Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Airdrie Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Airdrie

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,620 per month in Toronto vs $2,632 in Airdrie, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,866 per month in Toronto vs $3,762 in Airdrie, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,111 per month in Toronto vs $4,893 in Airdrie, rent included.

Toronto and Airdrie have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Toronto and Airdrie sit above the global median – Toronto by 90%, Airdrie by 91%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Toronto
Airdrie
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.85 CA$24.75
$20.25 CA$28.08
-11.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.8 CA$120
$77.2 CA$107
12.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.94 CA$15.17
$11.06 CA$15.33
-1.08%
Cappuccino
$4.01 CA$5.57
$3.93 CA$5.44
2.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 CA$3.04
$2.18 CA$3.03
0.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 CA$2.34
$1.92 CA$2.66
-11.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.45 CA$8.94
$5.16 CA$7.15
25.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.05 CA$9.77
$5.96 CA$8.26
18.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Toronto
Airdrie
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.71 CA$3.77
$2.04 CA$2.83
32.84%
White Bread (500g)
$2.92 CA$4.05
$2.85 CA$3.95
2.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.48 CA$3.44
$3.68 CA$5.11
-32.61%
Eggs
$3.85 CA$5.34
$3.80 CA$5.27
1.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.10 CA$14.01
$11.32 CA$15.70
-10.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.02 CA$16.66
$11.42 CA$15.84
5.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.61 CA$21.65
$18.82 CA$26.10
-17.06%
Apples (1kg)
$3.90 CA$5.41
$5.02 CA$6.96
-22.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.24 CA$1.72
$1.42 CA$1.97
-12.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.78 CA$5.24
$4.33 CA$6.00
-12.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.38 CA$6.08
$4.04 CA$5.60
8.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 CA$2.67
$2.68 CA$3.72
-27.99%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 CA$2.08
$2.99 CA$4.14
-49.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.28 CA$3.17
$2.67 CA$3.70
-14.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.46 CA$2.02
$1.88 CA$2.61
-22.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.52 CA$20.14
$14.56 CA$20.20
-0.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.42 CA$20.00
$11.55 CA$16.02
24.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 CA$3.14
$3.54 CA$4.92
-36.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59 CA$3.60
$3.13 CA$4.34
-17.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Toronto
Airdrie
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.36 CA$3.28
$2.21 CA$3.07
6.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$114 CA$159
$184 CA$255
-37.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.16 CA$4.38
$3.19 CA$4.43
-0.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.26 CA$1.74
$1.35 CA$1.87
-6.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.57 CA$31.30
$22.07 CA$30.61
2.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 CA$1.72
$1.16 CA$1.60
6.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3K CA$37.9K
$28.6K CA$39.6K
-4.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K CA$28.8K
$19.9K CA$27.7K
4.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
Airdrie
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 CA$172
$228 CA$316
-45.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.72 CA$45.38
$40.89 CA$56.7
-19.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.79 CA$67.7
$57.1 CA$79.2
-14.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
Airdrie
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.27 CA$55.9
$87.8 CA$122
-54.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.84 CA$33.06
$36.31 CA$50.4
-34.34%
Cinema Ticket
$12.82 CA$17.77
$14.73 CA$20.43
-12.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Toronto
Airdrie
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$787 CA$1,092
$792 CA$1,099
-0.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.5K CA$34.0K
$9,817 CA$13.6K
149.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
Airdrie
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2 CA$75.2
$46.15 CA$64.0
17.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.10 CA$59.8
$44.25 CA$61.4
-2.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.9 CA$136
$87.3 CA$121
12.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126 CA$175
$108 CA$150
16.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Toronto
Airdrie
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,660 CA$2,303
$1,327 CA$1,840
25.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,483 CA$2,057
$1,141 CA$1,583
29.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,800 CA$3,883
$1,840 CA$2,551
52.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,157 CA$2,991
$1,705 CA$2,365
26.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,381 CA$11.6K
$6,215 CA$8,620
34.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,842 CA$9,489
$6,334 CA$8,784
8.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Toronto
Airdrie
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,799 CA$5,269
$2,947 CA$4,087
28.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.47
4.32
3.47%

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

Last update for Toronto: September 6, 2026

Last update for Airdrie: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,660 in Toronto versus $1,327 in Airdrie. 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 29% higher in Toronto. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $87.0 in Toronto versus $77.0 in Airdrie. Groceries tell a different story – $364 in Toronto vs $392 in Airdrie – so Toronto wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Toronto vs Airdrie: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What salary covers living expenses in Toronto compared to Airdrie?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,930 per month in Toronto and $3,948 in Airdrie. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Toronto and Airdrie?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Toronto, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 8% more in Airdrie, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Toronto and Airdrie?
Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Toronto and $792 in Airdrie. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is feasible on a $2,500 budget?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,620 in Toronto and $2,632 in Airdrie. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Where should families live: Toronto or Airdrie?
Families tend to lean toward Toronto – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Toronto and Airdrie?
If budget matters most, go with Toronto. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Airdrie makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Toronto vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities