Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Toronto

For one person, living is cheaper in Quito: $979 a month against $2,530 in Toronto, rent and utilities included – about $18,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Quito
🇪🇨 Ecuador
$979
/mo nomad
Toronto
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,530
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Quito 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 Quito and in Toronto actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $979 per month in Quito vs $2,530 in Toronto, rent included.

  • Quito $979
  • Toronto $2,530

A couple spends around $1,607 per month in Quito vs $3,646 in Toronto, rent included.

  • Quito $1,607
  • Toronto $3,646

A family of three spends $2,234 per month in Quito vs $4,761 in Toronto, rent included.

  • Quito $2,234
  • Toronto $4,761

Quito is about 61% cheaper than Toronto, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Quito sits 27% below the global median, while Toronto is 89% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Quito
Toronto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.14 $6.14
$17.67 CA$25.13
-65.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9 $53.9
$77.4 CA$110
-30.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.81 $7.81
$10.47 CA$14.90
-25.41%
Cappuccino
$3.42 $3.42
$4.08 CA$5.80
-16.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 $1.44
$2.12 CA$3.01
-32.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14 $1.14
$1.76 CA$2.50
-35.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.48 $3.48
$6.17 CA$8.78
-43.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.89 $5.89
$6.89 CA$9.80
-14.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quito
Toronto
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$2.43 CA$3.46
-53.09%
White Bread (500g)
$1.54 $1.54
$2.75 CA$3.91
-44.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 $1.51
$2.23 CA$3.17
-32.29%
Eggs
$2.16 $2.16
$3.45 CA$4.90
-37.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.40 $6.40
$8.93 CA$12.71
-28.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.48 $5.48
$11.44 CA$16.27
-52.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.81 $7.81
$14.61 CA$20.78
-46.54%
Apples (1kg)
$2.33 $2.33
$3.75 CA$5.33
-37.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.24 $1.24
$1.15 CA$1.63
7.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.31 $1.31
$3.55 CA$5.05
-63.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.14 $1.14
$4.28 CA$6.09
-73.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.21 $1.21
$1.85 CA$2.62
-34.59%
Onion (1kg)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.67 CA$2.37
-38.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.93 $0.93
$2.22 CA$3.15
-58.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05 $1.05
$1.21 CA$1.72
-13.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.02 $6.02
$13.88 CA$19.74
-56.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.93 $9.93
$14.25 CA$20.27
-30.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 $1.59
$2.20 CA$3.12
-27.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08 $3.08
$2.42 CA$3.44
27.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Quito
Toronto
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 $0.37
$2.42 CA$3.44
-84.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.95 $20.95
$111 CA$158
-81.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.54 $1.54
$2.90 CA$4.12
-46.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.26 CA$1.79
21.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.01 $10.01
$22.03 CA$31.33
-54.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$1.22 CA$1.74
-28.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K $21.0K
$27.6K CA$39.3K
-24.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.6K $28.6K
$19.8K CA$28.2K
44.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quito
Toronto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$28.97 $28.97
$122 CA$173
-76.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.57 $17.57
$32.03 CA$45.56
-45.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.14 $28.14
$47.92 CA$68.2
-41.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quito
Toronto
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.48 $46.48
$38.90 CA$55.3
19.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.70 $17.70
$23.24 CA$33.05
-23.84%
Cinema Ticket
$6.38 $6.38
$12.61 CA$17.94
-49.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Quito
Toronto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$746 $746
$834 CA$1,186
-10.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,015 $9,015
$23.3K CA$33.2K
-61.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quito
Toronto
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.8 $68.8
$52.6 CA$74.8
30.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.4 $50.4
$40.26 CA$57.3
25.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 $117
$96.2 CA$137
22.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 $109
$123 CA$175
-11.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quito
Toronto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$478 $478
$1,598 CA$2,273
-70.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$313 $313
$1,435 CA$2,041
-78.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$967 $967
$2,657 CA$3,779
-63.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$549 $549
$2,096 CA$2,981
-73.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,763 $1,763
$8,033 CA$11.4K
-78.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$720 $720
$6,557 CA$9,327
-89.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quito
Toronto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$597 $597
$3,743 CA$5,324
-84.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.12
4.47
126.40%

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

Last update for Quito: October 4, 2026

Last update for Toronto: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Quito
$313
Toronto
$1.4K 358% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Quito
$198
Toronto
$340 72.2% $143
Clothing & Footwear
Quito
$156
Toronto
$140 9.7% $15
Eating Out
Quito
$153
Toronto
$282 84.2% $129
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quito
$75
Toronto
$202 170% $127
Sport & Entertainment
Quito
$59
Toronto
$64 8.3% $4.9
Getting Around
Quito
$32
Toronto
$130 310% $98

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $478 in Quito versus $1,598 in Toronto. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 527% higher in Toronto, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Quito versus $77.0 in Toronto. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $198 vs $340 – making Quito the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇪🇨 Quito
🇨🇦 Toronto
🕒 Local time
20:04 8:04 PM
21:04 9:04 PM
1 h ahead of Quito
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,671,191 Capital
2,731,571
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.42 CAD (1 CAD = 0.703 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.627 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Quito Toronto 4,880 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Quito
  • 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
Quito vs Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Toronto cheaper than Quito?
Yes – Toronto is pricier by about 158%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,468 per month in Quito and $3,795 in Toronto. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Quito, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 429% less in Quito. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $746 per month in Quito and $834 in Toronto. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Quito or in Toronto?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Quito, where all-in costs run around $979, than in Toronto at $2,530. In Quito it covers expenses comfortably, while in Toronto it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Quito or Toronto more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Quito – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Quito. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Toronto makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Quito vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?