🙂A single person spends $2,466 per month in Marathon vs $2,768 in Toronto, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $3,508 per month in Marathon vs $4,066 in Toronto, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $4,549 per month in Marathon vs $5,364 in Toronto, rent included.
🙂Marathon is about 11% cheaper than Toronto, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Marathon and Toronto sit above the global median – Marathon by 83%, Toronto by 106%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Marathon
Toronto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.75CA$25.68
$18.40CA$25.20
1.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.8CA$81.9
$81.3CA$111
-26.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.60CA$17.26
$10.92CA$14.97
15.38%
Cappuccino
$3.68CA$5.05
$3.83CA$5.25
-3.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79CA$2.46
$2.19CA$3.01
-18.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48CA$2.02
$1.64CA$2.25
-9.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.21CA$7.13
$5.87CA$8.05
-11.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.05CA$6.92
$6.74CA$9.24
-25.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Marathon
Toronto
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.45CA$3.36
$2.69CA$3.68
-8.92%
White Bread(500g)
$2.53CA$3.46
$2.78CA$3.81
-8.99%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.61CA$3.57
$3.51CA$4.81
-25.64%
Eggs
$2.94CA$4.03
$3.47CA$4.76
-15.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.78CA$12.04
$13.25CA$18.15
-33.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.88CA$23.12
$12.92CA$17.70
30.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.02CA$21.95
$16.38CA$22.44
-2.20%
Apples(1kg)
$3.60CA$4.93
$4.03CA$5.52
-10.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.09CA$1.49
$1.17CA$1.61
-6.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.34CA$4.57
$3.35CA$4.59
-0.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.16CA$4.33
$4.01CA$5.50
-21.20%
Potato(1kg)
$2.70CA$3.69
$2.44CA$3.34
10.66%
Onion(1kg)
$0.99CA$1.35
$2.84CA$3.90
-65.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.92CA$3.99
$2.39CA$3.27
22.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08CA$1.48
$1.98CA$2.71
-45.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.29CA$12.73
$14.82CA$20.31
-37.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.17CA$18.05
$14.37CA$19.68
-8.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58CA$2.17
$2.77CA$3.79
-42.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74CA$3.76
$3.30CA$4.52
-16.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Marathon
Toronto
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.34CA$3.21
$2.45CA$3.35
-4.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$61.6CA$84.4
$113CA$155
-45.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26CA$4.47
$3.61CA$4.95
-9.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.49CA$2.05
$1.42CA$1.94
4.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.99CA$35.61
$25.90CA$35.48
0.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.12CA$1.54
$1.10CA$1.50
1.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1KCA$34.4K
$25.5KCA$35.0K
-1.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2KCA$27.7K
$21.0KCA$28.7K
-3.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Marathon
Toronto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$206CA$282
$119CA$163
73.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.11CA$60.4
$37.69CA$51.6
17.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$80.9CA$111
$54.6CA$74.7
48.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Marathon
Toronto
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.06CA$57.6
$57.3CA$78.5
-26.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.68CA$28.33
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.73CA$14.70
$11.62CA$15.92
-7.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Marathon
Toronto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$737CA$1,009
$1,118CA$1,531
-34.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9KCA$16.3K
$18.3KCA$25.0K
-34.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Marathon
Toronto
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.7CA$81.7
$57.3CA$78.6
4.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.03CA$50.7
$39.80CA$54.5
-6.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.6CA$106
$88.4CA$121
-12.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139CA$191
$116CA$159
20.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Marathon
Toronto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,313CA$1,799
$1,836CA$2,516
-28.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,170CA$1,603
$1,550CA$2,124
-24.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,006CA$2,748
$2,991CA$4,097
-32.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,825CA$2,500
$2,492CA$3,415
-26.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,406CA$6,036
$8,566CA$11.7K
-48.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,723CA$5,100
$6,905CA$9,460
-46.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Marathon
Toronto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,842CA$2,523
$3,697CA$5,064
-50.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.19
5.16
19.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Marathon: April 13, 2026
Last update for Toronto: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,313 in Marathon versus $1,836 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 101% 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 $60 in Marathon versus $81 in Toronto. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $359 vs $392 – making Marathon 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
Marathon vs Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Toronto cheaper than Marathon?
Yes – Toronto is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,700 per month in Marathon and $4,153 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 Marathon, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $737 per month in Marathon and $1,118 in Toronto. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Marathon and Toronto?
Groceries cost about 9% more in Toronto, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Marathon or Toronto?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Marathon, where all-in costs run around $2,466, than in Toronto at $2,768. In Marathon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Toronto it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Marathon or Toronto more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Marathon – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Marathon or Toronto?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Marathon. 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.