Cost of Living Comparison Between New Westminster and Toronto Cost of Living Comparison Between New Westminster and Toronto

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,580 per month in New Westminster vs $2,628 in Toronto, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,996 per month in New Westminster vs $3,848 in Toronto, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,411 per month in New Westminster vs $5,067 in Toronto, rent included.

New Westminster is about 2% cheaper than Toronto, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both New Westminster and Toronto sit above the global median – New Westminster by 88%, Toronto by 91%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.17 CA$27.82

$17.88 CA$24.66

12.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.7 CA$78.1

$87.9 CA$121

-35.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.39 CA$14.32

$10.93 CA$15.08

-4.94%

Cappuccino

$3.51 CA$4.85

$4.06 CA$5.60

-13.55%

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

$2.01 CA$2.77

$2.18 CA$3.01

-7.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 CA$2.22

$1.70 CA$2.34

-5.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 CA$8.35

$6.69 CA$9.22

-9.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.82 CA$8.03

$7.35 CA$10.13

-20.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 CA$2.62

$2.78 CA$3.83

-31.65%

White Bread (500g)

$2.41 CA$3.33

$2.89 CA$3.99

-16.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.56 CA$4.91

$2.56 CA$3.54

39.06%

Eggs

$3.14 CA$4.33

$3.79 CA$5.22

-17.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.41 CA$15.73

$10.17 CA$14.02

12.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.60 CA$21.51

$11.95 CA$16.48

30.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.51 CA$36.55

$16.12 CA$22.23

64.45%

Apples (1kg)

$3.72 CA$5.14

$3.89 CA$5.37

-4.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.26 CA$1.73

$1.27 CA$1.76

-0.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.85 CA$5.31

$3.88 CA$5.35

-0.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.76 CA$5.19

$4.33 CA$5.97

-13.16%

Potato (1kg)

$2.50 CA$3.45

$1.83 CA$2.52

36.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.30 CA$3.18

$1.50 CA$2.06

53.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.32 CA$3.20

$2.28 CA$3.14

1.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 CA$2.66

$1.44 CA$1.98

34.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.91 CA$21.94

$14.20 CA$19.58

12.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.05 CA$15.23

$14.24 CA$19.64

-22.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 CA$2.74

$2.25 CA$3.10

-11.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 CA$4.04

$2.53 CA$3.49

15.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.51 CA$3.46

$2.47 CA$3.41

1.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$93.4 CA$129

$112 CA$154

-16.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.20 CA$3.03

$3.05 CA$4.20

-27.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 CA$2.45

$1.24 CA$1.70

43.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.99 CA$31.71

$22.44 CA$30.94

2.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 CA$1.75

$1.24 CA$1.70

2.42%

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

$24.5K CA$33.8K

$27.5K CA$37.9K

-10.97%

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

$19.5K CA$26.9K

$21.1K CA$29.2K

-7.73%

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

$145 CA$200

$128 CA$176

13.93%

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

$45.05 CA$62.1

$33.79 CA$46.59

33.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 CA$89.9

$49.25 CA$67.9

32.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.63 CA$46.38

$40.93 CA$56.5

-17.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.83 CA$24.59

$24.62 CA$33.95

-27.58%

Cinema Ticket

$12.42 CA$17.12

$13.16 CA$18.15

-5.62%

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

$797 CA$1,100

$792 CA$1,093

0.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,086 CA$11.2K

$24.1K CA$33.3K

-66.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.2 CA$73.4

$54.5 CA$75.2

-2.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.71 CA$49.25

$43.11 CA$59.5

-17.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.0 CA$112

$102 CA$140

-20.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 CA$143

$123 CA$170

-15.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,568 CA$2,162

$1,653 CA$2,279

-5.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,335 CA$1,841

$1,452 CA$2,002

-8.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,879 CA$3,970

$2,694 CA$3,716

6.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,644 CA$3,646

$2,149 CA$2,964

23.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,797 CA$6,615

$8,347 CA$11.5K

-42.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,153 CA$5,727

$6,816 CA$9,399

-39.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,132 CA$4,320

$3,614 CA$4,984

-13.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.72

4.49

5.12%

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

Last update for New Westminster: August 30, 2026

Last update for Toronto: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,568 in New Westminster 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 15% 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 $57.0 in New Westminster versus $88.0 in Toronto. Groceries tell a different story – $405 in New Westminster vs $365 in Toronto – so Toronto wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

New Westminster vs Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Toronto costs about 2% more than New Westminster, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,870 per month in New Westminster 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 New Westminster, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $797 per month in New Westminster and $792 in Toronto. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 11% cheaper in Toronto – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,580 in New Westminster and $2,628 in Toronto. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward New Westminster – 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 New Westminster. 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.