Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Birmingham, AL Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Birmingham, AL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,811 per month in Toronto vs $2,408 in Birmingham, AL, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,130 per month in Toronto vs $3,805 in Birmingham, AL, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,449 per month in Toronto vs $5,202 in Birmingham, AL, rent included.

Toronto costs about 17% more than Birmingham, AL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Toronto and Birmingham, AL sit above the global median – Toronto by 110%, Birmingham, AL by 80%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.71 CA$25.90

$18.30 $18.30

2.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.9 CA$113

$59.1 $59.1

38.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.83 CA$14.99

$10.14 $10.14

6.80%

Cappuccino

$3.89 CA$5.38

$5.49 $5.49

-29.14%

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

$2.22 CA$3.07

$2.14 $2.14

3.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 CA$2.28

$2.32 $2.32

-28.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 CA$8.38

$6.05 $6.05

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.58 CA$9.11

$7.55 $7.55

-12.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.73 CA$3.77

$1.15 $1.15

137.39%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 CA$3.76

$3.62 $3.62

-24.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.54 CA$4.90

$4.00 $4.00

-11.50%

Eggs

$3.50 CA$4.84

$4.26 $4.26

-17.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.53 CA$18.73

$11.27 $11.27

20.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.09 CA$18.12

$11.45 $11.45

14.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.96 CA$23.49

$14.07 $14.07

20.54%

Apples (1kg)

$4.16 CA$5.76

$6.38 $6.38

-34.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 CA$1.63

$2.01 $2.01

-41.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.25 CA$4.50

$7.36 $7.36

-55.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.12 CA$5.70

$5.30 $5.30

-22.26%

Potato (1kg)

$2.50 CA$3.47

$4.21 $4.21

-40.62%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 CA$3.98

$5.05 $5.05

-42.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.35 CA$3.25

$2.67 $2.67

-11.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 CA$2.77

$2.73 $2.73

-26.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.58 CA$20.19

$7.01 $7.01

107.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.18 CA$19.63

$15.09 $15.09

-6.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.80 CA$3.88

$2.25 $2.25

24.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 CA$4.51

$3.60 $3.60

-9.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.40 CA$3.32

$1.54 $1.54

55.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$114 CA$158

$54.2 $54.2

110.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.76 CA$5.20

$4.10 $4.10

-8.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 CA$1.95

$1.61 $1.61

-12.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.53 CA$35.34

$30.55 $30.55

-16.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 CA$1.52

$0.81 $0.81

35.80%

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

$25.2K CA$34.9K

$30.5K $30.5K

-17.16%

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

$21.1K CA$29.2K

$26.4K $26.4K

-20.28%

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

$120 CA$166

$213 $213

-43.82%

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

$37.54 CA$52.0

$49.23 $49.23

-23.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.5 CA$75.5

$54.5 $54.5

0.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.5 CA$76.9

$47.84 $47.84

16.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.15 CA$29.28

$20.29 $20.29

4.24%

Cinema Ticket

$11.56 CA$16.00

$13.74 $13.74

-15.87%

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

$1,129 CA$1,564

$1,255 $1,255

-9.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.0K CA$24.9K

$18.2K $18.2K

-1.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 CA$78.8

$63.0 $63.0

-9.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.96 CA$55.3

$27.55 $27.55

45.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 CA$124

$104 $104

-13.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 CA$158

$95.6 $95.6

19.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 CA$2,561

$1,550 $1,550

19.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,560 CA$2,159

$1,111 $1,111

40.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,925 CA$4,051

$2,571 $2,571

13.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,470 CA$3,420

$2,307 $2,307

7.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,085 CA$12.6K

$3,034 $3,034

199.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,036 CA$9,742

$1,863 $1,863

277.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,572 CA$4,946

$3,179 $3,179

12.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.16

6.49

-20.49%

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

Last update for Toronto: May 31, 2026

Last update for Birmingham, AL: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,849 in Toronto versus $1,550 in Birmingham, AL. 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 12% 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 $82.0 in Toronto versus $59.0 in Birmingham, AL. Groceries tell a different story – $396 in Toronto vs $429 in Birmingham, AL – so Toronto wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Birmingham, AL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,811 in Toronto, $2,408 in Birmingham, AL – roughly 17% apart. Toronto costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,216 per month in Toronto and $3,612 in Birmingham, AL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Birmingham, AL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,811 in Toronto and $2,408 in Birmingham, AL. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 110% less in Birmingham, AL. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,811 in Toronto and $2,408 in Birmingham, AL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Birmingham, AL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,408 in Birmingham, AL to $2,811 in Toronto. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Birmingham, AL. 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.