😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,811 in Toronto versus $2,518 in Grimsby.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,130 in Toronto versus $3,499 in Grimsby.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,449 in Toronto versus $4,481 in Grimsby.
😐Living in Toronto is roughly 12% more expensive than Grimsby, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Toronto110% above, Grimsby88% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Toronto
Grimsby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.71CA$25.99
$18.18CA$25.26
2.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.9CA$114
$77.7CA$108
5.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.83CA$15.04
$11.13CA$15.47
-2.70%
Cappuccino
$3.89CA$5.40
$3.60CA$5.00
8.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22CA$3.09
$2.02CA$2.81
9.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65CA$2.29
$1.54CA$2.14
7.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.05CA$8.41
$6.04CA$8.40
0.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.58CA$9.15
$6.76CA$9.40
-2.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Toronto
Grimsby
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.73CA$3.79
$3.03CA$4.20
-9.90%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72CA$3.77
$2.90CA$4.03
-6.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.54CA$4.91
$4.30CA$5.98
-17.67%
Eggs
$3.50CA$4.86
$3.40CA$4.73
2.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.53CA$18.80
$13.48CA$18.73
0.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.09CA$18.19
$9.64CA$13.40
35.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.96CA$23.57
$11.30CA$15.70
50.09%
Apples(1kg)
$4.16CA$5.78
$2.89CA$4.02
43.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.18CA$1.64
$2.06CA$2.86
-42.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.25CA$4.51
$3.58CA$4.98
-9.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.12CA$5.72
$3.55CA$4.93
16.06%
Potato(1kg)
$2.50CA$3.48
$1.87CA$2.60
33.69%
Onion(1kg)
$2.88CA$4.00
$2.88CA$4.00
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.35CA$3.26
$1.67CA$2.33
40.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.00CA$2.78
$2.15CA$2.99
-6.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.58CA$20.26
$13.92CA$19.35
4.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.18CA$19.70
$12.61CA$17.52
12.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.80CA$3.89
$2.20CA$3.06
27.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25CA$4.52
$2.22CA$3.08
46.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Toronto
Grimsby
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.40CA$3.33
$2.39CA$3.32
0.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$114CA$158
$61.8CA$85.9
84.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.76CA$5.22
$3.19CA$4.43
17.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.41CA$1.96
$1.26CA$1.75
11.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.53CA$35.47
$21.75CA$30.22
17.38%
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
$25.0KCA$34.7K
1.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1KCA$29.3K
$21.2KCA$29.5K
-0.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
Grimsby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$120CA$166
$159CA$220
-24.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.54CA$52.2
$53.1CA$73.7
-29.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.5CA$75.7
$70.7CA$98.2
-22.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
Grimsby
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.5CA$77.1
$42.03CA$58.4
32.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.15CA$29.39
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.56CA$16.06
$8.76CA$12.17
31.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Toronto
Grimsby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,129CA$1,569
$727CA$1,009
55.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.0KCA$25.0K
$18.3KCA$25.4K
-1.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
Grimsby
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.9CA$79.1
$72.9CA$101
-21.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.96CA$55.5
$39.83CA$55.3
0.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.7CA$125
$114CA$159
-21.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114CA$159
$111CA$155
2.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Toronto
Grimsby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,849CA$2,570
$1,339CA$1,860
38.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,560CA$2,167
$1,314CA$1,826
18.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,925CA$4,065
$1,892CA$2,629
54.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,470CA$3,432
$1,824CA$2,534
35.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,085CA$12.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$7,036CA$9,775
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Toronto
Grimsby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,572CA$4,963
$4,395CA$6,107
-18.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.16
6.4
-19.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Toronto: May 31, 2026
Last update for Grimsby: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,849 in Toronto and $1,339 in Grimsby. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Grimsby pays 23% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $82.0 in Toronto vs $78.0 in Grimsby for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $396 vs $356 per month, with Grimsby cheaper across the board.
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 Grimsby: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Toronto and Grimsby?
Toronto and Grimsby differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($2,811 vs $2,518 including rent). Grimsby is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Grimsby earns 23% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Toronto and Grimsby?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,849 in Toronto versus $1,339 in Grimsby. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Grimsby – a meal for two runs $78.0 versus $82.0 in Toronto. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Toronto or Grimsby?
All in, you'll spend $2,811 per month in Toronto versus $2,518 in Grimsby – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,518 in Grimsby versus $2,811 in Toronto, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Grimsby but tight or insufficient in Toronto. The gap between the two cities makes Grimsby the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Toronto and Grimsby?
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.
Where should expats move: Toronto or Grimsby?
Expats usually find Grimsby gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.