Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Arima

For one person, living is cheaper in Arima: $1,282 a month against $2,599 in Toronto, rent and utilities included – about $15,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Toronto, Canada
Arima, Trinidad And Tobago
Toronto
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,599
/mo nomad
Arima
🇹🇹 Trinidad And Tobago
$1,282
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Toronto and in Arima

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 Arima actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,599 per month in Toronto vs $1,282 in Arima, rent included.

  • Toronto $2,599
  • Arima $1,282

A couple spends around $3,700 per month in Toronto vs $2,166 in Arima, rent included.

  • Toronto $3,700
  • Arima $2,166

A family of three spends $4,801 per month in Toronto vs $3,051 in Arima, rent included.

  • Toronto $4,801
  • Arima $3,051

Toronto costs about 103% more than Arima, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Toronto sits 92% above the global median, while Arima is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Toronto
Arima
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.98 CA$25.09
$10.42 TTD 69.4
72.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.3 CA$101
$75.3 TTD 502
-4.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.83 CA$15.11
$9.05 TTD 60.2
19.67%
Cappuccino
$4.34 CA$6.06
$3.83 TTD 25.49
13.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 CA$3.01
$1.04 TTD 6.96
107.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 CA$2.31
$0.72 TTD 4.77
130.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.35 CA$8.86
$1.87 TTD 12.43
239.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.34 CA$10.25
$2.97 TTD 19.80
147.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Toronto
Arima
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.57 CA$3.59
$2.43 TTD 16.18
5.76%
White Bread (500g)
$2.71 CA$3.78
$2.40 TTD 15.98
12.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.28 CA$3.18
$2.93 TTD 19.52
-22.18%
Eggs
$3.60 CA$5.03
$4.29 TTD 28.55
-16.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.94 CA$12.48
$6.58 TTD 43.82
35.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.19 CA$15.62
$6.55 TTD 43.59
70.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.23 CA$21.25
$8.73 TTD 58.1
74.46%
Apples (1kg)
$3.74 CA$5.23
$5.47 TTD 36.44
-31.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.23 CA$1.71
$2.32 TTD 15.44
-46.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.58 CA$5.00
$3.62 TTD 24.09
-1.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.25 CA$5.93
$4.81 TTD 32.02
-11.64%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 CA$2.71
$1.31 TTD 8.73
48.09%
Onion (1kg)
$1.67 CA$2.33
$1.02 TTD 6.79
63.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.30 CA$3.21
$1.39 TTD 9.27
65.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 CA$1.76
$0.98 TTD 6.54
28.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.19 CA$19.81
$4.59 TTD 30.59
209.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.25 CA$19.89
$19.38 TTD 129
-26.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.28 CA$3.18
$1.86 TTD 12.39
22.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 CA$3.61
$3.01 TTD 20.03
-14.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Toronto
Arima
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.35 CA$3.29
$1.07 TTD 7.11
119.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$111 CA$155
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.01 CA$4.21
$0.75 TTD 5.01
301.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.22 CA$1.71
$0.76 TTD 5.06
60.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.82 CA$30.47
$14.64 TTD 97.5
49.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 CA$1.72
$1.12 TTD 7.44
9.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.0K CA$37.6K
$27.3K TTD 181.6K
-1.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K CA$30.5K
$35.4K TTD 235.9K
-38.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
Arima
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$121 CA$169
$91.0 TTD 606
32.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.10 CA$46.21
$45.12 TTD 300
-26.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.09 CA$68.5
$56.6 TTD 377
-13.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
Arima
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.65 CA$51.2
$51.3 TTD 342
-28.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.01 CA$34.91
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.78 CA$17.84
$8.61 TTD 57.3
48.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Toronto
Arima
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$754 CA$1,053
$180 TTD 1,196
320.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$33.7K CA$47.0K
$16.6K TTD 110.3K
103.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
Arima
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.4 CA$70.3
$62.3 TTD 415
-19.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.43 CA$57.8
$45.06 TTD 300
-8.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 CA$141
$146 TTD 970
-30.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 CA$182
$73.2 TTD 487
77.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Toronto
Arima
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,590 CA$2,219
$520 TTD 3,461
205.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,424 CA$1,988
$373 TTD 2,483
281.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,641 CA$3,687
$1,020 TTD 6,795
158.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,090 CA$2,918
$880 TTD 5,858
137.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,730 CA$10.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,892 CA$9,620
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Toronto
Arima
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,623 CA$5,057
$1,224 TTD 8,152
195.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.45
5.75
-22.61%

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

Last update for Toronto: November 2, 2026

Last update for Arima: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Toronto
$1.4K
Arima
$373 73.8% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Toronto
$345
Arima
$313 9.2% $32
Eating Out
Toronto
$290
Arima
$179 38.4% $111
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
$203
Arima
$193 5.1% $10
Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
$145
Arima
$147 0.9% $1.3
Getting Around
Toronto
$130
Arima
$8.8 * 93.2% $121
Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
$62
Arima
$69 10.2% $6.3

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,590 in Toronto versus $520 in Arima. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Toronto are about 3 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $72 in Toronto versus $75 in Arima. Groceries tell a different story – $345 in Toronto vs $313 in Arima – so Arima wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Toronto
🇹🇹 Arima
🕒 Local time
13:36 1:36 PM
14:36 2:36 PM
1 h ahead of Toronto
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,731,571
35,000
Exchange rates and currency converter

TTD, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.716 USD). 1 EUR = 1.57 CAD (1 CAD = 0.638 EUR).

Trinidad and Tobago Dollar exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 6.66 TTD (1 TTD = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.48 TTD (1 TTD = 0.134 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Toronto Arima 4,060 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Toronto
  • Arima

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 Arima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Toronto or Arima?
Toronto costs about 103% more than Arima, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Toronto and in Arima?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,899 per month in Toronto and $1,922 in Arima. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Toronto or Arima?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Arima, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $520 there versus $1,590 in Toronto.
How much does it cost to live in Toronto compared to Arima?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,599 in Toronto and $1,282 in Arima. That makes Arima about 51% cheaper.
How do childcare costs compare in Toronto and in Arima?
Kindergarten costs $754 per month in Toronto and $180 in Arima. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Toronto or in Arima?
$1,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,599 in Toronto and $1,282 in Arima. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Arima – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Toronto or to Arima?
If budget matters most, go with Arima. If higher salaries 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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