Cost of Living Comparison Between St. Albert, AB and Toronto Cost of Living Comparison Between St. Albert, AB and Toronto

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,403 per month in St. Albert, AB vs $2,838 in Toronto, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,170 per month in St. Albert, AB vs $4,090 in Toronto, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,938 per month in St. Albert, AB vs $5,342 in Toronto, rent included.

St. Albert, AB is about 15% cheaper than Toronto, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both St. Albert, AB and Toronto sit above the global median – St. Albert, AB by 78%, Toronto by 110%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.66 CA$25.38

$18.44 CA$25.08

1.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.6 CA$90.5

$84.3 CA$115

-21.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.89 CA$14.81

$11.19 CA$15.21

-2.68%

Cappuccino

$3.83 CA$5.20

$3.95 CA$5.37

-3.04%

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

$2.16 CA$2.93

$2.22 CA$3.02

-2.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 CA$2.45

$1.65 CA$2.24

9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.19 CA$7.05

$5.85 CA$7.95

-11.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.78 CA$7.86

$6.75 CA$9.18

-14.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.01 CA$2.74

$2.79 CA$3.80

-27.96%

White Bread (500g)

$2.68 CA$3.65

$2.85 CA$3.87

-5.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.19 CA$4.34

$3.57 CA$4.85

-10.64%

Eggs

$3.38 CA$4.60

$3.58 CA$4.87

-5.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.88 CA$18.87

$13.54 CA$18.42

2.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.72 CA$17.30

$12.86 CA$17.49

-1.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.13 CA$21.94

$16.73 CA$22.75

-3.59%

Apples (1kg)

$4.40 CA$5.99

$4.11 CA$5.59

7.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 CA$1.85

$1.17 CA$1.59

16.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.84 CA$5.22

$3.33 CA$4.53

15.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.03 CA$5.48

$4.02 CA$5.47

0.25%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 CA$3.47

$2.42 CA$3.29

5.37%

Onion (1kg)

$2.61 CA$3.56

$2.81 CA$3.82

-7.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.75 CA$3.74

$2.44 CA$3.31

12.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.65

$1.97 CA$2.68

-1.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.71 CA$20.01

$15.01 CA$20.41

-2.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.31 CA$18.10

$13.96 CA$18.99

-4.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 CA$3.95

$2.71 CA$3.69

7.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 CA$4.49

$3.14 CA$4.27

5.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.24 CA$3.05

$2.50 CA$3.40

-10.40%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.3 CA$88.7

$114 CA$155

-42.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.47 CA$4.72

$3.72 CA$5.06

-6.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 CA$1.79

$1.40 CA$1.91

-6.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.82 CA$32.40

$25.56 CA$34.76

-6.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 CA$1.49

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

$25.0K CA$34.0K

$24.7K CA$33.6K

1.08%

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

$22.1K CA$30.0K

$21.6K CA$29.4K

2.23%

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

$199 CA$271

$119 CA$162

67.55%

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

$41.55 CA$56.5

$37.29 CA$50.7

11.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.5 CA$78.2

$54.7 CA$74.4

5.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.97 CA$55.7

$56.7 CA$77.1

-27.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.14 CA$28.76

Cinema Ticket

$12.44 CA$16.92

$12.00 CA$16.32

3.67%

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

$709 CA$965

$1,136 CA$1,545

-37.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.8K CA$16.0K

$18.3K CA$24.8K

-35.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.6 CA$78.4

$56.7 CA$77.1

1.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.54 CA$56.5

$39.71 CA$54.0

4.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.3 CA$115

$88.3 CA$120

-4.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 CA$143

$114 CA$156

-7.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,321 CA$1,796

$1,828 CA$2,486

-27.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,173 CA$1,595

$1,565 CA$2,128

-25.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,398 CA$1,902

$2,942 CA$4,001

-52.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,185 CA$1,612

$2,513 CA$3,417

-52.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,643 CA$3,594

$8,600 CA$11.7K

-69.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,698 CA$3,669

$6,810 CA$9,262

-60.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,203 CA$4,357

$3,672 CA$4,994

-12.77%

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 St. Albert, AB: May 2, 2026

Last update for Toronto: May 3, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,321 in St. Albert, AB versus $1,828 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 15% 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 $67.0 in St. Albert, AB versus $84.0 in Toronto. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $388 vs $395 – making St. Albert, AB 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

St. Albert, AB vs Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Toronto costs about 18% more than St. Albert, AB, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,605 per month in St. Albert, AB and $4,257 in Toronto. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $67.0 in St. Albert, AB and $84.0 in Toronto. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,403 in St. Albert, AB and $2,838 in Toronto. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in St. Albert, AB, where all-in costs run around $2,403, than in Toronto at $2,838. In St. Albert, AB it covers expenses comfortably, while in Toronto it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward St. Albert, AB – 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 St. Albert, AB. 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.