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 $2,811 per month in Toronto vs $3,038 in Ajax, ON, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,130 per month in Toronto vs $3,920 in Ajax, ON, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,449 per month in Toronto vs $4,802 in Ajax, ON, rent included.

Toronto is about 7% cheaper than Ajax, ON, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Toronto and Ajax, ON sit above the global median – Toronto by 110%, Ajax, ON by 127%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Toronto
Ajax, ON
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.71 CA$25.90
$14.69 CA$20.34
27.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.9 CA$113
$74.8 CA$104
9.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.83 CA$14.99
$10.46 CA$14.49
3.54%
Cappuccino
$3.89 CA$5.38
$3.52 CA$4.87
10.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 CA$3.07
$1.96 CA$2.72
13.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 CA$2.28
$1.67 CA$2.31
-1.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.05 CA$8.38
$3.64 CA$5.05
66.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.58 CA$9.11
$5.87 CA$8.13
12.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Toronto
Ajax, ON
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.73 CA$3.77
$1.76 CA$2.44
55.11%
White Bread (500g)
$2.72 CA$3.76
$2.88 CA$3.99
-5.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.54 CA$4.90
$4.47 CA$6.18
-20.81%
Eggs
$3.50 CA$4.84
$3.27 CA$4.53
7.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.53 CA$18.73
$9.67 CA$13.39
39.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.09 CA$18.12
$10.16 CA$14.07
28.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.96 CA$23.49
$16.25 CA$22.51
4.37%
Apples (1kg)
$4.16 CA$5.76
$4.43 CA$6.13
-6.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 CA$1.63
$1.51 CA$2.08
-21.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.25 CA$4.50
$2.91 CA$4.02
11.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.12 CA$5.70
$4.53 CA$6.28
-9.05%
Potato (1kg)
$2.50 CA$3.47
$2.42 CA$3.35
3.31%
Onion (1kg)
$2.88 CA$3.98
$2.56 CA$3.54
12.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.35 CA$3.25
$2.88 CA$3.99
-18.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.00 CA$2.77
$1.73 CA$2.40
15.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.58 CA$20.19
$14.21 CA$19.67
2.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.18 CA$19.63
$14.22 CA$19.68
-0.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.80 CA$3.88
$2.24 CA$3.10
25.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25 CA$4.51
$2.32 CA$3.21
40.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Toronto
Ajax, ON
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.40 CA$3.32
$2.57 CA$3.55
-6.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$114 CA$158
$65.8 CA$91.1
73.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.76 CA$5.20
$3.07 CA$4.25
22.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.41 CA$1.95
$2.79 CA$3.87
-49.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.53 CA$35.34
$25.44 CA$35.22
0.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 CA$1.52
$1.16 CA$1.61
-5.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2K CA$34.9K
$25.2K CA$34.9K
0.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1K CA$29.2K
$20.1K CA$27.9K
4.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
Ajax, ON
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 CA$166
$188 CA$261
-36.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.54 CA$52.0
$33.41 CA$46.26
12.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.5 CA$75.5
$59.9 CA$82.9
-8.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
Ajax, ON
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.5 CA$76.9
$33.59 CA$46.51
65.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.15 CA$29.28
$10.82 CA$14.99
95.47%
Cinema Ticket
$11.56 CA$16.00
$10.94 CA$15.15
5.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Toronto
Ajax, ON
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,129 CA$1,564
$905 CA$1,254
24.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.0K CA$24.9K
$18.4K CA$25.4K
-2.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
Ajax, ON
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.9 CA$78.8
$49.88 CA$69.1
14.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.96 CA$55.3
$37.21 CA$51.5
7.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.7 CA$124
$87.2 CA$121
2.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 CA$158
$112 CA$156
1.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Toronto
Ajax, ON
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,849 CA$2,561
$1,809 CA$2,505
2.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,560 CA$2,159
$1,856 CA$2,569
-15.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,925 CA$4,051
$2,480 CA$3,434
17.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,470 CA$3,420
$2,228 CA$3,085
10.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,085 CA$12.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,036 CA$9,742
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Toronto
Ajax, ON
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,572 CA$4,946
$3,081 CA$4,266
15.92%
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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ajax, ON: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,849 in Toronto versus $1,809 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 16% 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 $82.0 in Toronto versus $75.0 in Ajax, ON. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $396 vs $360 – 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 8%, 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 $4,216 per month in Toronto and $4,558 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 vs Ajax, ON?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,811 in Toronto and $3,038 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 73% 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 Ajax, ON?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,811 in Toronto and $3,038 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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