Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Cuernavaca

For one person, living is cheaper in Cuernavaca: $1,011 a month against $2,561 in Toronto, rent and utilities included – about $18,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Toronto
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,561
/mo nomad
Cuernavaca
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,011
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Toronto and in Cuernavaca

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,561 in Toronto versus $1,011 in Cuernavaca.

  • Toronto $2,561
  • Cuernavaca $1,011

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,694 in Toronto versus $1,692 in Cuernavaca.

  • Toronto $3,694
  • Cuernavaca $1,692

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,826 in Toronto versus $2,373 in Cuernavaca.

  • Toronto $4,826
  • Cuernavaca $2,373

Living in Toronto is roughly 153% more expensive than in Cuernavaca, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Toronto is 90% above, Cuernavaca is 25% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Toronto
Cuernavaca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.18 CA$24.29
$8.05 MX$149
113.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.0 CA$107
$38.27 MX$707
98.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.54 CA$14.89
$7.24 MX$134
45.58%
Cappuccino
$4.02 CA$5.68
$2.43 MX$44.98
65.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 CA$3.00
$1.27 MX$23.43
66.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 CA$2.48
$0.63 MX$11.60
177.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.24 CA$8.83
$2.50 MX$46.29
149.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.09 CA$10.02
$3.26 MX$60.3
117.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Toronto
Cuernavaca
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.44 CA$3.45
$1.70 MX$31.33
43.53%
White Bread (500g)
$2.68 CA$3.78
$2.21 MX$40.92
21.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 CA$3.17
$1.44 MX$26.52
55.56%
Eggs
$3.56 CA$5.03
$1.92 MX$35.49
85.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.09 CA$12.85
$8.08 MX$149
12.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.33 CA$16.01
$4.89 MX$90.4
131.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.53 CA$20.55
$13.78 MX$255
5.44%
Apples (1kg)
$3.62 CA$5.12
$2.23 MX$41.24
62.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.21 CA$1.72
$1.35 MX$25.02
-10.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.60 CA$5.09
$2.17 MX$40.07
65.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.21 CA$5.96
$1.67 MX$30.92
152.10%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 CA$2.53
$1.71 MX$31.62
4.68%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 CA$2.25
$1.74 MX$32.06
-8.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.27 CA$3.21
$1.53 MX$28.25
48.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 CA$1.77
$0.91 MX$16.78
37.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.82 CA$19.53
$4.39 MX$81.2
214.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.27 CA$20.18
$8.15 MX$151
75.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20 CA$3.10
$1.22 MX$22.55
80.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 CA$3.44
$3.32 MX$61.4
-26.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Toronto
Cuernavaca
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.39 CA$3.38
$0.57 MX$10.51
319.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$111 CA$157
$27.69 MX$512
300.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.91 CA$4.12
$1.90 MX$35.20
53.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.20 CA$1.69
$2.63 MX$48.52
-54.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.38 CA$30.23
$10.93 MX$202
95.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 CA$1.71
$1.42 MX$26.26
-14.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K CA$39.8K
$21.0K MX$387.9K
34.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K CA$28.6K
$24.1K MX$444.6K
-15.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
Cuernavaca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 CA$170
$57.3 MX$1,059
110.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.26 CA$45.60
$18.78 MX$347
71.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.93 CA$67.8
$25.19 MX$465
90.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
Cuernavaca
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.48 CA$54.4
$25.75 MX$476
49.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.96 CA$32.46
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.38 CA$17.50
$5.44 MX$100
127.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Toronto
Cuernavaca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$830 CA$1,173
$217 MX$4,018
281.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.1K CA$32.6K
$5,075 MX$93.8K
354.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
Cuernavaca
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.7 CA$71.7
$41.29 MX$763
22.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.02 CA$56.6
$33.18 MX$613
20.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 CA$139
$93.0 MX$1,719
5.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 CA$171
$99.1 MX$1,832
21.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Toronto
Cuernavaca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,592 CA$2,251
$385 MX$7,110
313.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,410 CA$1,994
$332 MX$6,140
324.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,670 CA$3,775
$957 MX$17.7K
179.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,152 CA$3,042
$804 MX$14.9K
167.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,945 CA$11.2K
$870 MX$16.1K
813.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,542 CA$9,249
$606 MX$11.2K
979.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Toronto
Cuernavaca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,727 CA$5,269
$649 MX$12.0K
473.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.47
11.4
-60.79%

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

Last update for Toronto: October 12, 2026

Last update for Cuernavaca: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Toronto
$1.4K
Cuernavaca
$332 76.4% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Toronto
$340
Cuernavaca
$234 31.3% $106
Eating Out
Toronto
$278
Cuernavaca
$142 49% $136
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
$201
Cuernavaca
$101 49.5% $99
Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
$139
Cuernavaca
$120 13.8% $19
Getting Around
Toronto
$129
Cuernavaca
$45 65.2% $84
Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
$63
Cuernavaca
$37 42.1% $27

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,592 in Toronto and $385 in Cuernavaca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Toronto pays 474% 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: $76.0 in Toronto vs $38.00 in Cuernavaca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $340 vs $234 per month, with Cuernavaca cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Toronto
🇲🇽 Cuernavaca
🕒 Local time
07:00 7:00 AM
05:00 5:00 AM
2 h behind Toronto
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,731,571
341,029
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Toronto Cuernavaca 3,320 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Toronto
  • Cuernavaca

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 Cuernavaca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cuernavaca cheaper than Toronto?
Cuernavaca is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 153% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Toronto or Cuernavaca?
Average pay runs 474% higher in Toronto, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Toronto and Cuernavaca?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,592 in Toronto versus $385 in Cuernavaca. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Toronto and in Cuernavaca?
Supermarket bills run roughly 45% higher in Toronto. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Toronto or in Cuernavaca?
Dining out is cheaper in Cuernavaca – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $76.0 in Toronto. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Toronto or in Cuernavaca?
At $1,011 in Cuernavaca versus $2,561 in Toronto, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cuernavaca but tight or insufficient in Toronto. The gap between the two cities makes Cuernavaca the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Toronto or in Cuernavaca?
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.
Which city is safer, Toronto or Cuernavaca?
Safety-wise, Toronto and Cuernavaca are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Cuernavaca gentler on the wallet – expenses run 153% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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