Cost of Living Comparison Between Monterey, CA and Toronto Cost of Living Comparison Between Monterey, CA and Toronto

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,597 per month in Monterey, CA vs $2,628 in Toronto, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,324 per month in Monterey, CA vs $3,848 in Toronto, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,050 per month in Monterey, CA vs $5,067 in Toronto, rent included.

Monterey, CA costs about 37% more than Toronto, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Monterey, CA and Toronto sit above the global median – Monterey, CA by 162%, Toronto by 91%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.89 $19.89

$17.88 CA$24.75

11.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.2 $81.2

$87.9 CA$122

-7.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.87 $12.87

$10.93 CA$15.13

17.75%

Cappuccino

$5.22 $5.22

$4.06 CA$5.62

28.57%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$2.18 CA$3.02

36.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.70 CA$2.35

1.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.14 $8.14

$6.69 CA$9.25

21.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 $5.88

$7.35 CA$10.16

-20.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.78 CA$3.85

-38.49%

White Bread (500g)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.89 CA$4.00

5.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.56 CA$3.55

2.73%

Eggs

$4.52 $4.52

$3.79 CA$5.24

19.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.19 $9.19

$10.17 CA$14.07

-9.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.36 $13.36

$11.95 CA$16.53

11.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.22 $6.22

$16.12 CA$22.31

-61.41%

Apples (1kg)

$3.66 $3.66

$3.89 CA$5.39

-5.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.27 CA$1.76

-10.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.88 CA$5.37

-18.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$4.33 CA$5.99

-6.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$1.83 CA$2.53

51.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.50 CA$2.07

30.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.74 $1.74

$2.28 CA$3.15

-23.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 $1.29

$1.44 CA$1.99

-10.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.03 $13.03

$14.20 CA$19.64

-8.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.90 $16.90

$14.24 CA$19.71

18.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.25 CA$3.11

19.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 $1.84

$2.53 CA$3.50

-27.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.47 CA$3.42

-20.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.0 $53.0

$112 CA$155

-52.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 $1.51

$3.05 CA$4.22

-50.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.24 CA$1.71

-28.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.44 CA$31.05

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.24 CA$1.71

19.35%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$27.5K CA$38.1K

32.20%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$21.1K CA$29.3K

20.90%

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

$242 $242

$128 CA$177

89.90%

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

$75.7 $75.7

$33.79 CA$46.75

123.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.7 $71.7

$49.25 CA$68.2

45.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$82.3 $82.3

$40.93 CA$56.6

101.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.51 $10.51

$24.62 CA$34.07

-57.31%

Cinema Ticket

$12.87 $12.87

$13.16 CA$18.21

-2.20%

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

$553 $553

$792 CA$1,097

-30.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K $12.7K

$24.1K CA$33.4K

-47.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$54.5 CA$75.4

41.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$89.5 $89.5

$43.11 CA$59.7

107.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$131 $131

$102 CA$140

29.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 $135

$123 CA$171

9.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,476 $2,476

$1,653 CA$2,287

49.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,173 $2,173

$1,452 CA$2,009

49.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,183 $4,183

$2,694 CA$3,728

55.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,060 $4,060

$2,149 CA$2,974

88.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,105 $8,105

$8,347 CA$11.6K

-2.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,835 $5,835

$6,816 CA$9,431

-14.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,705 $4,705

$3,614 CA$5,001

30.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.94

4.49

54.57%

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

Last update for Monterey, CA: August 30, 2026

Last update for Toronto: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,476 in Monterey, CA versus $1,653 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 30% higher in Monterey, CA, 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 $81.0 in Monterey, CA versus $88.0 in Toronto. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $333 vs $365 – making Monterey, CA 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

Monterey, CA vs Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Monterey, CA is pricier by about 37%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,396 per month in Monterey, CA and $3,942 in Toronto. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Toronto, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,597 in Monterey, CA and $2,628 in Toronto. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 111% less in Toronto. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,597 in Monterey, CA and $2,628 in Toronto. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Toronto – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Toronto. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Monterey, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.