Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Burlington

For one person, living is cheaper in Toronto: $2,589 a month against $2,737 in Burlington, rent and utilities included – about $1,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Toronto, Canada
Burlington, Canada
Toronto
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,589
/mo nomad
Burlington
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,737
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Toronto and in Burlington

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

A single person spends $2,589 per month in Toronto vs $2,737 in Burlington, rent included.

  • Toronto $2,589
  • Burlington $2,737

A couple spends around $3,710 per month in Toronto vs $3,881 in Burlington, rent included.

  • Toronto $3,710
  • Burlington $3,881

A family of three spends $4,831 per month in Toronto vs $5,025 in Burlington, rent included.

  • Toronto $4,831
  • Burlington $5,025

Toronto is about 5% cheaper than Burlington, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Toronto and Burlington sit above the global median – Toronto by 90%, Burlington by 101%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Toronto
Burlington
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.60 CA$24.62
$21.84 CA$30.54
-19.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.8 CA$109
$72.3 CA$101
7.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.59 CA$14.81
$10.60 CA$14.82
-0.09%
Cappuccino
$4.16 CA$5.82
$3.31 CA$4.63
25.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 CA$2.86
$2.00 CA$2.80
2.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 CA$2.45
$1.55 CA$2.17
12.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.58 CA$9.20
$5.57 CA$7.79
18.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.11 CA$9.95
$6.11 CA$8.54
16.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Toronto
Burlington
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.53 CA$3.55
$2.60 CA$3.63
-2.69%
White Bread (500g)
$2.70 CA$3.78
$2.86 CA$4.00
-5.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 CA$3.13
$3.78 CA$5.29
-40.74%
Eggs
$3.48 CA$4.87
$3.76 CA$5.25
-7.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.38 CA$13.11
$10.00 CA$13.99
-6.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.60 CA$16.22
$10.59 CA$14.81
9.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.68 CA$20.54
$14.78 CA$20.68
-0.68%
Apples (1kg)
$3.74 CA$5.24
$3.83 CA$5.36
-2.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 CA$1.71
$1.48 CA$2.08
-17.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.48 CA$4.87
$2.67 CA$3.73
30.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.32 CA$6.05
$3.65 CA$5.10
18.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 CA$2.59
$1.96 CA$2.74
-5.61%
Onion (1kg)
$1.69 CA$2.36
$1.92 CA$2.69
-11.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.23 CA$3.12
$2.09 CA$2.92
6.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 CA$1.79
$1.47 CA$2.06
-12.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.04 CA$19.64
$13.64 CA$19.08
2.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.43 CA$20.18
$10.79 CA$15.10
33.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.16 CA$3.02
$2.80 CA$3.92
-22.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 CA$3.53
$2.92 CA$4.09
-13.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Toronto
Burlington
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 CA$3.31
$2.65 CA$3.70
-10.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$112 CA$157
$99.8 CA$140
12.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.04 CA$4.26
$5.09 CA$7.12
-40.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.24 CA$1.73
$2.44 CA$3.41
-49.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.55 CA$31.55
$43.32 CA$60.6
-47.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 CA$1.74
$1.19 CA$1.67
4.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9K CA$37.6K
$27.8K CA$38.9K
-3.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.4K CA$29.9K
$21.7K CA$30.4K
-1.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
Burlington
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 CA$174
$144 CA$201
-13.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.05 CA$46.23
$44.16 CA$61.8
-25.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.96 CA$67.1
$67.4 CA$94.3
-28.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
Burlington
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.69 CA$51.3
$43.66 CA$61.1
-15.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.67 CA$33.11
$30.23 CA$42.28
-21.70%
Cinema Ticket
$13.08 CA$18.29
$16.13 CA$22.57
-18.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Toronto
Burlington
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$759 CA$1,061
$902 CA$1,262
-15.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.8K CA$33.3K
$19.0K CA$26.6K
25.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
Burlington
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 CA$74.9
$69.3 CA$96.9
-22.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.44 CA$56.6
$65.5 CA$91.6
-38.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 CA$141
$100 CA$140
0.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 CA$175
$99.8 CA$140
25.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Toronto
Burlington
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,630 CA$2,280
$1,729 CA$2,418
-5.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,416 CA$1,980
$1,480 CA$2,071
-4.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,694 CA$3,768
$2,599 CA$3,635
3.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,101 CA$2,939
$2,176 CA$3,044
-3.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,551 CA$10.6K
$5,270 CA$7,371
43.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,674 CA$9,335
$4,145 CA$5,797
61.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Toronto
Burlington
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,543 CA$4,956
$3,285 CA$4,595
7.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.45
4.52
-1.55%

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

Last update for Toronto: October 26, 2026

Last update for Burlington: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Toronto
$1.4K
Burlington
$1.5K 4.6% $65
Groceries & Markets
Toronto
$345
Burlington
$346 0.4% $1.3
Eating Out
Toronto
$285
Burlington
$300 5.5% $16
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
$206
Burlington
$256 24.3% $50
Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
$144
Burlington
$151 4.7% $6.7
Getting Around
Toronto
$131
Burlington
$128 2.6% $3.5
Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
$63
Burlington
$76 20.8% $13

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,630 in Toronto versus $1,729 in Burlington. 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 8% 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 $78 in Toronto versus $72 in Burlington. Groceries tell a different story – $345 in Toronto vs $346 in Burlington – so Toronto wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Toronto
🇨🇦 Burlington
🕒 Local time
02:48 2:48 AM
02:48 2:48 AM
Same time as Toronto
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,731,571
183,314
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 30, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.715 USD). 1 EUR = 1.56 CAD (1 CAD = 0.642 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Toronto Burlington 49 km
From you
  • Toronto
  • Burlington

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 Burlington: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Toronto cheaper than Burlington?
Yes – Burlington is pricier by about 6%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in utilities.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,883 per month in Toronto and $4,105 in Burlington. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What is the rent difference between Toronto and Burlington?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $1,630 in Toronto and $1,729 in Burlington. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
Is eating out cheaper in Toronto or in Burlington?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $78 in Toronto and $72 in Burlington. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 11% less in Burlington. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Toronto or in Burlington?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,589 in Toronto and $2,737 in Burlington. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Toronto or Burlington 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.

Toronto vs other spots: cost of living compared

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