Cost of Living Comparison Between Scarborough and Toronto Cost of Living Comparison Between Scarborough and Toronto

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,593 per month in Scarborough vs $2,811 in Toronto, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,460 per month in Scarborough vs $4,130 in Toronto, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,326 per month in Scarborough vs $5,449 in Toronto, rent included.

Scarborough is about 8% cheaper than Toronto, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Scarborough and Toronto sit above the global median – Scarborough by 94%, Toronto by 110%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.26 CA$25.39

$18.71 CA$26.02

-2.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.0 CA$111

$81.9 CA$114

-2.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.16 CA$15.52

$10.83 CA$15.06

3.05%

Cappuccino

$4.22 CA$5.86

$3.89 CA$5.41

8.48%

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

$2.17 CA$3.02

$2.22 CA$3.09

-2.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 CA$2.10

$1.65 CA$2.29

-8.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.74 CA$7.99

$6.05 CA$8.41

-5.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.57 CA$9.14

$6.58 CA$9.15

-0.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.40 CA$3.33

$2.73 CA$3.79

-12.09%

White Bread (500g)

$2.56 CA$3.56

$2.72 CA$3.78

-5.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.69 CA$3.74

$3.54 CA$4.92

-24.01%

Eggs

$3.53 CA$4.91

$3.50 CA$4.87

0.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.56 CA$18.86

$13.53 CA$18.81

0.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.54 CA$16.05

$13.09 CA$18.20

-11.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.90 CA$20.72

$16.96 CA$23.59

-12.15%

Apples (1kg)

$3.45 CA$4.80

$4.16 CA$5.79

-17.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 CA$1.58

$1.18 CA$1.64

-4.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.95 CA$4.10

$3.25 CA$4.52

-9.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.53 CA$4.91

$4.12 CA$5.73

-14.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.60 CA$2.23

$2.50 CA$3.48

-36.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.60 CA$3.62

$2.88 CA$4.00

-9.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.21 CA$3.08

$2.35 CA$3.27

-5.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 CA$2.22

$2.00 CA$2.78

-20.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.38 CA$18.61

$14.58 CA$20.28

-8.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.76 CA$17.74

$14.18 CA$19.71

-10.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 CA$3.51

$2.80 CA$3.89

-10.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 CA$3.52

$3.25 CA$4.53

-22.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.41 CA$3.35

$2.40 CA$3.34

0.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$105 CA$146

$114 CA$159

-7.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.10 CA$4.31

$3.76 CA$5.22

-17.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 CA$1.71

$1.41 CA$1.96

-12.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.02 CA$32.01

$25.53 CA$35.50

-9.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 CA$1.53

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

$24.7K CA$34.3K

$25.2K CA$35.1K

-2.21%

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

$21.3K CA$29.6K

$21.1K CA$29.3K

0.96%

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

$179 CA$249

$120 CA$166

49.70%

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

$42.53 CA$59.2

$37.54 CA$52.2

13.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.7 CA$74.7

$54.5 CA$75.8

-1.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.41 CA$52.0

$55.5 CA$77.2

-32.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.15 CA$29.41

Cinema Ticket

$14.24 CA$19.80

$11.56 CA$16.07

23.18%

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

$843 CA$1,173

$1,129 CA$1,571

-25.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K CA$15.1K

$18.0K CA$25.0K

-39.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 CA$80.3

$56.9 CA$79.2

1.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.00 CA$59.8

$39.96 CA$55.6

7.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 CA$120

$89.7 CA$125

-4.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 CA$143

$114 CA$159

-10.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,740 CA$2,420

$1,849 CA$2,572

-5.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,400 CA$1,947

$1,560 CA$2,169

-10.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,203 CA$3,063

$2,925 CA$4,068

-24.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,629 CA$2,265

$2,470 CA$3,435

-34.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,653 CA$10.6K

$9,085 CA$12.6K

-15.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,335 CA$8,810

$7,036 CA$9,785

-9.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,040 CA$4,228

$3,572 CA$4,967

-14.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.08

5.16

17.83%

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

Last update for Scarborough: May 31, 2026

Last update for Toronto: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,740 in Scarborough versus $1,849 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 18% 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 $80.0 in Scarborough versus $82.0 in Toronto. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $396 – making Scarborough the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Scarborough vs Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Toronto is pricier by about 8%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,889 per month in Scarborough and $4,216 in Toronto. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Scarborough, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 9% less in Scarborough. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $843 per month in Scarborough and $1,129 in Toronto. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,593 in Scarborough and $2,811 in Toronto. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Scarborough – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Scarborough. 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.