Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Stratford, ON and Toronto

For one person, living is cheaper in Stratford, ON: $1,992 a month against $2,589 in Toronto, rent and utilities included – about $7,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Stratford, ON, Canada
Toronto, Canada
Stratford, ON
🇨🇦 Canada
$1,992
/mo nomad
Toronto
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,589
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,992 in Stratford, ON versus $2,589 in Toronto.

  • Stratford, ON $1,992
  • Toronto $2,589

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,189 in Stratford, ON versus $3,710 in Toronto.

  • Stratford, ON $3,189
  • Toronto $3,710

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,387 in Stratford, ON versus $4,831 in Toronto.

  • Stratford, ON $4,387
  • Toronto $4,831

Living in Stratford, ON costs roughly 23% less than in Toronto, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Stratford, ON 46% above, Toronto 90% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stratford, ON
Toronto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.70 CA$24.76
$17.60 CA$24.62
0.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.39 CA$69.1
$77.8 CA$109
-36.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.27 CA$15.76
$10.59 CA$14.81
6.42%
Cappuccino
$3.46 CA$4.83
$4.16 CA$5.82
-16.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 CA$2.08
$2.04 CA$2.86
-26.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 CA$1.85
$1.75 CA$2.45
-24.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.16 CA$5.82
$6.58 CA$9.20
-36.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58 CA$6.40
$7.11 CA$9.95
-35.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stratford, ON
Toronto
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.14 CA$2.99
$2.53 CA$3.55
-15.42%
White Bread (500g)
$2.90 CA$4.06
$2.70 CA$3.78
7.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.75 CA$5.25
$2.24 CA$3.13
67.41%
Eggs
$3.04 CA$4.25
$3.48 CA$4.87
-12.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.42 CA$14.57
$9.38 CA$13.11
11.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.60 CA$16.23
$11.60 CA$16.22
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.09 CA$30.89
$14.68 CA$20.54
50.48%
Apples (1kg)
$3.63 CA$5.07
$3.74 CA$5.24
-2.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 CA$1.49
$1.22 CA$1.71
-13.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.40 CA$6.16
$3.48 CA$4.87
26.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.55 CA$6.36
$4.32 CA$6.05
5.32%
Potato (1kg)
$3.46 CA$4.83
$1.85 CA$2.59
87.03%
Onion (1kg)
$2.30 CA$3.21
$1.69 CA$2.36
36.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.49 CA$3.49
$2.23 CA$3.12
11.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.47 CA$2.06
$1.28 CA$1.79
14.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.13 CA$15.57
$14.04 CA$19.64
-20.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.88 CA$15.21
$14.43 CA$20.18
-24.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.36 CA$4.70
$2.16 CA$3.02
55.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 CA$4.42
$2.52 CA$3.53
25.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Stratford, ON
Toronto
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.09 CA$2.92
$2.37 CA$3.31
-11.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.32 CA$69.0
$112 CA$157
-56.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.33 CA$3.25
$3.04 CA$4.26
-23.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.84 CA$2.58
$1.24 CA$1.73
48.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.43 CA$34.17
$22.55 CA$31.55
8.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 CA$1.51
$1.24 CA$1.74
-12.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K CA$38.8K
$26.9K CA$37.6K
3.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8K CA$31.8K
$21.4K CA$29.9K
6.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stratford, ON
Toronto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$121 CA$169
$125 CA$174
-2.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.64 CA$55.4
$33.05 CA$46.23
19.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.75 CA$44.40
$47.96 CA$67.1
-33.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stratford, ON
Toronto
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.49 CA$59.4
$36.69 CA$51.3
15.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.24 CA$26.92
$23.67 CA$33.11
-18.72%
Cinema Ticket
$10.31 CA$14.42
$13.08 CA$18.29
-21.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stratford, ON
Toronto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$823 CA$1,152
$759 CA$1,061
8.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.0K CA$23.7K
$23.8K CA$33.3K
-28.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stratford, ON
Toronto
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 CA$90.0
$53.5 CA$74.9
20.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.14 CA$52.0
$40.44 CA$56.6
-8.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 CA$120
$100 CA$141
-14.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126 CA$177
$125 CA$175
0.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stratford, ON
Toronto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 CA$1,691
$1,630 CA$2,280
-25.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$883 CA$1,234
$1,416 CA$1,980
-37.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,117 CA$2,961
$2,694 CA$3,768
-21.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,892 CA$2,646
$2,101 CA$2,939
-9.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,782 CA$5,290
$7,551 CA$10.6K
-49.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,674 CA$9,335
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stratford, ON
Toronto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,765 CA$3,868
$3,543 CA$4,956
-21.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.99
4.45
12.13%

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

Last update for Stratford, ON: October 27, 2026

Last update for Toronto: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Stratford, ON
$883
Toronto
$1.4K 60.4% $533
Groceries & Markets
Stratford, ON
$385
Toronto
$345 10.5% $41
Eating Out
Stratford, ON
$258
Toronto
$285 10.3% $27
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stratford, ON
$192
Toronto
$206 6.8% $13
Clothing & Footwear
Stratford, ON
$141
Toronto
$144 1.8% $2.6
Getting Around
Stratford, ON
$69
Toronto
$131 89.5% $62
Sport & Entertainment
Stratford, ON
$63
Toronto
$63 0.4% $0.3

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,209 in Stratford, ON and $1,630 in Toronto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Toronto pays 28% 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: $49 in Stratford, ON vs $78 in Toronto. Groceries flip the comparison at $385 vs $345, with Toronto cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Stratford, ON
🇨🇦 Toronto
🕒 Local time
20:37 8:37 PM
20:37 8:37 PM
Same time as Stratford, ON
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
31,465
2,731,571
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.715 USD). 1 EUR = 1.56 CAD (1 CAD = 0.642 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Stratford, ON Toronto 130 km
From you
  • Stratford, ON
  • 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
Stratford, ON vs Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Stratford, ON and in Toronto?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,992 in Stratford, ON and $2,589 in Toronto, so Stratford, ON is about 23% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 22% lower in Stratford, ON. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Stratford, ON and in Toronto?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,209 in Stratford, ON versus $1,630 in Toronto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Stratford, ON or Toronto?
All in, you’ll spend $1,992 per month in Stratford, ON versus $2,589 in Toronto – Stratford, ON is about 23% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How do commuting costs compare in Stratford, ON and in Toronto?
A monthly transit pass in Stratford, ON runs roughly 56% less than in Toronto. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
How far does $3,000 go in Stratford, ON compared to Toronto?
Either city works on $3,000 a month, though Stratford, ON gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How do I decide between Stratford, ON and Toronto?
It comes down to priorities – Stratford, ON wins on affordability, Toronto on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

Stratford, ON vs other spots: cost of living compared

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