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 $3,367 per month in Monterey, CA vs $2,811 in Toronto, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,002 per month in Monterey, CA vs $4,130 in Toronto, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,638 per month in Monterey, CA vs $5,449 in Toronto, rent included.

Monterey, CA costs about 20% more than Toronto, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Monterey, CA and Toronto sit above the global median – Monterey, CA by 151%, Toronto by 110%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.76 $16.76

$18.71 CA$25.90

-10.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.1 $66.1

$81.9 CA$113

-19.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.31 $9.31

$10.83 CA$14.99

-14.04%

Cappuccino

$4.52 $4.52

$3.89 CA$5.38

16.20%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.22 CA$3.07

38.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.65 CA$2.28

-0.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.06 $6.06

$6.05 CA$8.38

0.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.44 $4.44

$6.58 CA$9.11

-32.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$2.73 CA$3.77

-50.55%

White Bread (500g)

$3.51 $3.51

$2.72 CA$3.76

29.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.31 $4.31

$3.54 CA$4.90

21.75%

Eggs

$4.01 $4.01

$3.50 CA$4.84

14.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.49 $9.49

$13.53 CA$18.73

-29.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.82 $17.82

$13.09 CA$18.12

36.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.99 $13.99

$16.96 CA$23.49

-17.51%

Apples (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$4.16 CA$5.76

-6.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.18 CA$1.63

-3.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$3.25 CA$4.50

-23.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$4.12 CA$5.70

-46.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.50 CA$3.47

-22.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.88 CA$3.98

-25.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.35 CA$3.25

-22.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$2.00 CA$2.77

-4.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.07 $12.07

$14.58 CA$20.19

-17.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.96 $16.96

$14.18 CA$19.63

19.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.80 CA$3.88

-22.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$3.25 CA$4.51

-24.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.40 CA$3.32

-18.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 $53.8

$114 CA$158

-52.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.58 $1.58

$3.76 CA$5.20

-57.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.41 CA$1.95

-36.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.61 $29.61

$25.53 CA$35.34

15.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.10 CA$1.52

14.55%

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

$24.0K $24.0K

$25.2K CA$34.9K

-4.80%

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

$24.6K $24.6K

$21.1K CA$29.2K

16.57%

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

$185 $185

$120 CA$166

54.91%

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

$51.0 $51.0

$37.54 CA$52.0

35.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.0 $60.0

$54.5 CA$75.5

10.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.97 $42.97

$55.5 CA$76.9

-22.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.51 $10.51

$21.15 CA$29.28

-50.31%

Cinema Ticket

$12.67 $12.67

$11.56 CA$16.00

9.60%

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

$552 $552

$1,129 CA$1,564

-51.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.6K $12.6K

$18.0K CA$24.9K

-30.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$56.9 CA$78.8

18.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$122 $122

$39.96 CA$55.3

204.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$89.7 CA$124

8.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$200 $200

$114 CA$158

75.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,279 $2,279

$1,849 CA$2,561

23.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,961 $1,961

$1,560 CA$2,159

25.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,707 $3,707

$2,925 CA$4,051

26.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,649 $3,649

$2,470 CA$3,420

47.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,928 $7,928

$9,085 CA$12.6K

-12.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,874 $5,874

$7,036 CA$9,742

-16.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,296 $5,296

$3,572 CA$4,946

48.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.4

5.16

24.03%

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

Last update for Monterey, CA: May 31, 2026

Last update for Toronto: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,279 in Monterey, CA versus $1,849 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 48% 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 $66.0 in Monterey, CA versus $82.0 in Toronto. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $379 vs $396 – 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 20%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,050 per month in Monterey, CA and $4,216 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 $3,367 in Monterey, CA and $2,811 in Toronto. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 112% 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 $3,367 in Monterey, CA and $2,811 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.