Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint John, New Brunswick and Toronto Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint John, New Brunswick and Toronto

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,970 in Saint John, New Brunswick versus $2,628 in Toronto.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,928 in Saint John, New Brunswick versus $3,848 in Toronto.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,887 in Saint John, New Brunswick versus $5,067 in Toronto.

Living in Saint John, New Brunswick costs roughly 25% less than in Toronto, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Saint John, New Brunswick 43% above, Toronto 91% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.25 CA$26.64

$17.88 CA$24.75

7.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.6 CA$83.8

$87.9 CA$122

-31.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.92 CA$15.12

$10.93 CA$15.13

-0.09%

Cappuccino

$3.16 CA$4.37

$4.06 CA$5.62

-22.17%

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

$1.81 CA$2.51

$2.18 CA$3.02

-16.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 CA$1.52

$1.70 CA$2.35

-35.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.59 CA$6.35

$6.69 CA$9.25

-31.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.14 CA$7.11

$7.35 CA$10.16

-30.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 CA$3.03

$2.78 CA$3.85

-21.22%

White Bread (500g)

$2.70 CA$3.74

$2.89 CA$4.00

-6.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.22 CA$4.45

$2.56 CA$3.55

25.78%

Eggs

$3.69 CA$5.11

$3.79 CA$5.24

-2.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.85 CA$19.17

$10.17 CA$14.07

36.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.81 CA$14.96

$11.95 CA$16.53

-9.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.14 CA$18.18

$16.12 CA$22.31

-18.49%

Apples (1kg)

$5.15 CA$7.13

$3.89 CA$5.39

32.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 CA$2.12

$1.27 CA$1.76

21.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.31 CA$5.96

$3.88 CA$5.37

11.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.06 CA$5.62

$4.33 CA$5.99

-6.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.13 CA$2.94

$1.83 CA$2.53

16.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.24 CA$3.10

$1.50 CA$2.07

49.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.66 CA$3.67

$2.28 CA$3.15

16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 CA$2.04

$1.44 CA$1.99

2.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.66 CA$20.29

$14.20 CA$19.64

3.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.98 CA$13.81

$14.24 CA$19.71

-29.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 CA$2.56

$2.25 CA$3.11

-17.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 CA$2.94

$2.53 CA$3.50

-15.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.19 CA$3.03

$2.47 CA$3.42

-11.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.8 CA$80.0

$112 CA$155

-48.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 CA$4.09

$3.05 CA$4.22

-3.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.22 CA$1.68

$1.24 CA$1.71

-1.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.97 CA$30.41

$22.44 CA$31.05

-2.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 CA$1.68

$1.24 CA$1.71

-2.42%

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

$25.4K CA$35.2K

$27.5K CA$38.1K

-7.57%

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

$19.4K CA$26.9K

$21.1K CA$29.3K

-8.13%

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

$124 CA$172

$128 CA$177

-2.57%

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

$41.81 CA$57.9

$33.79 CA$46.75

23.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.4 CA$90.5

$49.25 CA$68.2

32.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.6 CA$75.5

$40.93 CA$56.6

33.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.76 CA$49.49

$24.62 CA$34.07

45.25%

Cinema Ticket

$12.76 CA$17.65

$13.16 CA$18.21

-3.04%

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

$384 CA$531

$792 CA$1,097

-51.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K CA$15.9K

$24.1K CA$33.4K

-52.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.5 CA$71.2

$54.5 CA$75.4

-5.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.92 CA$49.70

$43.11 CA$59.7

-16.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$106 CA$147

$102 CA$140

4.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 CA$153

$123 CA$171

-10.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,011 CA$1,399

$1,653 CA$2,287

-38.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$841 CA$1,163

$1,452 CA$2,009

-42.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,637 CA$2,265

$2,694 CA$3,728

-39.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,335 CA$1,847

$2,149 CA$2,974

-37.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,072 CA$2,867

$8,347 CA$11.6K

-75.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,192 CA$3,033

$6,816 CA$9,431

-67.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,491 CA$3,447

$3,614 CA$5,001

-31.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.69

4.49

4.45%

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

Last update for Saint John, New Brunswick: September 1, 2026

Last update for Toronto: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,011 in Saint John, New Brunswick and $1,653 in Toronto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Toronto pays 45% 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: $61.0 in Saint John, New Brunswick vs $88.0 in Toronto for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $357 vs $365 per month, with Saint John, New Brunswick 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

Saint John, New Brunswick vs Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saint John, New Brunswick wins on cost – living expenses run 33% lower than in Toronto. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Saint John, New Brunswick the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 45% 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: $1,011 in Saint John, New Brunswick versus $1,653 in Toronto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Saint John, New Brunswick – a meal for two runs $61.0 versus $88.0 in Toronto. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,970 per month in Saint John, New Brunswick versus $2,628 in Toronto – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,970 in Saint John, New Brunswick versus $2,628 in Toronto, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Saint John, New Brunswick but tight or insufficient in Toronto. The gap between the two cities makes Saint John, New Brunswick the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 Saint John, New Brunswick gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.