Cost of Living Comparison Between Oakville and Toronto Cost of Living Comparison Between Oakville and Toronto

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Oakville versus $2,628 in Toronto.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,902 in Oakville versus $3,848 in Toronto.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,108 in Oakville versus $5,067 in Toronto.

Living in Oakville is roughly 3% more expensive than in Toronto, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Oakville 96% above, Toronto 91% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oakville
Toronto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.50 CA$20.07
$17.88 CA$24.75
-18.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.6 CA$96.2
$87.9 CA$122
-20.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.36 CA$12.95
$10.93 CA$15.13
-14.36%
Cappuccino
$3.76 CA$5.20
$4.06 CA$5.62
-7.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 CA$2.77
$2.18 CA$3.02
-8.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 CA$2.22
$1.70 CA$2.35
-5.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.88 CA$8.14
$6.69 CA$9.25
-12.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.57 CA$9.08
$7.35 CA$10.16
-10.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oakville
Toronto
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.70 CA$3.73
$2.78 CA$3.85
-2.88%
White Bread (500g)
$2.98 CA$4.13
$2.89 CA$4.00
3.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.56 CA$4.92
$2.56 CA$3.55
39.06%
Eggs
$4.24 CA$5.87
$3.79 CA$5.24
11.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.34 CA$12.93
$10.17 CA$14.07
-8.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.57 CA$14.63
$11.95 CA$16.53
-11.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.00 CA$19.37
$16.12 CA$22.31
-13.15%
Apples (1kg)
$3.57 CA$4.94
$3.89 CA$5.39
-8.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.83 CA$2.53
$1.27 CA$1.76
44.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.61 CA$4.99
$3.88 CA$5.37
-6.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.91 CA$4.03
$4.33 CA$5.99
-32.79%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 CA$3.50
$1.83 CA$2.53
38.25%
Onion (1kg)
$3.23 CA$4.47
$1.50 CA$2.07
115.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.21 CA$3.05
$2.28 CA$3.15
-3.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 CA$2.34
$1.44 CA$1.99
17.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.73 CA$20.38
$14.20 CA$19.64
3.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.93 CA$17.89
$14.24 CA$19.71
-9.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.19 CA$4.42
$2.25 CA$3.11
41.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 CA$3.70
$2.53 CA$3.50
5.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Oakville
Toronto
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.81 CA$3.88
$2.47 CA$3.42
13.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$102 CA$141
$112 CA$155
-9.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.05 CA$4.22
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.24 CA$1.71
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$22.44 CA$31.05
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 CA$1.52
$1.24 CA$1.71
-11.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K CA$39.0K
$27.5K CA$38.1K
2.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.0K CA$26.2K
$21.1K CA$29.3K
-10.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oakville
Toronto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$101 CA$139
$128 CA$177
-21.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.96 CA$41.46
$33.79 CA$46.75
-11.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.25 CA$68.2
$49.25 CA$68.2
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oakville
Toronto
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.83 CA$59.3
$40.93 CA$56.6
4.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$24.62 CA$34.07
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.34 CA$12.92
$13.16 CA$18.21
-29.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oakville
Toronto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,044 CA$1,445
$792 CA$1,097
31.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.5K CA$24.2K
$24.1K CA$33.4K
-27.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oakville
Toronto
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.9 CA$99.5
$54.5 CA$75.4
31.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$88.7 CA$123
$43.11 CA$59.7
105.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 CA$159
$102 CA$140
13.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 CA$148
$123 CA$171
-13.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oakville
Toronto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,733 CA$2,397
$1,653 CA$2,287
4.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,587 CA$2,196
$1,452 CA$2,009
9.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,647 CA$3,662
$2,694 CA$3,728
-1.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,459 CA$3,402
$2,149 CA$2,974
14.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,241 CA$5,869
$8,347 CA$11.6K
-49.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,324 CA$10.1K
$6,816 CA$9,431
7.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oakville
Toronto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,231 CA$4,470
$3,614 CA$5,001
-10.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.39
4.49
20.04%

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

Last update for Oakville: August 31, 2026

Last update for Toronto: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,733 in Oakville and $1,653 in Toronto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Toronto pays 12% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $70.0 in Oakville vs $88.0 in Toronto for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $359 vs $365 per month, with Oakville cheaper across the board.

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
Oakville vs Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Oakville or Toronto?
Toronto wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Oakville. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Toronto the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Oakville or in Toronto?
On paper, salaries run 12% 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Oakville compared to Toronto?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,733 in Oakville versus $1,653 in Toronto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Oakville compared to Toronto?
A monthly transit pass in Toronto runs roughly 10% less than in Oakville. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Oakville and in Toronto?
Childcare runs $1,044 in Oakville versus $792 in Toronto. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Oakville or in Toronto?
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.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Oakville or Toronto?
Both work as nomad bases, but Toronto delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,628 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Toronto hard to pass up.
How safe is Oakville compared to Toronto?
Safety-wise, Oakville 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Toronto gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Oakville. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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