07
62.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.50 $15.50
$11.95 CA$16.53
29.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.29 $19.29
$16.12 CA$22.31
19.67%
Apples (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$3.89 CA$5.39
41.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.82 $1.82
$1.27 CA$1.76
43.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.60 $4.60
$3.88 CA$5.37
18.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.41 $5.41
$4.33 CA$5.99
24.94%
Potato (1kg)
$2.94 $2.94
$1.83 CA$2.53
60.66%
Onion (1kg)
$2.16 $2.16
$1.50 CA$2.07
44.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.09 $2.09
$2.28 CA$3.15
-8.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 $2.79
$1.44 CA$1.99
93.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.50 $10.50
$14.20 CA$19.64
-26.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.78 $14.78
$14.24 CA$19.71
3.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 $1.78
$2.25 CA$3.11
-20.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$2.53 CA$3.50
16.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Laurel, MD
Toronto
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.47 CA$3.42
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$112 CA$155
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.09 $4.09
$3.05 CA$4.22
34.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.21 $1.21
$1.24 CA$1.71
-2.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.12 $25.12
$22.44 CA$31.05
11.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 $1.01
$1.24 CA$1.71
-18.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K $34.2K
$27.5K CA$38.1K
24.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$21.1K CA$29.3K
20.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Laurel, MD
Toronto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$164 $164
$128 CA$177
28.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.7 $52.7
$33.79 CA$46.75
56.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.0 $72.0
$49.25 CA$68.2
46.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Laurel, MD
Toronto
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$40.93 CA$56.6
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$24.62 CA$34.07
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.75 $16.75
$13.16 CA$18.21
27.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Laurel, MD
Toronto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,621 $1,621
$792 CA$1,097
104.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$36.4K $36.4K
$24.1K CA$33.4K
51.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Laurel, MD
Toronto
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.77 $46.77
$54.5 CA$75.4
-14.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.19 $36.19
$43.11 CA$59.7
-16.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 $103
$102 CA$140
1.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 $118
$123 CA$171
-4.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Laurel, MD
Toronto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,587 $1,587
$1,653 CA$2,287
-3.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,391 $1,391
$1,452 CA$2,009
-4.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,643 $2,643
$2,694 CA$3,728
-1.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,013 $3,013
$2,149 CA$2,974
40.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,280 $2,280
$8,347 CA$11.6K
-72.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,544 $2,544
$6,816 CA$9,431
-62.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Laurel, MD
Toronto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,367 $5,367
$3,614 CA$5,001
48.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.3
4.49
40.31%

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

Last update for Laurel, MD: August 31, 2026

Last update for Toronto: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,587 in Laurel, MD and $1,653 in Toronto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Laurel, MD pays 48% 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: $91.0 in Laurel, MD vs $88.0 in Toronto for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $468 vs $365 per month, with Toronto cheaper across the board.

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
Laurel, MD vs Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Laurel, MD and in Toronto?
Laurel, MD and Toronto differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($2,646 vs $2,628 including rent). Toronto is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Laurel, MD or Toronto?
Average pay runs 48% higher in Laurel, MD, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Laurel, MD and in Toronto?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,587 in Laurel, MD versus $1,653 in Toronto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 28% higher in Laurel, MD. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Laurel, MD or Toronto?
All in, you'll spend $2,646 per month in Laurel, MD versus $2,628 in Toronto – a 1% 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 Laurel, MD 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.
Where should expats move: Laurel, MD or Toronto?
Expats usually find Toronto gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Laurel, MD. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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