Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Hamilton

For one person, living is cheaper in Toronto: $2,530 a month against $5,131 in Hamilton, rent and utilities included – about $31,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Toronto
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,530
/mo nomad
Hamilton
🇧🇲 Bermuda
$5,131
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Toronto and in Hamilton

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

A single person spends $2,530 per month in Toronto vs $5,131 in Hamilton, rent included.

  • Toronto $2,530
  • Hamilton $5,131

A couple spends around $3,646 per month in Toronto vs $9,033 in Hamilton, rent included.

  • Toronto $3,646
  • Hamilton $9,033

A family of three spends $4,761 per month in Toronto vs $12.9K in Hamilton, rent included.

  • Toronto $4,761
  • Hamilton $12.9K

Toronto is about 51% cheaper than Hamilton, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Toronto and Hamilton sit above the global median – Toronto by 89%, Hamilton by 283%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Toronto
Hamilton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.67 CA$25.19
$49.07 BMD 49.07
-63.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.4 CA$110
$153 BMD 153
-49.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.47 CA$14.93
$17.07 BMD 17.07
-38.66%
Cappuccino
$4.08 CA$5.81
$6.34 BMD 6.34
-35.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 CA$3.02
$2.98 BMD 2.98
-28.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 CA$2.51
$3.17 BMD 3.17
-44.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.17 CA$8.80
$7.43 BMD 7.43
-16.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.89 CA$9.82
$9.07 BMD 9.07
-24.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Toronto
Hamilton
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.43 CA$3.46
$4.79 BMD 4.79
-49.27%
White Bread (500g)
$2.75 CA$3.92
$8.18 BMD 8.18
-66.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.23 CA$3.18
$5.45 BMD 5.45
-59.08%
Eggs
$3.45 CA$4.91
$7.23 BMD 7.23
-52.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.93 CA$12.73
$23.76 BMD 23.76
-62.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.44 CA$16.31
$21.05 BMD 21.05
-45.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.61 CA$20.83
$19.59 BMD 19.59
-25.42%
Apples (1kg)
$3.75 CA$5.34
$8.86 BMD 8.86
-57.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.15 CA$1.64
$6.75 BMD 6.75
-82.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.55 CA$5.06
$7.34 BMD 7.34
-51.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.28 CA$6.10
$8.53 BMD 8.53
-49.82%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 CA$2.63
$5.57 BMD 5.57
-66.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.67 CA$2.38
$4.11 BMD 4.11
-59.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.22 CA$3.16
$6.33 BMD 6.33
-64.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 CA$1.72
$3.43 BMD 3.43
-64.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.88 CA$19.78
$17.91 BMD 17.91
-22.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.25 CA$20.31
$24.06 BMD 24.06
-40.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20 CA$3.13
$5.18 BMD 5.18
-57.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 CA$3.45
$4.31 BMD 4.31
-43.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Toronto
Hamilton
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.42 CA$3.44
$5.14 BMD 5.14
-52.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$111 CA$158
$69.1 BMD 69.1
60.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.90 CA$4.13
$6.39 BMD 6.39
-54.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.26 CA$1.80
$2.91 BMD 2.91
-56.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.03 CA$31.40
$70.7 BMD 70.7
-68.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 CA$1.74
$2.36 BMD 2.36
-48.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6K CA$39.4K
$38.2K BMD 38.2K
-27.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K CA$28.3K
$43.3K BMD 43.3K
-54.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
Hamilton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 CA$174
$293 BMD 293
-58.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.03 CA$45.66
$151 BMD 151
-78.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.92 CA$68.3
$163 BMD 163
-70.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
Hamilton
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.90 CA$55.5
$189 BMD 189
-79.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.24 CA$33.12
$14.76 BMD 14.76
57.45%
Cinema Ticket
$12.61 CA$17.97
$13.58 BMD 13.58
-7.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Toronto
Hamilton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$834 CA$1,189
$1,307 BMD 1,307
-36.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.3K CA$33.3K
$25.3K BMD 25.3K
-7.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
Hamilton
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.6 CA$75.0
$90.1 BMD 90.1
-41.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.26 CA$57.4
$70.1 BMD 70.1
-42.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.2 CA$137
$140 BMD 140
-31.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 CA$175
$130 BMD 130
-5.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Toronto
Hamilton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,598 CA$2,278
$3,943 BMD 3,943
-59.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,435 CA$2,045
$2,641 BMD 2,641
-45.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,657 CA$3,787
$8,560 BMD 8,560
-68.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,096 CA$2,988
$7,447 BMD 7,447
-71.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,033 CA$11.5K
$15.1K BMD 15.1K
-46.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,557 CA$9,347
$8,947 BMD 8,947
-26.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Toronto
Hamilton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,743 CA$5,335
$6,487 BMD 6,487
-42.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.47
8.63
-48.20%

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

Last update for Toronto: October 4, 2026

Last update for Hamilton: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Toronto
$1.4K
Hamilton
$2.6K 84.1% $1.2K
Groceries & Markets
Toronto
$340
Hamilton
$747 120% $406
Eating Out
Toronto
$282
Hamilton
$600 113% $318
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
$202
Hamilton
$607 201% $405
Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
$140
Hamilton
$194 37.9% $53
Getting Around
Toronto
$130
Hamilton
$111 14.6% $19
Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
$64
Hamilton
$216 237% $152

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,598 in Toronto versus $3,943 in Hamilton. 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 73% higher in Hamilton, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $77.0 in Toronto versus $153 in Hamilton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $340 vs $747 – making Toronto the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Toronto
🇧🇲 Hamilton
🕒 Local time
04:23 4:23 AM
05:23 5:23 AM
1 h ahead of Toronto
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,731,571
10,000 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BMD, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 CAD (1 CAD = 0.702 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.626 EUR).

Bermudian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1 BMD (1 BMD = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 BMD (1 BMD = 0.892 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Toronto Hamilton 1,790 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Toronto
  • Hamilton

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 Hamilton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Toronto and in Hamilton compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,530 in Toronto, $5,131 in Hamilton – roughly 103% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Toronto compared to Hamilton?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,795 per month in Toronto and $7,696 in Hamilton. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Toronto and Hamilton?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Toronto, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $77.0 in Toronto and $153 in Hamilton. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Toronto or Hamilton?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,530 in Toronto and $5,131 in Hamilton. That's a gap of about 103%.
Which city is feasible on a $2,500 budget?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,530 in Toronto and $5,131 in Hamilton. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
How does quality of life compare between Toronto and Hamilton?
It depends on your priorities. Hamilton has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,530 in Toronto to $5,131 in Hamilton. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Toronto or Hamilton safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Toronto and Hamilton?
If budget matters most, go with Toronto. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hamilton makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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