Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Almaty

For one person, living is cheaper in Almaty: $1,387 a month against $2,530 in Toronto, rent and utilities included – about $13,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Toronto
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,530
/mo nomad
Almaty
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
$1,387
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Toronto and in Almaty

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Toronto and in Almaty actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,530 per month in Toronto vs $1,387 in Almaty, rent included.

  • Toronto $2,530
  • Almaty $1,387

A couple spends around $3,646 per month in Toronto vs $2,135 in Almaty, rent included.

  • Toronto $3,646
  • Almaty $2,135

A family of three spends $4,761 per month in Toronto vs $2,883 in Almaty, rent included.

  • Toronto $4,761
  • Almaty $2,883

Toronto costs about 82% more than Almaty, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Toronto and Almaty sit above the global median – Toronto by 89%, Almaty by 3%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Toronto
Almaty
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.67 CA$25.13
$13.31 ₸5,991
32.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.4 CA$110
$43.37 ₸19.5K
78.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.47 CA$14.90
$8.80 ₸3,959
18.98%
Cappuccino
$4.08 CA$5.80
$3.30 ₸1,486
23.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 CA$3.01
$1.37 ₸616
54.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 CA$2.50
$0.90 ₸406
95.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.17 CA$8.78
$3.13 ₸1,409
97.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.89 CA$9.80
$4.10 ₸1,847
68.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Toronto
Almaty
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.43 CA$3.46
$1.66 ₸749
46.39%
White Bread (500g)
$2.75 CA$3.91
$0.90 ₸403
205.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.23 CA$3.17
$2.06 ₸927
8.25%
Eggs
$3.45 CA$4.90
$2.37 ₸1,067
45.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.93 CA$12.71
$12.64 ₸5,689
-29.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.44 CA$16.27
$6.62 ₸2,978
72.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.61 CA$20.78
$10.87 ₸4,893
34.41%
Apples (1kg)
$3.75 CA$5.33
$1.86 ₸839
101.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.15 CA$1.63
$2.37 ₸1,067
-51.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.55 CA$5.05
$2.99 ₸1,348
18.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.28 CA$6.09
$2.83 ₸1,273
51.24%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 CA$2.62
$0.77 ₸345
140.26%
Onion (1kg)
$1.67 CA$2.37
$0.58 ₸262
187.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.22 CA$3.15
$1.59 ₸718
39.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 CA$1.72
$0.99 ₸446
22.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.88 CA$19.74
$2.54 ₸1,145
446.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.25 CA$20.27
$11.04 ₸4,969
29.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20 CA$3.12
$1.21 ₸546
81.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 CA$3.44
$2.41 ₸1,085
0.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Toronto
Almaty
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.42 CA$3.44
$0.25 ₸113
868.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$111 CA$158
$21.84 ₸9,831
407.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.90 CA$4.12
$1.28 ₸577
126.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.26 CA$1.79
$0.64 ₸289
96.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.03 CA$31.33
$10.74 ₸4,836
105.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 CA$1.74
$0.69 ₸312
76.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6K CA$39.3K
$22.3K ₸10.0M
24.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K CA$28.2K
$29.3K ₸13.2M
-32.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
Almaty
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 CA$173
$87.8 ₸39.5K
38.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.03 CA$45.56
$10.83 ₸4,874
195.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.92 CA$68.2
$17.40 ₸7,831
175.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
Almaty
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.90 CA$55.3
$69.7 ₸31.4K
-44.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.24 CA$33.05
$26.58 ₸12.0K
-12.57%
Cinema Ticket
$12.61 CA$17.94
$6.68 ₸3,009
88.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Toronto
Almaty
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$834 CA$1,186
$446 ₸200.8K
86.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.3K CA$33.2K
$11.9K ₸5.4M
96.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
Almaty
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.6 CA$74.8
$93.7 ₸42.2K
-43.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.26 CA$57.3
$46.91 ₸21.1K
-14.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.2 CA$137
$143 ₸64.3K
-32.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 CA$175
$133 ₸60.1K
-7.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Toronto
Almaty
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,598 CA$2,273
$773 ₸348.1K
106.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,435 CA$2,041
$497 ₸223.9K
188.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,657 CA$3,779
$1,390 ₸625.9K
91.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,096 CA$2,981
$880 ₸396.0K
138.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,033 CA$11.4K
$2,546 ₸1.1M
215.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,557 CA$9,327
$1,506 ₸678.2K
335.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Toronto
Almaty
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,743 CA$5,324
$834 ₸375.2K
349.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.47
20.65
-78.35%

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

Last update for Toronto: October 4, 2026

Last update for Almaty: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Toronto
$1.4K
Almaty
$497 65.3% $938
Groceries & Markets
Toronto
$340
Almaty
$251 26.1% $89
Eating Out
Toronto
$282
Almaty
$205 27.1% $76
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
$202
Almaty
$116 42.5% $86
Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
$140
Almaty
$188 33.6% $47
Getting Around
Toronto
$130
Almaty
$27 78.9% $102
Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
$64
Almaty
$83 29.5% $19

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,598 in Toronto versus $773 in Almaty. 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 349% 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 $77.0 in Toronto versus $43.00 in Almaty. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $340 vs $251 – making Almaty the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Toronto
🇰🇿 Almaty
🕒 Local time
02:23 2:23 AM
12:23 12:23 PM
10 h ahead of Toronto
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,731,571
1,475,400
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

KZT, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.42 CAD (1 CAD = 0.703 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.627 EUR).

Kazakhstani Tenge exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 450 KZT (1,000 KZT = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 505 KZT (1,000 KZT = 1.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Toronto Almaty 10,070 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Toronto
  • Almaty

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
Toronto vs Almaty: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Almaty cheaper than Toronto?
Yes – Toronto is pricier by about 82%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in transport.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,795 per month in Toronto and $2,080 in Almaty. 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 Almaty, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Toronto or in Almaty?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $77.0 in Toronto and $43.00 in Almaty. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Toronto and in Almaty?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,530 in Toronto and $1,387 in Almaty. That's a gap of about 82%.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Toronto or in Almaty?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Almaty, where all-in costs run around $1,387, than in Toronto at $2,530. In Almaty it covers expenses comfortably, while in Toronto it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Toronto or Almaty more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Almaty – 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 Almaty. 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.

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