Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Ajax, ON Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Ajax, ON

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,788 per month in Toronto vs $3,045 in Ajax, ON, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,110 per month in Toronto vs $3,923 in Ajax, ON, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,432 per month in Toronto vs $4,802 in Ajax, ON, rent included.

Toronto is about 8% cheaper than Ajax, ON, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Toronto and Ajax, ON sit above the global median – Toronto by 109%, Ajax, ON by 128%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Toronto
Ajax, ON
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.51 CA$25.96
$14.56 CA$20.42
27.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$83.8 CA$118
$75.2 CA$105
11.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.97 CA$15.38
$10.13 CA$14.20
8.29%
Cappuccino
$3.99 CA$5.59
$3.53 CA$4.95
13.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 CA$2.96
$1.96 CA$2.75
7.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 CA$2.37
$1.67 CA$2.34
1.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.92 CA$8.30
$3.59 CA$5.03
64.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.48 CA$9.08
$5.74 CA$8.04
12.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Toronto
Ajax, ON
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.71 CA$3.80
$1.73 CA$2.42
56.65%
White Bread (500g)
$2.85 CA$4.00
$2.90 CA$4.07
-1.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.56 CA$4.99
$4.73 CA$6.63
-24.74%
Eggs
$3.54 CA$4.96
$3.32 CA$4.65
6.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.26 CA$18.59
$9.65 CA$13.52
37.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.05 CA$18.29
$9.91 CA$13.90
31.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.77 CA$23.51
$16.15 CA$22.64
3.84%
Apples (1kg)
$4.11 CA$5.77
$4.44 CA$6.22
-7.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.14 CA$1.60
$1.57 CA$2.20
-27.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.40 CA$4.76
$2.80 CA$3.93
21.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.02 CA$5.64
$4.34 CA$6.09
-7.37%
Potato (1kg)
$2.43 CA$3.41
$2.47 CA$3.46
-1.62%
Onion (1kg)
$2.94 CA$4.12
$2.47 CA$3.46
19.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.47 CA$3.47
$2.84 CA$3.98
-13.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 CA$2.69
$1.73 CA$2.43
10.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.99 CA$21.01
$14.15 CA$19.84
5.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.34 CA$20.10
$13.93 CA$19.53
2.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.71 CA$3.80
$2.16 CA$3.02
25.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12 CA$4.38
$2.33 CA$3.27
33.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Toronto
Ajax, ON
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.45 CA$3.44
$2.65 CA$3.71
-7.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$113 CA$158
$66.0 CA$92.6
70.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.63 CA$5.08
$3.22 CA$4.51
12.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 CA$1.88
$2.85 CA$3.99
-52.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.55 CA$35.82
$25.70 CA$36.03
-0.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 CA$1.55
$1.13 CA$1.58
-1.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.3K CA$35.4K
$25.3K CA$35.4K
0.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K CA$30.5K
$20.0K CA$28.0K
9.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
Ajax, ON
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$117 CA$164
$186 CA$260
-37.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.60 CA$52.7
$33.62 CA$47.13
11.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.7 CA$75.3
$60.1 CA$84.2
-10.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
Ajax, ON
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 CA$80.1
$33.55 CA$47.04
70.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.86 CA$29.24
$11.00 CA$15.42
89.64%
Cinema Ticket
$11.56 CA$16.20
$10.82 CA$15.17
6.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Toronto
Ajax, ON
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,125 CA$1,577
$907 CA$1,271
24.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.4K CA$25.9K
$18.5K CA$26.0K
-0.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
Ajax, ON
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3 CA$80.4
$50.2 CA$70.4
14.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.05 CA$54.8
$36.58 CA$51.3
6.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.6 CA$123
$90.1 CA$126
-2.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 CA$159
$110 CA$154
3.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Toronto
Ajax, ON
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,842 CA$2,582
$1,840 CA$2,580
0.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,531 CA$2,146
$1,867 CA$2,618
-18.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,925 CA$4,101
$2,468 CA$3,461
18.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,502 CA$3,508
$2,215 CA$3,105
12.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,725 CA$12.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,867 CA$9,628
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Toronto
Ajax, ON
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,454 CA$4,842
$3,047 CA$4,272
13.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.16
6.83
-24.45%

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

Last update for Toronto: July 11, 2026

Last update for Ajax, ON: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,842 in Toronto versus $1,840 in Ajax, ON. 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 13% higher in Toronto, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $84.0 in Toronto versus $75.0 in Ajax, ON. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $395 vs $358 – making Ajax, ON 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
Toronto vs Ajax, ON: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ajax, ON cheaper than Toronto?
Yes – Ajax, ON is pricier by about 9%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,181 per month in Toronto and $4,567 in Ajax, ON. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Toronto and in Ajax, ON?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,788 in Toronto and $3,045 in Ajax, ON. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 71% less in Toronto. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Toronto or in Ajax, ON?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,788 in Toronto and $3,045 in Ajax, ON. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Toronto or Ajax, ON more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Toronto. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ajax, ON makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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