Cost of Living Comparison Between Owen Sound and Toronto Cost of Living Comparison Between Owen Sound and Toronto

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,095 in Owen Sound versus $2,811 in Toronto.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,157 in Owen Sound versus $4,130 in Toronto.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,218 in Owen Sound versus $5,449 in Toronto.

Living in Owen Sound costs roughly 25% less than in Toronto, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Owen Sound 56% above, Toronto 110% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Owen Sound
Toronto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.85 CA$20.56
$18.71 CA$25.90
-20.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.7 CA$75.7
$81.9 CA$113
-33.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.17 CA$14.09
$10.83 CA$14.99
-6.09%
Cappuccino
$3.13 CA$4.33
$3.89 CA$5.38
-19.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 CA$2.93
$2.22 CA$3.07
-4.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 CA$2.28
$1.65 CA$2.28
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.38 CA$6.06
$6.05 CA$8.38
-27.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.84 CA$8.09
$6.58 CA$9.11
-11.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Owen Sound
Toronto
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 CA$2.39
$2.73 CA$3.77
-36.63%
White Bread (500g)
$2.87 CA$3.97
$2.72 CA$3.76
5.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.69 CA$6.49
$3.54 CA$4.90
32.49%
Eggs
$3.39 CA$4.70
$3.50 CA$4.84
-3.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.82 CA$9.45
$13.53 CA$18.73
-49.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.95 CA$23.47
$13.09 CA$18.12
29.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.96 CA$29.02
$16.96 CA$23.49
23.58%
Apples (1kg)
$4.12 CA$5.71
$4.16 CA$5.76
-0.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 CA$2.41
$1.18 CA$1.63
47.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.85 CA$3.95
$3.25 CA$4.50
-12.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.12 CA$5.71
$4.12 CA$5.70
-
Potato (1kg)
$2.41 CA$3.34
$2.50 CA$3.47
-3.60%
Onion (1kg)
$2.91 CA$4.03
$2.88 CA$3.98
1.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.05 CA$4.22
$2.35 CA$3.25
29.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.34 CA$1.85
$2.00 CA$2.77
-33.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.49 CA$18.67
$14.58 CA$20.19
-7.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.68 CA$23.09
$14.18 CA$19.63
17.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.01 CA$6.93
$2.80 CA$3.88
78.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 CA$3.12
$3.25 CA$4.51
-30.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Owen Sound
Toronto
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.24 CA$3.10
$2.40 CA$3.32
-6.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.3 CA$69.6
$114 CA$158
-55.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.76 CA$6.59
$3.76 CA$5.20
26.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 CA$3.04
$1.41 CA$1.95
55.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.70 CA$20.36
$25.53 CA$35.34
-42.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 CA$1.51
$1.10 CA$1.52
-0.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K CA$38.8K
$25.2K CA$34.9K
11.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K CA$31.0K
$21.1K CA$29.2K
6.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Owen Sound
Toronto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$144 CA$200
$120 CA$166
20.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.61 CA$60.4
$37.54 CA$52.0
16.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.7 CA$82.6
$54.5 CA$75.5
9.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Owen Sound
Toronto
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$84.7 CA$117
$55.5 CA$76.9
52.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$59.6 CA$82.5
$21.15 CA$29.28
181.65%
Cinema Ticket
$8.82 CA$12.21
$11.56 CA$16.00
-23.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Owen Sound
Toronto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$587 CA$813
$1,129 CA$1,564
-48.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.1K CA$25.1K
$18.0K CA$24.9K
0.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Owen Sound
Toronto
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.40 CA$60.1
$56.9 CA$78.8
-23.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.02 CA$55.4
$39.96 CA$55.3
0.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.2 CA$111
$89.7 CA$124
-10.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 CA$157
$114 CA$158
-0.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Owen Sound
Toronto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,062 CA$1,471
$1,849 CA$2,561
-42.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$869 CA$1,203
$1,560 CA$2,159
-44.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,642 CA$2,273
$2,925 CA$4,051
-43.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,593 CA$2,206
$2,470 CA$3,420
-35.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$9,085 CA$12.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$7,036 CA$9,742
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Owen Sound
Toronto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,068 CA$4,248
$3,572 CA$4,946
-14.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.83
5.16
32.36%

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

Last update for Owen Sound: June 2, 2026

Last update for Toronto: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,062 in Owen Sound and $1,849 in Toronto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Toronto pays 16% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $55.0 in Owen Sound vs $82.0 in Toronto. Groceries flip the comparison at $414 vs $396, 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
Owen Sound vs Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Toronto cheaper than Owen Sound?
Owen Sound is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 34% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Owen Sound or Toronto?
On paper, Toronto earns 16% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Owen Sound and Toronto?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,062 in Owen Sound versus $1,849 in Toronto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Owen Sound or Toronto?
Dining out is cheaper in Owen Sound – a meal for two runs $55.0 versus $82.0 in Toronto. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Owen Sound vs Toronto?
All in, you'll spend $2,095 per month in Owen Sound versus $2,811 in Toronto – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Owen Sound or Toronto?
At $2,095 in Owen Sound versus $2,811 in Toronto, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Owen Sound but tight or insufficient in Toronto. The gap between the two cities makes Owen Sound the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Owen Sound or Toronto?
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.
Which city is safer, Owen Sound or Toronto?
Safety-wise, Owen Sound 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Owen Sound gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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