Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Austin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,628 in Toronto versus $2,695 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,848 in Toronto versus $4,184 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,067 in Toronto versus $5,674 in Austin, TX.

Living in Toronto costs roughly 2% less than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Toronto 91% above, Austin, TX 96% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.88 CA$24.76

$19.82 $19.82

-9.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$87.9 CA$122

$83.9 $83.9

4.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.93 CA$15.14

$12.30 $12.30

-11.14%

Cappuccino

$4.06 CA$5.62

$5.48 $5.48

-25.91%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 CA$3.02

$3.72 $3.72

-41.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 CA$2.35

$2.36 $2.36

-27.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.69 CA$9.26

$7.76 $7.76

-13.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.35 CA$10.17

$9.14 $9.14

-19.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.78 CA$3.85

$1.13 $1.13

146.02%

White Bread (500g)

$2.89 CA$4.00

$3.75 $3.75

-22.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.56 CA$3.55

$3.43 $3.43

-25.36%

Eggs

$3.79 CA$5.25

$4.35 $4.35

-12.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.17 CA$14.08

$13.14 $13.14

-22.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.95 CA$16.55

$14.39 $14.39

-16.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.12 CA$22.32

$17.20 $17.20

-6.28%

Apples (1kg)

$3.89 CA$5.39

$4.49 $4.49

-13.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 CA$1.76

$1.44 $1.44

-11.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 CA$5.37

$4.67 $4.67

-16.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.33 CA$5.99

$4.97 $4.97

-12.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.83 CA$2.53

$3.00 $3.00

-39.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 CA$2.07

$2.69 $2.69

-44.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 CA$3.15

$1.85 $1.85

23.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 CA$1.99

$2.18 $2.18

-33.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.20 CA$19.66

$9.45 $9.45

50.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.24 CA$19.72

$15.11 $15.11

-5.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 CA$3.11

$2.89 $2.89

-22.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 CA$3.50

$3.49 $3.49

-27.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 CA$3.42

$1.64 $1.64

50.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$112 CA$155

$40.44 $40.44

176.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 CA$4.22

$2.81 $2.81

8.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.24 CA$1.71

$1.58 $1.58

-21.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.44 CA$31.07

$35.18 $35.18

-36.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 CA$1.71

$0.90 $0.90

37.78%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.5K CA$38.1K

$35.9K $35.9K

-23.32%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.1K CA$29.3K

$27.7K $27.7K

-23.54%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$128 CA$177

$222 $222

-42.54%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$33.79 CA$46.78

$58.3 $58.3

-42.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.25 CA$68.2

$69.1 $69.1

-28.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.93 CA$56.7

$66.2 $66.2

-38.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.62 CA$34.09

$14.76 $14.76

66.80%

Cinema Ticket

$13.16 CA$18.22

$13.78 $13.78

-4.50%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$792 CA$1,097

$1,526 $1,526

-48.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.1K CA$33.4K

$21.2K $21.2K

13.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.5 CA$75.5

$54.6 $54.6

-0.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.11 CA$59.7

$44.01 $44.01

-2.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 CA$141

$89.7 $89.7

13.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 CA$171

$109 $109

13.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 CA$2,289

$1,942 $1,942

-14.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,452 CA$2,010

$1,258 $1,258

15.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,694 CA$3,731

$3,762 $3,762

-28.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,149 CA$2,976

$2,592 $2,592

-17.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,347 CA$11.6K

$7,403 $7,403

12.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,816 CA$9,437

$3,203 $3,203

112.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,614 CA$5,004

$5,085 $5,085

-28.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.49

6.44

-30.28%

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

Last update for Toronto: August 30, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,653 in Toronto and $1,942 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 41% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $88.0 in Toronto vs $84.0 in Austin, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $365 vs $417, with Toronto cheaper for home cooking.

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 Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Toronto wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Toronto the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 41% lower in Austin, TX. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,653 in Toronto versus $1,942 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,628 per month in Toronto versus $2,695 in Austin, TX – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Toronto runs roughly 177% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Toronto is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Toronto gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.