Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Des Moines, IA

For one person, living is cheaper in Des Moines, IA: $2,171 a month against $2,610 in Toronto, rent and utilities included – about $5,300 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Toronto outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

126

Cost of Living Index in Toronto
Learn more

Toronto Living Index
105

Cost of Living Index in Des Moines, IA
Learn more

Des Moines, IA Living Index

Jump to prices

Toronto

🇨🇦 Canada

$2,610

/mo nomad

Des Moines, IA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,171

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Toronto and in Des Moines, IA

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 Des Moines, IA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,610 in Toronto versus $2,171 in Des Moines, IA.

Toronto $2,610
Des Moines, IA $2,171

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,727 in Toronto versus $3,236 in Des Moines, IA.

Toronto $3,727
Des Moines, IA $3,236

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,844 in Toronto versus $4,301 in Des Moines, IA.

Toronto $4,844
Des Moines, IA $4,301

Living in Toronto is roughly 20% more expensive than in Des Moines, IA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Toronto 93% above, Des Moines, IA 60% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.59 CA$24.87

$19.69 $19.69

-10.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.8 CA$111

$80.8 $80.8

-2.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.73 CA$15.16

$12.22 $12.22

-12.19%

Cappuccino

$4.09 CA$5.78

$6.16 $6.16

-33.60%

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

$2.10 CA$2.97

$2.93 $2.93

-28.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 CA$2.43

$2.56 $2.56

-32.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.36 CA$8.99

$4.99 $4.99

27.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.08 CA$10.01

$5.89 $5.89

20.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.54 CA$3.59

$0.91 $0.91

179.12%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 CA$3.85

$3.03 $3.03

-10.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 CA$3.09

$3.38 $3.38

-35.50%

Eggs

$3.63 CA$5.13

$4.00 $4.00

-9.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.46 CA$13.37

$9.69 $9.69

-2.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.54 CA$16.32

$9.91 $9.91

16.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.37 CA$20.32

$13.68 $13.68

5.04%

Apples (1kg)

$3.70 CA$5.23

$4.33 $4.33

-14.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 CA$1.68

$1.51 $1.51

-21.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.46 CA$4.90

$4.54 $4.54

-23.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.22 CA$5.97

$3.68 $3.68

14.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 CA$2.52

$3.07 $3.07

-41.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.65 CA$2.33

$2.14 $2.14

-22.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 CA$3.11

$2.38 $2.38

-7.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 CA$1.78

$2.19 $2.19

-42.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.97 CA$19.75

$7.85 $7.85

77.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.20 CA$20.07

$14.79 $14.79

-3.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 CA$3.18

$1.70 $1.70

32.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 CA$3.58

$3.09 $3.09

-18.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.32 CA$3.28

$1.73 $1.73

34.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$112 CA$158

$58.1 $58.1

92.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.06 CA$4.33

$1.97 $1.97

55.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.22 CA$1.72

$1.23 $1.23

-0.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.69 CA$30.66

$19.70 $19.70

10.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 CA$1.72

$0.93 $0.93

30.11%

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

$26.1K CA$37.0K

$27.2K $27.2K

-3.81%

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

$21.1K CA$29.9K

$25.1K $25.1K

-16.00%

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

$120 CA$169

$185 $185

-35.20%

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

$32.21 CA$45.54

$53.6 $53.6

-39.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.88 CA$69.1

$70.2 $70.2

-30.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.34 CA$55.6

$63.8 $63.8

-38.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.58 CA$33.34

$20.14 $20.14

17.08%

Cinema Ticket

$12.58 CA$17.79

$9.99 $9.99

25.93%

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

$832 CA$1,176

$1,187 $1,187

-29.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K CA$33.4K

$12.0K $12.0K

97.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.3 CA$73.9

$59.5 $59.5

-12.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.44 CA$55.8

$42.98 $42.98

-8.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.0 CA$140

$101 $101

-1.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 CA$172

$145 $145

-15.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,631 CA$2,306

$1,177 $1,177

38.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,448 CA$2,048

$872 $872

66.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,737 CA$3,869

$1,738 $1,738

57.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,129 CA$3,010

$1,394 $1,394

52.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,206 CA$11.6K

$2,320 $2,320

253.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,838 CA$9,666

$2,325 $2,325

194.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,520 CA$4,976

$3,647 $3,647

-3.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.47

6.56

-31.86%

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

Last update for Toronto: October 18, 2026

Last update for Des Moines, IA: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Toronto

$1.4K 55.5%

Des Moines, IA

$872 40.2% 39.8% $576

Groceries & Markets

Toronto

$343 13.1%

Des Moines, IA

$349 16.1% 1.9% $6.5

Eating Out

Toronto

$283 10.9%

Des Moines, IA

$327 15.1% 15.4% $44

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Toronto

$201 7.7%

Des Moines, IA

$308 14.2% 53.6% $108

Clothing & Footwear

Toronto

$141 5.4%

Des Moines, IA

$157 7.2% 11.5% $16

Getting Around

Toronto

$130 5%

Des Moines, IA

$73 3.4% 43.8% $57

Sport & Entertainment

Toronto

$65 2.5%

Des Moines, IA

$84 3.9% 29.8% $19

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,631 in Toronto and $1,177 in Des Moines, IA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Des Moines, IA pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $79.0 in Toronto vs $81.0 in Des Moines, IA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $343 vs $349 per month, with Toronto cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇨🇦 Toronto

🇺🇸 Des Moines, IA

🕒 Local time

06:56 6:56 AM

05:56 5:56 AM

1 h behind Toronto

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,731,571

214,133

💱 Currency

Canadian Dollar CAD $

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 CAD = 0.707 USD

1 CAD = 0.629 EUR

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇨🇦 Canadian Dollar ($)

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

USD to CAD in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Toronto Des Moines, IA 1,220 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Toronto
Des Moines, IA

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 Des Moines, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Des Moines, IA wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Toronto. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Des Moines, IA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 4% lower in Des Moines, IA. 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: $1,631 in Toronto versus $1,177 in Des Moines, IA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Des Moines, IA – a meal for two runs $81.0 versus $79.0 in Toronto. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,610 per month in Toronto versus $2,171 in Des Moines, IA – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,171 in Des Moines, IA versus $2,610 in Toronto, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Des Moines, IA but tight or insufficient in Toronto. The gap between the two cities makes Des Moines, IA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Toronto and Des Moines, IA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Des Moines, IA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.