Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Peterborough and Toronto

For one person, living is cheaper in Peterborough: $2,226 a month against $2,610 in Toronto, rent and utilities included – about $4,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Peterborough
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,226
/mo nomad
Toronto
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,610
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Peterborough and in Toronto

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Peterborough and in Toronto actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,226 in Peterborough versus $2,610 in Toronto.

  • Peterborough $2,226
  • Toronto $2,610

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,205 in Peterborough versus $3,727 in Toronto.

  • Peterborough $3,205
  • Toronto $3,727

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,184 in Peterborough versus $4,844 in Toronto.

  • Peterborough $4,184
  • Toronto $4,844

Living in Peterborough costs roughly 15% less than in Toronto, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Peterborough 64% above, Toronto 93% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Peterborough
Toronto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.87 CA$18.19
$17.59 CA$24.87
-26.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.8 CA$98.7
$78.8 CA$111
-11.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.82 CA$15.30
$10.73 CA$15.16
0.84%
Cappuccino
$3.62 CA$5.11
$4.09 CA$5.78
-11.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 CA$2.50
$2.10 CA$2.97
-15.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36 CA$1.92
$1.72 CA$2.43
-20.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.69 CA$8.05
$6.36 CA$8.99
-10.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.84 CA$8.26
$7.08 CA$10.01
-17.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Peterborough
Toronto
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.57 CA$3.63
$2.54 CA$3.59
1.18%
White Bread (500g)
$2.45 CA$3.47
$2.72 CA$3.85
-9.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.52 CA$3.56
$2.18 CA$3.09
15.60%
Eggs
$3.24 CA$4.58
$3.63 CA$5.13
-10.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.70 CA$15.13
$9.46 CA$13.37
13.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.03 CA$15.60
$11.54 CA$16.32
-4.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.79 CA$18.08
$14.37 CA$20.32
-11.00%
Apples (1kg)
$3.39 CA$4.80
$3.70 CA$5.23
-8.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 CA$2.01
$1.19 CA$1.68
19.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.41 CA$4.82
$3.46 CA$4.90
-1.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.98 CA$5.63
$4.22 CA$5.97
-5.69%
Potato (1kg)
$1.63 CA$2.30
$1.79 CA$2.52
-8.94%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 CA$3.32
$1.65 CA$2.33
42.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.32 CA$3.28
$2.20 CA$3.11
5.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.48 CA$2.09
$1.26 CA$1.78
17.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.53 CA$16.31
$13.97 CA$19.75
-17.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.92 CA$18.26
$14.20 CA$20.07
-9.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.43 CA$3.43
$2.25 CA$3.18
8.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 CA$2.23
$2.53 CA$3.58
-37.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Peterborough
Toronto
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.24 CA$3.16
$2.32 CA$3.28
-3.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$47.21 CA$66.7
$112 CA$158
-57.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.93 CA$4.15
$3.06 CA$4.33
-4.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.22 CA$1.73
$1.22 CA$1.72
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.95 CA$29.62
$21.69 CA$30.66
-3.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 CA$1.56
$1.21 CA$1.72
-9.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2K CA$37.1K
$26.1K CA$37.0K
0.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K CA$29.3K
$21.1K CA$29.9K
-1.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Peterborough
Toronto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$138 CA$196
$120 CA$169
15.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.95 CA$47.99
$32.21 CA$45.54
5.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.07 CA$63.7
$48.88 CA$69.1
-7.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Peterborough
Toronto
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.16 CA$62.4
$39.34 CA$55.6
12.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.28 CA$20.19
$23.58 CA$33.34
-39.44%
Cinema Ticket
$11.47 CA$16.22
$12.58 CA$17.79
-8.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Peterborough
Toronto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$344 CA$487
$832 CA$1,176
-58.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.8K CA$15.3K
$23.6K CA$33.4K
-54.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Peterborough
Toronto
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.01 CA$60.8
$52.3 CA$73.9
-17.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.82 CA$53.5
$39.44 CA$55.8
-4.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.5 CA$120
$99.0 CA$140
-14.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.7 CA$104
$122 CA$172
-39.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Peterborough
Toronto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,368 CA$1,934
$1,631 CA$2,306
-16.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,202 CA$1,699
$1,448 CA$2,048
-17.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,060 CA$2,913
$2,737 CA$3,869
-24.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,832 CA$2,590
$2,129 CA$3,010
-13.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,455 CA$9,126
$8,206 CA$11.6K
-21.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,287 CA$8,888
$6,838 CA$9,666
-8.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Peterborough
Toronto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,068 CA$4,338
$3,520 CA$4,976
-12.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.55
4.47
1.79%

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

Last update for Peterborough: October 19, 2026

Last update for Toronto: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Peterborough
$1.2K
Toronto
$1.4K 20.5% $247
Groceries & Markets
Peterborough
$336
Toronto
$343 2.2% $7.2
Eating Out
Peterborough
$231
Toronto
$283 22.3% $52
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Peterborough
$217
Toronto
$201 7.7% $17
Clothing & Footwear
Peterborough
$108
Toronto
$141 30.8% $33
Sport & Entertainment
Peterborough
$67
Toronto
$65 3.9% $2.6
Getting Around
Peterborough
$65
Toronto
$130 99.6% $65

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,368 in Peterborough and $1,631 in Toronto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Toronto pays 15% 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: $70.0 in Peterborough vs $79.0 in Toronto for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $343 per month, with Peterborough cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Peterborough
🇨🇦 Toronto
🕒 Local time
06:48 6:48 AM
06:48 6:48 AM
Same time as Peterborough
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
81,032
2,731,571
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Peterborough Toronto 110 km
From you
  • Peterborough
  • Toronto

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Is Toronto cheaper than Peterborough?
Peterborough is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Peterborough or Toronto?
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.
What is the rent difference between Peterborough and Toronto?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,368 in Peterborough versus $1,631 in Toronto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Peterborough runs roughly 136% less than in Toronto. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $344 in Peterborough versus $832 in Toronto. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Peterborough or in Toronto?
At $2,226 in Peterborough versus $2,610 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.
Is Peterborough or Toronto more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Peterborough gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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