Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Squamish, BC and Toronto

For one person, living costs are similar in Squamish, BC and in Toronto: $2,634 and $2,561 a month, rent and utilities included.

Squamish, BC
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,634
/mo nomad
Toronto
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,561
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,634 in Squamish, BC versus $2,561 in Toronto.

  • Squamish, BC $2,634
  • Toronto $2,561

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,904 in Squamish, BC versus $3,694 in Toronto.

  • Squamish, BC $3,904
  • Toronto $3,694

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,175 in Squamish, BC versus $4,826 in Toronto.

  • Squamish, BC $5,175
  • Toronto $4,826

Living in Squamish, BC is roughly 3% more expensive than in Toronto, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Squamish, BC 95% above, Toronto 90% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Squamish, BC
Toronto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19 CA$22.89
$17.18 CA$24.29
-5.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.77 CA$69.0
$76.0 CA$107
-35.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.01 CA$14.14
$10.54 CA$14.89
-5.03%
Cappuccino
$3.94 CA$5.57
$4.02 CA$5.68
-1.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 CA$2.53
$2.12 CA$3.00
-15.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 CA$2.08
$1.75 CA$2.48
-16.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.57 CA$7.87
$6.24 CA$8.83
-10.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.63 CA$7.96
$7.09 CA$10.02
-20.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Squamish, BC
Toronto
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.76 CA$2.48
$2.44 CA$3.45
-27.87%
White Bread (500g)
$2.10 CA$2.97
$2.68 CA$3.78
-21.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.46 CA$4.89
$2.24 CA$3.17
54.46%
Eggs
$3.08 CA$4.36
$3.56 CA$5.03
-13.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.38 CA$17.50
$9.09 CA$12.85
36.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.93 CA$21.11
$11.33 CA$16.01
31.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.16 CA$27.08
$14.53 CA$20.55
31.87%
Apples (1kg)
$5.31 CA$7.50
$3.62 CA$5.12
46.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.16 CA$1.64
$1.21 CA$1.72
-4.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.90 CA$6.93
$3.60 CA$5.09
36.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.47 CA$4.90
$4.21 CA$5.96
-17.58%
Potato (1kg)
$4.16 CA$5.88
$1.79 CA$2.53
132.40%
Onion (1kg)
$2.47 CA$3.49
$1.59 CA$2.25
55.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.46 CA$3.47
$2.27 CA$3.21
8.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 CA$2.63
$1.25 CA$1.77
48.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.86 CA$21.00
$13.82 CA$19.53
7.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.58 CA$14.96
$14.27 CA$20.18
-25.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.83 CA$4.01
$2.20 CA$3.10
28.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52 CA$4.98
$2.43 CA$3.44
44.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Squamish, BC
Toronto
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.43 CA$2.02
$2.39 CA$3.38
-40.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.87 CA$42.22
$111 CA$157
-73.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.60 CA$5.09
$2.91 CA$4.12
23.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.38 CA$1.95
$1.20 CA$1.69
15.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.89 CA$35.18
$21.38 CA$30.23
16.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 CA$1.60
$1.21 CA$1.71
-6.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2K CA$37.0K
$28.2K CA$39.8K
-7.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.6K CA$26.3K
$20.3K CA$28.6K
-8.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Squamish, BC
Toronto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$116 CA$165
$120 CA$170
-3.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.93 CA$60.7
$32.26 CA$45.60
33.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.6 CA$88.5
$47.93 CA$67.8
30.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Squamish, BC
Toronto
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.0 CA$72.1
$38.48 CA$54.4
32.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$22.96 CA$32.46
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.42 CA$16.14
$12.38 CA$17.50
-7.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Squamish, BC
Toronto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,084 CA$1,532
$830 CA$1,173
30.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,273 CA$11.7K
$23.1K CA$32.6K
-64.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Squamish, BC
Toronto
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.5 CA$72.8
$50.7 CA$71.7
1.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.42 CA$57.1
$40.02 CA$56.6
1.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.3 CA$112
$98.0 CA$139
-19.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.9 CA$134
$121 CA$171
-21.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Squamish, BC
Toronto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,565 CA$2,213
$1,592 CA$2,251
-1.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,517 CA$2,145
$1,410 CA$1,994
7.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,188 CA$4,506
$2,670 CA$3,775
19.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,719 CA$3,843
$2,152 CA$3,042
26.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,931 CA$8,384
$7,945 CA$11.2K
-25.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,542 CA$9,249
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Squamish, BC
Toronto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,077 CA$4,351
$3,727 CA$5,269
-17.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.72
4.47
5.59%

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

Last update for Squamish, BC: October 10, 2026

Last update for Toronto: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Squamish, BC
$1.5K
Toronto
$1.4K 7% $107
Groceries & Markets
Squamish, BC
$396
Toronto
$340 14.3% $57
Eating Out
Squamish, BC
$259
Toronto
$278 7.4% $19
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Squamish, BC
$222
Toronto
$201 9.7% $21
Clothing & Footwear
Squamish, BC
$120
Toronto
$139 16.3% $20
Sport & Entertainment
Squamish, BC
$74
Toronto
$63 14.4% $11
Getting Around
Squamish, BC
$46
Toronto
$129 181% $83

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,565 in Squamish, BC and $1,592 in Toronto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Toronto pays 21% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $49.00 in Squamish, BC vs $76.0 in Toronto. Groceries flip the comparison at $396 vs $340, with Toronto cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Squamish, BC
🇨🇦 Toronto
🕒 Local time
16:24 4:24 PM
19:24 7:24 PM
3 h ahead of Squamish, BC
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
19,512
2,731,571
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Squamish, BC Toronto 3,360 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Squamish, BC
  • 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
Squamish, BC vs Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Squamish, BC or Toronto?
Toronto wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Squamish, BC. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Toronto the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Squamish, BC or in Toronto?
On paper, salaries run 21% 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Squamish, BC compared to Toronto?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,565 in Squamish, BC versus $1,592 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 in Toronto?
Childcare runs $1,084 in Squamish, BC versus $830 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 in Toronto?
Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Squamish, BC. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Squamish, BC or in Toronto?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Toronto 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 Toronto gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Squamish, BC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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