Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between St John and Toronto

For one person, living is cheaper in St John: $319 a month against $2,599 in Toronto, rent and utilities included – about $27,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

St John, U.S. Virgin Islands
Toronto, Canada
St John
🇻🇮 U.S. Virgin Islands
$319
/mo nomad
Toronto
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,599
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $319 in St John versus $2,599 in Toronto.

  • St John $319
  • Toronto $2,599

Estimated couple costs with rent: $924 in St John versus $3,700 in Toronto.

  • St John $924
  • Toronto $3,700

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,529 in St John versus $4,801 in Toronto.

  • St John $1,529
  • Toronto $4,801

Living in St John costs roughly 88% less than in Toronto.

The two cities straddle the global median: St John is 76% below, Toronto is 92% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
St John
Toronto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.79 $19.79
$17.98 CA$25.20
10.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$175 $175
$72.3 CA$101
142.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$10.83 CA$15.18
-
Cappuccino
$6.97 $6.97
$4.34 CA$6.09
60.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03 $3.03
$2.16 CA$3.03
40.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$1.66 CA$2.32
22.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.13 $8.13
$6.35 CA$8.90
28.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.04 $8.04
$7.34 CA$10.29
9.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
St John
Toronto
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
-
$2.57 CA$3.60
-
White Bread (500g)
-
$2.71 CA$3.79
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$2.28 CA$3.19
-
Eggs
-
$3.60 CA$5.05
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$8.94 CA$12.54
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$11.19 CA$15.69
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$15.23 CA$21.34
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$3.74 CA$5.25
-
Banana (1kg)
-
$1.23 CA$1.72
-
Oranges (1kg)
-
$3.58 CA$5.02
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$4.25 CA$5.96
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$1.94 CA$2.72
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$1.67 CA$2.34
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$2.30 CA$3.22
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.26 CA$1.77
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$14.19 CA$19.90
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$14.25 CA$19.97
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.28 CA$3.20
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.58 CA$3.62
-
🚌 Getting Around
St John
Toronto
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.35 CA$3.30
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$111 CA$156
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.01 CA$4.22
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.22 CA$1.71
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$21.82 CA$30.59
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 $1.55
$1.23 CA$1.73
26.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$27.0K CA$37.8K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$21.8K CA$30.6K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
St John
Toronto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$121 CA$169
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$33.10 CA$46.40
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$49.09 CA$68.8
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
St John
Toronto
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$36.65 CA$51.4
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$25.01 CA$35.06
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$12.78 CA$17.91
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
St John
Toronto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$754 CA$1,058
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.4K $13.4K
$33.7K CA$47.2K
-60.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
St John
Toronto
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$50.4 CA$70.6
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$41.43 CA$58.1
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$101 CA$142
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$130 CA$183
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
St John
Toronto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,590 CA$2,228
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,424 CA$1,996
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,641 CA$3,702
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,090 CA$2,930
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$12.9K $12.9K
$7,730 CA$10.8K
67.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,892 CA$9,661
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
St John
Toronto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,165 $5,165
$3,623 CA$5,078
42.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.05
4.45
58.43%

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

Last update for St John: November 3, 2026

Last update for Toronto: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
St John
–
Toronto
$1.4K
Groceries & Markets
St John
–
Toronto
$345
Eating Out
St John
–
Toronto
$290
Monthly Utilities & Internet
St John
–
Toronto
$203
Clothing & Footwear
St John
–
Toronto
$145
Getting Around
St John
–
Toronto
$130
Sport & Entertainment
St John
–
Toronto
$62

Cost Breakdown

St John pays 43% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out at a mid-range restaurant: $175 in St John vs $72 in Toronto for two.

Good to know
🇻🇮 St John
🇨🇦 Toronto
🕒 Local time
08:49 8:49 AM
07:49 7:49 AM
1 h behind St John
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,743
2,731,571
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.713 USD). 1 EUR = 1.57 CAD (1 CAD = 0.635 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • St John Toronto 3,130 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • St John
  • 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
St John vs Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in St John and in Toronto?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $319 in St John and $2,599 in Toronto, so St John is about 88% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: St John or Toronto?
Average pay runs 43% higher in St John, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Toronto – a meal for two runs $72 versus $175 in St John. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: St John or Toronto?
All in, you’ll spend $319 per month in St John versus $2,599 in Toronto – St John is about 88% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
At $319 in St John versus $2,599 in Toronto, a $1,200 budget is realistic in St John but tight or insufficient in Toronto. The gap between the two cities makes St John the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between St John and 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.

St John vs other spots: cost of living compared

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