Cost of Living Comparison Between Peterborough and Toronto Cost of Living Comparison Between Peterborough and Toronto

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,311 in Peterborough versus $2,628 in Toronto.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,328 in Peterborough versus $3,848 in Toronto.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,346 in Peterborough versus $5,067 in Toronto.

Living in Peterborough costs roughly 12% less than in Toronto, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Peterborough 68% above, Toronto 91% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.08 CA$18.04

$17.88 CA$24.66

-26.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.0 CA$97.8

$87.9 CA$121

-19.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.76 CA$14.84

$10.93 CA$15.08

-1.56%

Cappuccino

$3.69 CA$5.09

$4.06 CA$5.60

-9.11%

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

$1.72 CA$2.37

$2.18 CA$3.01

-21.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 CA$1.93

$1.70 CA$2.34

-17.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.83 CA$8.04

$6.69 CA$9.22

-12.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.68 CA$7.84

$7.35 CA$10.13

-22.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.57 CA$3.55

$2.78 CA$3.83

-7.55%

White Bread (500g)

$2.48 CA$3.42

$2.89 CA$3.99

-14.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.58 CA$3.56

$2.56 CA$3.54

0.78%

Eggs

$3.14 CA$4.34

$3.79 CA$5.22

-17.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.21 CA$15.46

$10.17 CA$14.02

10.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.30 CA$15.58

$11.95 CA$16.48

-5.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.76 CA$18.98

$16.12 CA$22.23

-14.64%

Apples (1kg)

$3.33 CA$4.59

$3.89 CA$5.37

-14.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 CA$2.08

$1.27 CA$1.76

18.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.49 CA$4.81

$3.88 CA$5.35

-10.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.02 CA$5.55

$4.33 CA$5.97

-7.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 CA$2.73

$1.83 CA$2.52

8.20%

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 CA$3.19

$1.50 CA$2.06

54.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.40 CA$3.31

$2.28 CA$3.14

5.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 CA$2.16

$1.44 CA$1.98

8.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 CA$16.05

$14.20 CA$19.58

-18.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.92 CA$17.82

$14.24 CA$19.64

-9.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 CA$3.37

$2.25 CA$3.10

8.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 CA$2.29

$2.53 CA$3.49

-34.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.36 CA$3.26

$2.47 CA$3.41

-4.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.15 CA$66.4

$112 CA$154

-56.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.12 CA$4.30

$3.05 CA$4.20

2.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 CA$1.80

$1.24 CA$1.70

5.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.00 CA$30.33

$22.44 CA$30.94

-1.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 CA$1.57

$1.24 CA$1.70

-8.06%

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

$29.1K CA$40.1K

$27.5K CA$37.9K

5.80%

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

$19.7K CA$27.2K

$21.1K CA$29.2K

-6.72%

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

$144 CA$199

$128 CA$176

13.03%

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)

$48.25 CA$66.5

$49.25 CA$67.9

-2.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.37 CA$62.6

$40.93 CA$56.5

10.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.64 CA$20.19

$24.62 CA$33.95

-40.54%

Cinema Ticket

$11.44 CA$15.77

$13.16 CA$18.15

-13.07%

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

$357 CA$492

$792 CA$1,093

-54.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.0K CA$15.2K

$24.1K CA$33.3K

-54.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.24 CA$58.2

$54.5 CA$75.2

-22.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.17 CA$54.0

$43.11 CA$59.5

-9.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.7 CA$117

$102 CA$140

-16.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.7 CA$104

$123 CA$170

-38.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,384 CA$1,909

$1,653 CA$2,279

-16.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,232 CA$1,699

$1,452 CA$2,002

-15.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,106 CA$2,905

$2,694 CA$3,716

-21.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,868 CA$2,576

$2,149 CA$2,964

-13.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,793 CA$9,368

$8,347 CA$11.5K

-18.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,300 CA$8,688

$6,816 CA$9,399

-7.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,076 CA$4,242

$3,614 CA$4,984

-14.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.51

4.49

0.45%

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

Last update for Peterborough: August 30, 2026

Last update for Toronto: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,384 in Peterborough and $1,653 in Toronto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Toronto pays 17% 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: $71.0 in Peterborough vs $88.0 in Toronto for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $365 per month, with Peterborough 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

Peterborough vs Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Peterborough is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 17% 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: $1,384 in Peterborough versus $1,653 in Toronto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Peterborough runs roughly 133% less than in Toronto. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $357 in Peterborough versus $792 in Toronto. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $2,311 in Peterborough versus $2,628 in Toronto, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Peterborough but tight or insufficient in Toronto. The gap between the two cities makes Peterborough the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Peterborough is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Toronto, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Peterborough gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.