Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Salem, OR and Toronto

For one person, living is cheaper in Toronto: $2,530 a month against $2,709 in Salem, OR, rent and utilities included – about $2,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Salem, OR
🇺🇸 United States
$2,709
/mo nomad
Toronto
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,530
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,709 per month in Salem, OR vs $2,530 in Toronto, rent included.

  • Salem, OR $2,709
  • Toronto $2,530

A couple spends around $3,869 per month in Salem, OR vs $3,646 in Toronto, rent included.

  • Salem, OR $3,869
  • Toronto $3,646

A family of three spends $5,029 per month in Salem, OR vs $4,761 in Toronto, rent included.

  • Salem, OR $5,029
  • Toronto $4,761

Salem, OR costs about 7% more than Toronto, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Salem, OR and Toronto sit above the global median – Salem, OR by 102%, Toronto by 89%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Salem, OR
Toronto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.26 $20.26
$17.67 CA$25.19
14.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$95.5 $95.5
$77.4 CA$110
23.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.21 $12.21
$10.47 CA$14.93
16.62%
Cappuccino
$4.56 $4.56
$4.08 CA$5.81
11.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 $2.41
$2.12 CA$3.02
13.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 $2.09
$1.76 CA$2.51
18.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.99 $4.99
$6.17 CA$8.80
-19.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.04 $7.04
$6.89 CA$9.82
2.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Salem, OR
Toronto
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$2.43 CA$3.46
-53.91%
White Bread (500g)
$3.80 $3.80
$2.75 CA$3.92
38.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.01 $4.01
$2.23 CA$3.18
79.82%
Eggs
$4.86 $4.86
$3.45 CA$4.91
40.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.52 $14.52
$8.93 CA$12.73
62.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.89 $13.89
$11.44 CA$16.31
21.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.41 $18.41
$14.61 CA$20.83
26.01%
Apples (1kg)
$4.83 $4.83
$3.75 CA$5.34
28.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 $1.81
$1.15 CA$1.64
57.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.95 $3.95
$3.55 CA$5.06
11.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.98 $3.98
$4.28 CA$6.10
-7.01%
Potato (1kg)
$3.08 $3.08
$1.85 CA$2.63
66.49%
Onion (1kg)
$3.29 $3.29
$1.67 CA$2.38
97.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.77 $1.77
$2.22 CA$3.16
-20.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.11 $2.11
$1.21 CA$1.72
74.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.30 $13.30
$13.88 CA$19.78
-4.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.12 $15.12
$14.25 CA$20.31
6.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$2.20 CA$3.13
-23.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 $3.00
$2.42 CA$3.45
23.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Salem, OR
Toronto
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.42 CA$3.44
-16.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.46 $45.46
$111 CA$158
-58.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.42 $3.42
$2.90 CA$4.13
17.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.26 CA$1.80
70.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$49.81 $49.81
$22.03 CA$31.40
126.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 $1.29
$1.22 CA$1.74
5.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.7K $33.7K
$27.6K CA$39.4K
21.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K $23.6K
$19.8K CA$28.3K
19.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Salem, OR
Toronto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$218 $218
$122 CA$174
78.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.4 $61.4
$32.03 CA$45.66
91.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$97.6 $97.6
$47.92 CA$68.3
103.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Salem, OR
Toronto
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.90 $46.90
$38.90 CA$55.5
20.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$23.24 CA$33.12
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.88 $14.88
$12.61 CA$17.97
18.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Salem, OR
Toronto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,067 $1,067
$834 CA$1,189
27.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.4K $16.4K
$23.3K CA$33.3K
-29.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Salem, OR
Toronto
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 $55.4
$52.6 CA$75.0
5.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.55 $47.55
$40.26 CA$57.4
18.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.6 $83.6
$96.2 CA$137
-13.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 $78.9
$123 CA$175
-35.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Salem, OR
Toronto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,520 $1,520
$1,598 CA$2,278
-4.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,360 $1,360
$1,435 CA$2,045
-5.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,351 $2,351
$2,657 CA$3,787
-11.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,062 $2,062
$2,096 CA$2,988
-1.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,015 $3,015
$8,033 CA$11.5K
-62.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,098 $3,098
$6,557 CA$9,347
-52.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Salem, OR
Toronto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,730 $3,730
$3,743 CA$5,335
-0.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.59
4.47
47.43%

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

Last update for Salem, OR: 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
Salem, OR
$1.4K
Toronto
$1.4K 5.5% $75
Groceries & Markets
Salem, OR
$416
Toronto
$340 18.3% $76
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Salem, OR
$377
Toronto
$202 46.5% $175
Eating Out
Salem, OR
$310
Toronto
$282 9.2% $29
Clothing & Footwear
Salem, OR
$119
Toronto
$140 17.5% $21
Sport & Entertainment
Salem, OR
$77
Toronto
$64 16.4% $13
Getting Around
Salem, OR
$68
Toronto
$130 91.5% $62

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,520 in Salem, OR 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 0% higher in Toronto, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $95.0 in Salem, OR versus $77.0 in Toronto. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $416 vs $340 – making Toronto the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Salem, OR
🇨🇦 Toronto
🕒 Local time
22:13 10:13 PM
01:13 1:13 AM
3 h ahead of Salem, OR
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
155,469
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 = 1.43 CAD (1 CAD = 0.702 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.626 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Salem, OR Toronto 3,430 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Salem, OR
  • 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
Salem, OR vs Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Toronto cheaper than Salem, OR?
Yes – Salem, OR is pricier by about 7%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in utilities.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,064 per month in Salem, OR 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 Toronto, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Salem, OR or in Toronto?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $95.0 in Salem, OR and $77.0 in Toronto. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Salem, OR and in Toronto?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,709 in Salem, OR and $2,530 in Toronto. That's a gap of about 7%.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Salem, OR or in Toronto?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,709 in Salem, OR and $2,530 in Toronto. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Salem, OR or Toronto more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Toronto – 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 Toronto. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Salem, OR makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Salem, OR vs other spots: cost of living compared

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