Cost of Living Comparison Between Squamish, BC and Toronto Cost of Living Comparison Between Squamish, BC and Toronto

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,729 in Squamish, BC versus $2,811 in Toronto.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,148 in Squamish, BC versus $4,130 in Toronto.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,567 in Squamish, BC versus $5,449 in Toronto.

Living in Squamish, BC costs roughly 3% less than in Toronto, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Squamish, BC 104% above, Toronto 110% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Squamish, BC
Toronto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75 CA$21.81
$18.71 CA$25.90
-15.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.0 CA$101
$81.9 CA$113
-10.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.85 CA$15.02
$10.83 CA$14.99
0.18%
Cappuccino
$4.14 CA$5.73
$3.89 CA$5.38
6.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 CA$2.73
$2.22 CA$3.07
-11.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 CA$2.07
$1.65 CA$2.28
-9.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.78 CA$8.00
$6.05 CA$8.38
-4.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.92 CA$8.20
$6.58 CA$9.11
-10.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Squamish, BC
Toronto
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.84 CA$2.55
$2.73 CA$3.77
-32.60%
White Bread (500g)
$2.73 CA$3.78
$2.72 CA$3.76
0.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.62 CA$5.02
$3.54 CA$4.90
2.26%
Eggs
$3.64 CA$5.04
$3.50 CA$4.84
4.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.22 CA$14.15
$13.53 CA$18.73
-24.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.75 CA$16.26
$13.09 CA$18.12
-10.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.46 CA$28.33
$16.96 CA$23.49
20.64%
Apples (1kg)
$3.51 CA$4.86
$4.16 CA$5.76
-15.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 CA$1.69
$1.18 CA$1.63
3.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.96 CA$4.10
$3.25 CA$4.50
-8.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.53 CA$4.88
$4.12 CA$5.70
-14.32%
Potato (1kg)
$2.47 CA$3.42
$2.50 CA$3.47
-1.20%
Onion (1kg)
$2.02 CA$2.80
$2.88 CA$3.98
-29.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.45 CA$3.39
$2.35 CA$3.25
4.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.99 CA$2.75
$2.00 CA$2.77
-0.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.70 CA$20.36
$14.58 CA$20.19
0.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.88 CA$15.06
$14.18 CA$19.63
-23.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.01 CA$4.17
$2.80 CA$3.88
7.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62 CA$5.02
$3.25 CA$4.51
11.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Squamish, BC
Toronto
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 CA$2.00
$2.40 CA$3.32
-39.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.49 CA$43.60
$114 CA$158
-72.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.78 CA$3.85
$3.76 CA$5.20
-26.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 CA$2.12
$1.41 CA$1.95
8.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.82 CA$39.90
$25.53 CA$35.34
12.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 CA$1.73
$1.10 CA$1.52
13.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2K CA$34.9K
$25.2K CA$34.9K
-0.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K CA$27.7K
$21.1K CA$29.2K
-5.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Squamish, BC
Toronto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 CA$171
$120 CA$166
3.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.85 CA$58.0
$37.54 CA$52.0
11.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.6 CA$90.9
$54.5 CA$75.5
20.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Squamish, BC
Toronto
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.8 CA$71.7
$55.5 CA$76.9
-6.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$21.15 CA$29.28
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.46 CA$17.26
$11.56 CA$16.00
7.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Squamish, BC
Toronto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,115 CA$1,544
$1,129 CA$1,564
-1.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.4K CA$17.2K
$18.0K CA$24.9K
-30.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Squamish, BC
Toronto
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 CA$77.2
$56.9 CA$78.8
-2.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.96 CA$60.9
$39.96 CA$55.3
10.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 CA$143
$89.7 CA$124
15.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.7 CA$134
$114 CA$158
-15.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Squamish, BC
Toronto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,666 CA$2,306
$1,849 CA$2,561
-9.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,590 CA$2,202
$1,560 CA$2,159
1.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,320 CA$4,596
$2,925 CA$4,051
13.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,933 CA$4,062
$2,470 CA$3,420
18.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,982 CA$8,283
$9,085 CA$12.6K
-34.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$7,036 CA$9,742
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Squamish, BC
Toronto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,216 CA$4,453
$3,572 CA$4,946
-9.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.54
5.16
26.74%

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

Last update for Squamish, BC: May 30, 2026

Last update for Toronto: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,666 in Squamish, BC and $1,849 in Toronto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Toronto pays 11% 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: $73.0 in Squamish, BC vs $82.0 in Toronto for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $369 vs $396 per month, with Squamish, BC 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
Squamish, BC vs Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Squamish, BC or Toronto?
Squamish, BC wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Toronto. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Squamish, BC the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Squamish, BC or Toronto?
On paper, Toronto earns 11% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Squamish, BC vs Toronto?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,666 in Squamish, BC versus $1,849 in Toronto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Squamish, BC and Toronto?
Childcare runs $1,115 in Squamish, BC versus $1,129 in Toronto. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Squamish, BC or Toronto?
Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Toronto. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Squamish, BC or Toronto?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Squamish, BC is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Squamish, BC or Toronto?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Squamish, BC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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