Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Gatineau

For one person, living is cheaper in Gatineau: $2,132 a month against $2,589 in Toronto, rent and utilities included – about $5,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Toronto, Canada
Gatineau, Canada
Toronto
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,589
/mo nomad
Gatineau
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,132
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Toronto and in Gatineau

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

A single person spends $2,589 per month in Toronto vs $2,132 in Gatineau, rent included.

  • Toronto $2,589
  • Gatineau $2,132

A couple spends around $3,710 per month in Toronto vs $3,159 in Gatineau, rent included.

  • Toronto $3,710
  • Gatineau $3,159

A family of three spends $4,831 per month in Toronto vs $4,186 in Gatineau, rent included.

  • Toronto $4,831
  • Gatineau $4,186

Toronto costs about 21% more than Gatineau, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Toronto and Gatineau sit above the global median – Toronto by 90%, Gatineau by 57%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Toronto
Gatineau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.60 CA$24.62
$13.03 CA$18.22
35.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.8 CA$109
$86.5 CA$121
-10.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.59 CA$14.81
$10.82 CA$15.14
-2.13%
Cappuccino
$4.16 CA$5.82
$3.17 CA$4.44
31.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 CA$2.86
$1.37 CA$1.92
48.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 CA$2.45
$1.32 CA$1.85
32.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.58 CA$9.20
$4.41 CA$6.16
49.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.11 CA$9.95
$6.45 CA$9.03
10.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Toronto
Gatineau
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.53 CA$3.55
$1.91 CA$2.67
32.46%
White Bread (500g)
$2.70 CA$3.78
$2.99 CA$4.18
-9.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 CA$3.13
$5.16 CA$7.21
-56.59%
Eggs
$3.48 CA$4.87
$3.21 CA$4.49
8.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.38 CA$13.11
$11.63 CA$16.27
-19.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.60 CA$16.22
$9.99 CA$13.97
16.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.68 CA$20.54
$11.08 CA$15.50
32.49%
Apples (1kg)
$3.74 CA$5.24
$3.97 CA$5.56
-5.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 CA$1.71
$1.93 CA$2.70
-36.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.48 CA$4.87
$4.72 CA$6.60
-26.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.32 CA$6.05
$4.52 CA$6.33
-4.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 CA$2.59
$2.10 CA$2.93
-11.90%
Onion (1kg)
$1.69 CA$2.36
$2.47 CA$3.45
-31.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.23 CA$3.12
$2.08 CA$2.91
7.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 CA$1.79
$2.68 CA$3.75
-52.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.04 CA$19.64
$11.94 CA$16.70
17.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.43 CA$20.18
$12.40 CA$17.34
16.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.16 CA$3.02
$2.92 CA$4.09
-26.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 CA$3.53
$3.37 CA$4.71
-25.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Toronto
Gatineau
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 CA$3.31
$3.28 CA$4.59
-27.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$112 CA$157
$80.3 CA$112
39.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.04 CA$4.26
$4.91 CA$6.87
-38.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.24 CA$1.73
$2.28 CA$3.19
-45.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.55 CA$31.55
$33.31 CA$46.59
-32.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 CA$1.74
$1.24 CA$1.73
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9K CA$37.6K
$27.7K CA$38.8K
-2.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.4K CA$29.9K
$20.9K CA$29.3K
2.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
Gatineau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 CA$174
$116 CA$162
7.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.05 CA$46.23
$36.45 CA$51.0
-9.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.96 CA$67.1
$49.10 CA$68.7
-2.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
Gatineau
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.69 CA$51.3
$46.92 CA$65.6
-21.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.67 CA$33.11
$29.37 CA$41.08
-19.41%
Cinema Ticket
$13.08 CA$18.29
$10.78 CA$15.08
21.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Toronto
Gatineau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$759 CA$1,061
$552 CA$772
37.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.8K CA$33.3K
$137.5K CA$192.3K
-82.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
Gatineau
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 CA$74.9
$69.9 CA$97.8
-23.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.44 CA$56.6
$43.48 CA$60.8
-6.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 CA$141
$88.8 CA$124
13.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 CA$175
$120 CA$168
4.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Toronto
Gatineau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,630 CA$2,280
$1,287 CA$1,801
26.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,416 CA$1,980
$1,016 CA$1,421
39.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,694 CA$3,768
$1,933 CA$2,703
39.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,101 CA$2,939
$1,524 CA$2,131
37.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,551 CA$10.6K
$5,162 CA$7,221
46.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,674 CA$9,335
$6,163 CA$8,620
8.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Toronto
Gatineau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,543 CA$4,956
$2,656 CA$3,715
33.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.45
4.64
-4.09%

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

Last update for Toronto: October 26, 2026

Last update for Gatineau: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Toronto
$1.4K
Gatineau
$1K 28.2% $400
Groceries & Markets
Toronto
$345
Gatineau
$371 7.7% $26
Eating Out
Toronto
$285
Gatineau
$220 22.6% $64
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
$206
Gatineau
$202 2% $4.1
Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
$144
Gatineau
$145 0.8% $1.1
Getting Around
Toronto
$131
Gatineau
$110 16.3% $21
Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
$63
Gatineau
$68 9% $5.6

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,630 in Toronto versus $1,287 in Gatineau. 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 33% higher in Toronto. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $78 in Toronto versus $87 in Gatineau. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $345 vs $371 – making Toronto the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Toronto
🇨🇦 Gatineau
🕒 Local time
01:52 1:52 AM
01:52 1:52 AM
Same time as Toronto
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,731,571
291,041
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 29, 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 Gatineau 350 km
From you
  • Toronto
  • Gatineau

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 Gatineau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Toronto or Gatineau?
Toronto costs about 21% more than Gatineau, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Toronto and in Gatineau?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,883 per month in Toronto and $3,199 in Gatineau. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Toronto or Gatineau?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Gatineau, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,287 there versus $1,630 in Toronto.
How much does it cost to live in Toronto compared to Gatineau?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,589 in Toronto and $2,132 in Gatineau. That makes Gatineau about 18% cheaper.
How expensive is transport in Toronto compared to Gatineau?
Public transport costs about 29% less in Gatineau. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Toronto or in Gatineau?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,589 in Toronto and $2,132 in Gatineau. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Gatineau – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Toronto or to Gatineau?
If budget matters most, go with Gatineau. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Toronto makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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