Cost of Living Comparison Between North Vancouver and Toronto Cost of Living Comparison Between North Vancouver and Toronto

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,836 in North Vancouver versus $2,628 in Toronto.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,451 in North Vancouver versus $3,848 in Toronto.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,066 in North Vancouver versus $5,067 in Toronto.

Living in North Vancouver is roughly 8% more expensive than in Toronto, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: North Vancouver 106% above, Toronto 91% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.23 CA$29.28

$17.88 CA$24.66

18.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.0 CA$91.0

$87.9 CA$121

-24.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.27 CA$12.78

$10.93 CA$15.08

-15.19%

Cappuccino

$4.14 CA$5.71

$4.06 CA$5.60

1.97%

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

$2.29 CA$3.15

$2.18 CA$3.01

5.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 CA$2.40

$1.70 CA$2.34

2.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.60 CA$7.73

$6.69 CA$9.22

-16.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.06 CA$8.35

$7.35 CA$10.13

-17.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 CA$2.56

$2.78 CA$3.83

-33.09%

White Bread (500g)

$2.90 CA$4.00

$2.89 CA$3.99

0.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.46 CA$3.39

$2.56 CA$3.54

-3.91%

Eggs

$3.33 CA$4.60

$3.79 CA$5.22

-12.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.07 CA$19.40

$10.17 CA$14.02

38.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.30 CA$18.34

$11.95 CA$16.48

11.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.94 CA$21.98

$16.12 CA$22.23

-1.12%

Apples (1kg)

$4.59 CA$6.33

$3.89 CA$5.37

17.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 CA$1.88

$1.27 CA$1.76

7.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.45 CA$6.13

$3.88 CA$5.35

14.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.57 CA$6.31

$4.33 CA$5.97

5.54%

Potato (1kg)

$2.85 CA$3.93

$1.83 CA$2.52

55.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.93 CA$4.05

$1.50 CA$2.06

95.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.83 CA$3.91

$2.28 CA$3.14

24.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 CA$3.00

$1.44 CA$1.98

50.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.16 CA$19.52

$14.20 CA$19.58

-0.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.20 CA$19.58

$14.24 CA$19.64

-0.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 CA$2.95

$2.25 CA$3.10

-4.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 CA$3.89

$2.53 CA$3.49

11.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.03 CA$4.18

$2.47 CA$3.41

22.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 CA$139

$112 CA$154

-9.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.78 CA$3.84

$3.05 CA$4.20

-8.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 CA$2.11

$1.24 CA$1.70

23.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.85 CA$38.41

$22.44 CA$30.94

24.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 CA$1.74

$1.24 CA$1.70

1.61%

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

$28.1K CA$38.7K

$27.5K CA$37.9K

2.08%

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

$19.9K CA$27.5K

$21.1K CA$29.2K

-5.84%

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

$131 CA$180

$128 CA$176

2.60%

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

$37.43 CA$51.6

$33.79 CA$46.59

10.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.7 CA$74.0

$49.25 CA$67.9

9.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.06 CA$42.84

$40.93 CA$56.5

-24.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.69 CA$34.05

$24.62 CA$33.95

0.28%

Cinema Ticket

$12.40 CA$17.10

$13.16 CA$18.15

-5.78%

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

$1,065 CA$1,469

$792 CA$1,093

34.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.0K CA$15.2K

$24.1K CA$33.3K

-54.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.5 CA$90.3

$54.5 CA$75.2

20.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.59 CA$53.2

$43.11 CA$59.5

-10.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 CA$115

$102 CA$140

-18.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 CA$158

$123 CA$170

-6.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,862 CA$2,568

$1,653 CA$2,279

12.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 CA$2,172

$1,452 CA$2,002

8.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,149 CA$4,343

$2,694 CA$3,716

16.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,169 CA$4,370

$2,149 CA$2,964

47.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,420 CA$11.6K

$8,347 CA$11.5K

0.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,939 CA$9,569

$6,816 CA$9,399

1.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,150 CA$4,344

$3,614 CA$4,984

-12.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.69

4.49

4.45%

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

Last update for North Vancouver: September 1, 2026

Last update for Toronto: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,862 in North Vancouver and $1,653 in Toronto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Toronto pays 15% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $66.0 in North Vancouver vs $88.0 in Toronto. Groceries flip the comparison at $396 vs $365, with Toronto cheaper for home cooking.

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

North Vancouver vs Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

North Vancouver and Toronto differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($2,836 vs $2,628 including rent). Toronto is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 15% lower in Toronto. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,862 in North Vancouver versus $1,653 in Toronto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Toronto – a meal for two runs $88.0 versus $66.0 in North Vancouver. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,836 per month in North Vancouver versus $2,628 in Toronto – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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.

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.

Safety-wise, North Vancouver and Toronto are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Toronto gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in North Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.