Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney, NS and Toronto Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney, NS and Toronto

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,673 per month in Sydney, NS vs $2,628 in Toronto, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,593 per month in Sydney, NS vs $3,848 in Toronto, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,513 per month in Sydney, NS vs $5,067 in Toronto, rent included.

Sydney, NS is about 36% cheaper than Toronto, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sydney, NS and Toronto sit above the global median – Sydney, NS by 22%, Toronto by 91%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.47 CA$15.87

$17.88 CA$24.75

-35.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.9 CA$91.2

$87.9 CA$122

-25.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.71 CA$10.67

$10.93 CA$15.13

-29.46%

Cappuccino

$2.87 CA$3.97

$4.06 CA$5.62

-29.31%

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

$2.31 CA$3.20

$2.18 CA$3.02

5.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 CA$3.01

$1.70 CA$2.35

27.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.69 CA$9.25

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.35 CA$10.16

Milk (1 liter)

$2.28 CA$3.16

$2.78 CA$3.85

-17.99%

White Bread (500g)

$2.56 CA$3.54

$2.89 CA$4.00

-11.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.46 CA$3.40

$2.56 CA$3.55

-3.91%

Eggs

$3.40 CA$4.70

$3.79 CA$5.24

-10.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.37 CA$8.81

$10.17 CA$14.07

-37.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.42 CA$11.65

$11.95 CA$16.53

-29.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.16 CA$18.21

$16.12 CA$22.31

-18.36%

Apples (1kg)

$7.05 CA$9.76

$3.89 CA$5.39

81.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 CA$1.69

$1.27 CA$1.76

-3.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 CA$5.37

Tomato (1kg)

$1.40 CA$1.94

$4.33 CA$5.99

-67.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 CA$1.13

$1.83 CA$2.53

-55.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.00 CA$2.77

$1.50 CA$2.07

33.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$6.35 CA$8.79

$2.28 CA$3.15

178.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 CA$1.99

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.82 CA$24.66

$14.20 CA$19.64

25.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.24 CA$19.71

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 CA$3.11

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.29 CA$5.94

$2.53 CA$3.50

69.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.10 CA$1.53

$2.47 CA$3.42

-55.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.95 CA$67.7

$112 CA$155

-56.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 CA$5.92

$3.05 CA$4.22

40.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.24 CA$1.71

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.44 CA$31.05

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 CA$1.60

$1.24 CA$1.71

-6.45%

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

$26.9K CA$37.2K

$27.5K CA$38.1K

-2.25%

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

$19.1K CA$26.4K

$21.1K CA$29.3K

-9.82%

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

$90.6 CA$125

$128 CA$177

-28.96%

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

$35.48 CA$49.10

$33.79 CA$46.75

5.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.8 CA$104

$49.25 CA$68.2

51.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.57 CA$68.6

$40.93 CA$56.6

21.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.63 CA$5.03

$24.62 CA$34.07

-85.26%

Cinema Ticket

$7.14 CA$9.87

$13.16 CA$18.21

-45.74%

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

$721 CA$998

$792 CA$1,097

-9.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.1K CA$33.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.1 CA$95.6

$54.5 CA$75.4

26.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$68.5 CA$94.7

$43.11 CA$59.7

58.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 CA$141

$102 CA$140

0.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$150

$123 CA$171

-12.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$920 CA$1,272

$1,653 CA$2,287

-44.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$726 CA$1,005

$1,452 CA$2,009

-49.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 CA$2,530

$2,694 CA$3,728

-32.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,412 CA$1,954

$2,149 CA$2,974

-34.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,347 CA$11.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,816 CA$9,431

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,568 CA$3,554

$3,614 CA$5,001

-28.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.8

4.49

29.18%

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

Last update for Sydney, NS: September 1, 2026

Last update for Toronto: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $920 in Sydney, NS versus $1,653 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 41% 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 $66.0 in Sydney, NS versus $88.0 in Toronto. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $263 vs $365 – making Sydney, NS 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

Sydney, NS vs Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Toronto costs about 57% more than Sydney, NS, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,510 per month in Sydney, NS and $3,942 in Toronto. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,673 in Sydney, NS and $2,628 in Toronto. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 129% less in Sydney, NS. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sydney, NS, where all-in costs run around $1,673, than in Toronto at $2,628. In Sydney, NS it covers expenses comfortably, while in Toronto it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sydney, NS – 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 Sydney, NS. 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.