😐A single person spends $2,811 per month in Toronto vs $2,383 in Creston, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,130 per month in Toronto vs $3,385 in Creston, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,449 per month in Toronto vs $4,387 in Creston, rent included.
😐Toronto costs about 18% more than Creston, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Toronto and Creston sit above the global median – Toronto by 110%, Creston by 78%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Toronto
Creston
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.71CA$26.02
$17.04CA$23.70
9.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.9CA$114
$68.9CA$95.8
18.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.83CA$15.06
$11.09CA$15.42
-2.34%
Cappuccino
$3.89CA$5.41
$3.06CA$4.25
27.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22CA$3.09
$1.99CA$2.76
11.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65CA$2.29
$1.71CA$2.38
-3.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.05CA$8.41
$5.63CA$7.82
7.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.58CA$9.15
$5.74CA$7.98
14.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Toronto
Creston
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.73CA$3.79
$2.19CA$3.04
24.66%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72CA$3.78
$3.65CA$5.08
-25.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.54CA$4.92
$3.57CA$4.97
-0.84%
Eggs
$3.50CA$4.87
$3.45CA$4.79
1.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.53CA$18.81
$11.09CA$15.43
22.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.09CA$18.20
$11.92CA$16.58
9.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.96CA$23.59
$14.95CA$20.79
13.44%
Apples(1kg)
$4.16CA$5.79
$3.95CA$5.49
5.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.18CA$1.64
$1.36CA$1.89
-13.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.25CA$4.52
$3.73CA$5.19
-12.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.12CA$5.73
$3.80CA$5.29
8.42%
Potato(1kg)
$2.50CA$3.48
$2.48CA$3.45
0.81%
Onion(1kg)
$2.88CA$4.00
$2.50CA$3.48
15.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.35CA$3.27
$2.52CA$3.51
-6.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.00CA$2.78
$1.72CA$2.39
16.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.58CA$20.28
$13.96CA$19.41
4.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.18CA$19.71
$13.20CA$18.36
7.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.80CA$3.89
$2.92CA$4.06
-4.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25CA$4.53
$3.14CA$4.36
3.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Toronto
Creston
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.40CA$3.34
$2.43CA$3.38
-1.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$114CA$159
$64.0CA$89.0
78.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.76CA$5.22
$3.19CA$4.44
17.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.41CA$1.96
$1.50CA$2.09
-6.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.53CA$35.50
$25.90CA$36.02
-1.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.10CA$1.53
$1.15CA$1.60
-4.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2KCA$35.1K
$24.7KCA$34.4K
2.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1KCA$29.3K
$20.6KCA$28.7K
2.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
Creston
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$120CA$166
$142CA$197
-15.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.54CA$52.2
$43.45CA$60.4
-13.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.5CA$75.8
$63.3CA$88.1
-13.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
Creston
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.5CA$77.2
$42.57CA$59.2
30.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.15CA$29.41
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.56CA$16.07
$13.39CA$18.62
-13.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Toronto
Creston
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,129CA$1,571
$725CA$1,008
55.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.0KCA$25.0K
$11.8KCA$16.5K
51.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
Creston
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.9CA$79.2
$53.4CA$74.3
6.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.96CA$55.6
$40.38CA$56.2
-1.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.7CA$125
$108CA$150
-16.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114CA$159
$106CA$147
8.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Toronto
Creston
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,849CA$2,572
$1,299CA$1,806
42.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,560CA$2,169
$1,189CA$1,654
31.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,925CA$4,068
$2,055CA$2,858
42.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,470CA$3,435
$1,811CA$2,518
36.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,085CA$12.6K
$4,760CA$6,619
90.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$7,036CA$9,785
$3,840CA$5,340
83.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Toronto
Creston
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,572CA$4,967
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.16
6.46
-20.12%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Toronto: May 31, 2026
Last update for Creston: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,849 in Toronto versus $1,299 in Creston. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $82.0 in Toronto versus $69.0 in Creston. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $396 vs $377 – making Creston the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Creston: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Creston cheaper than Toronto?
Yes – Toronto is pricier by about 18%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,216 per month in Toronto and $3,574 in Creston. 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 Creston, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Toronto vs Creston?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,811 in Toronto and $2,383 in Creston. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 78% less in Creston. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Toronto or Creston?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Creston, where all-in costs run around $2,383, than in Toronto at $2,811. In Creston it covers expenses comfortably, while in Toronto it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Toronto or Creston more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Creston – 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 Creston. 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.