Cost of Living Comparison Between Saanich and Toronto Cost of Living Comparison Between Saanich and Toronto

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,557 in Saanich versus $2,811 in Toronto.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,595 in Saanich versus $4,130 in Toronto.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,633 in Saanich versus $5,449 in Toronto.

Living in Saanich costs roughly 9% less than in Toronto, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Saanich 91% above, Toronto 110% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.59 CA$20.27

$18.71 CA$25.99

-22.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$67.1 CA$93.2

$81.9 CA$114

-18.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.88 CA$15.12

$10.83 CA$15.04

0.46%

Cappuccino

$3.87 CA$5.38

$3.89 CA$5.40

-0.51%

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

$2.24 CA$3.11

$2.22 CA$3.09

0.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 CA$2.52

$1.65 CA$2.29

9.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.30 CA$7.36

$6.05 CA$8.41

-12.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.66 CA$9.25

$6.58 CA$9.15

1.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 CA$2.40

$2.73 CA$3.79

-36.63%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 CA$3.82

$2.72 CA$3.77

1.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.29 CA$7.35

$3.54 CA$4.91

49.44%

Eggs

$3.60 CA$5.01

$3.50 CA$4.86

2.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.16 CA$15.51

$13.53 CA$18.80

-17.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.84 CA$17.85

$13.09 CA$18.19

-1.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.15 CA$18.27

$16.96 CA$23.57

-22.46%

Apples (1kg)

$4.41 CA$6.13

$4.16 CA$5.78

6.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 CA$2.23

$1.18 CA$1.64

35.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 CA$6.27

$3.25 CA$4.51

38.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.88 CA$6.78

$4.12 CA$5.72

18.45%

Potato (1kg)

$3.77 CA$5.24

$2.50 CA$3.48

50.80%

Onion (1kg)

$3.27 CA$4.54

$2.88 CA$4.00

13.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.65 CA$3.68

$2.35 CA$3.26

12.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.51 CA$3.49

$2.00 CA$2.78

25.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.85 CA$16.47

$14.58 CA$20.26

-18.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.65 CA$21.74

$14.18 CA$19.70

10.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.87 CA$5.38

$2.80 CA$3.89

38.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.55 CA$6.33

$3.25 CA$4.52

40.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.88 CA$2.61

$2.40 CA$3.33

-21.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.7 CA$112

$114 CA$158

-29.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 CA$3.75

$3.76 CA$5.22

-28.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 CA$1.91

$1.41 CA$1.96

-2.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.68 CA$45.40

$25.53 CA$35.47

28.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 CA$1.88

$1.10 CA$1.53

22.73%

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

$25.3K CA$35.2K

$25.2K CA$35.1K

0.40%

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

$21.3K CA$29.5K

$21.1K CA$29.3K

0.86%

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

$136 CA$189

$120 CA$166

13.84%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$21.17 CA$29.41

$37.54 CA$52.2

-43.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.0 CA$100

$54.5 CA$75.7

32.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.8 CA$103

$55.5 CA$77.1

33.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.15 CA$29.39

Cinema Ticket

$11.65 CA$16.19

$11.56 CA$16.06

0.78%

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

$626 CA$870

$1,129 CA$1,569

-44.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.2K CA$19.7K

$18.0K CA$25.0K

-20.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 CA$81.1

$56.9 CA$79.1

2.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.36 CA$50.5

$39.96 CA$55.5

-9.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.4 CA$134

$89.7 CA$125

7.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 CA$156

$114 CA$159

-2.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,480 CA$2,056

$1,849 CA$2,570

-19.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,359 CA$1,889

$1,560 CA$2,167

-12.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,129 CA$2,958

$2,925 CA$4,065

-27.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,919 CA$2,666

$2,470 CA$3,432

-22.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,368 CA$6,069

$9,085 CA$12.6K

-51.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,304 CA$4,590

$7,036 CA$9,775

-53.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,943 CA$4,089

$3,572 CA$4,963

-17.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.18

5.16

19.77%

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

Last update for Saanich: May 31, 2026

Last update for Toronto: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,480 in Saanich and $1,849 in Toronto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Toronto pays 21% 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: $67.0 in Saanich vs $82.0 in Toronto. Groceries flip the comparison at $410 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

Saanich vs Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saanich is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Toronto earns 21% less. 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: $1,480 in Saanich versus $1,849 in Toronto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Saanich – a meal for two runs $67.0 versus $82.0 in Toronto. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,557 per month in Saanich versus $2,811 in Toronto – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Saanich is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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.

Expats usually find Saanich gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.