Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Duncan BC Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Duncan BC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,668 in Toronto versus $2,184 in Duncan BC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,801 in Toronto versus $3,477 in Duncan BC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,934 in Toronto versus $4,770 in Duncan BC.

Living in Toronto is roughly 22% more expensive than in Duncan BC, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Toronto 95% above, Duncan BC 60% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.31 CA$25.62

$18.34 CA$25.65

-0.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.4 CA$112

$71.7 CA$100

12.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.61 CA$14.84

$11.00 CA$15.38

-3.55%

Cappuccino

$3.99 CA$5.58

$4.04 CA$5.65

-1.24%

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

$2.16 CA$3.02

$2.19 CA$3.06

-1.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 CA$2.46

$1.74 CA$2.43

1.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.65 CA$9.30

$5.30 CA$7.42

25.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.20 CA$10.07

$5.84 CA$8.17

23.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.84 CA$3.97

$1.63 CA$2.29

74.23%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 CA$3.85

$2.65 CA$3.71

3.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.51 CA$3.50

$4.45 CA$6.22

-43.60%

Eggs

$3.83 CA$5.35

$4.01 CA$5.61

-4.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.01 CA$14.00

$11.67 CA$16.32

-14.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.96 CA$16.72

$13.76 CA$19.24

-13.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.63 CA$21.87

$14.54 CA$20.33

7.50%

Apples (1kg)

$3.67 CA$5.14

$4.40 CA$6.15

-16.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 CA$1.78

$1.34 CA$1.87

-5.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.87 CA$5.41

$3.94 CA$5.51

-1.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.23 CA$5.91

$4.00 CA$5.60

5.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 CA$2.60

$2.84 CA$3.97

-34.51%

Onion (1kg)

$1.53 CA$2.14

$2.98 CA$4.17

-48.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 CA$3.22

$2.66 CA$3.72

-13.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 CA$2.01

$1.65 CA$2.31

-12.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.12 CA$19.74

$14.17 CA$19.82

-0.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.53 CA$20.33

$12.00 CA$16.78

21.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 CA$3.11

$2.72 CA$3.81

-18.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 CA$3.56

$2.95 CA$4.13

-13.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 CA$3.46

$2.04 CA$2.85

21.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$113 CA$158

$74.7 CA$105

50.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.10 CA$4.33

$2.75 CA$3.84

12.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.28 CA$1.78

$1.60 CA$2.24

-20.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.87 CA$30.59

$32.57 CA$45.55

-32.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 CA$1.72

$1.27 CA$1.77

-3.15%

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

$27.2K CA$38.1K

$26.6K CA$37.2K

2.36%

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

$20.3K CA$28.4K

$19.5K CA$27.3K

4.10%

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

$122 CA$171

$77.8 CA$109

57.50%

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

$33.21 CA$46.45

$35.64 CA$49.86

-6.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.37 CA$69.1

$50.2 CA$70.2

-1.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.05 CA$56.0

$62.1 CA$86.9

-35.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.78 CA$33.26

Cinema Ticket

$12.70 CA$17.76

$11.68 CA$16.33

8.73%

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

$772 CA$1,080

$1,064 CA$1,489

-27.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.8K CA$33.3K

$10.1K CA$14.2K

135.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 CA$74.7

$57.2 CA$79.9

-6.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.13 CA$58.9

$34.66 CA$48.48

21.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.7 CA$139

$86.9 CA$122

14.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 CA$172

$92.2 CA$129

33.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,597 CA$2,234

$1,250 CA$1,748

27.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,439 CA$2,013

$1,060 CA$1,483

35.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,738 CA$3,829

$2,294 CA$3,208

19.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,163 CA$3,026

$2,166 CA$3,029

-0.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,246 CA$11.5K

$4,425 CA$6,190

86.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,695 CA$9,365

$3,642 CA$5,094

83.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,830 CA$5,357

$3,112 CA$4,353

23.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.47

4.21

6.18%

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

Last update for Toronto: September 12, 2026

Last update for Duncan BC: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,597 in Toronto and $1,250 in Duncan BC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Toronto pays 23% 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: $80.0 in Toronto vs $72.0 in Duncan BC. Groceries flip the comparison at $361 vs $378, with Toronto cheaper for home cooking.

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 Duncan BC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Duncan BC is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 23% higher in Toronto, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,597 in Toronto versus $1,250 in Duncan BC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Toronto pay roughly 5% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Duncan BC – a meal for two runs $72.0 versus $80.0 in Toronto. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,184 in Duncan BC versus $2,668 in Toronto, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Duncan BC but tight or insufficient in Toronto. The gap between the two cities makes Duncan BC 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.

Expats usually find Duncan BC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.