Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Hay River, NT Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Hay River, NT

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,620 per month in Toronto vs $2,289 in Hay River, NT, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,866 per month in Toronto vs $3,282 in Hay River, NT, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,111 per month in Toronto vs $4,275 in Hay River, NT, rent included.

Toronto costs about 14% more than Hay River, NT, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Toronto and Hay River, NT sit above the global median – Toronto by 90%, Hay River, NT by 66%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.85 CA$24.75

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$86.8 CA$120

$65.9 CA$91.4

31.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.94 CA$15.17

$10.78 CA$14.95

1.48%

Cappuccino

$4.01 CA$5.57

$3.59 CA$4.98

11.70%

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

$2.19 CA$3.04

$1.99 CA$2.76

10.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 CA$2.34

$1.64 CA$2.27

3.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.45 CA$8.94

$5.50 CA$7.63

17.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.05 CA$9.77

$5.84 CA$8.10

20.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.71 CA$3.76

$2.06 CA$2.86

31.55%

White Bread (500g)

$2.92 CA$4.05

$2.65 CA$3.67

10.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.48 CA$3.44

$3.34 CA$4.63

-25.75%

Eggs

$3.85 CA$5.34

$3.40 CA$4.72

13.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.10 CA$14.01

$10.08 CA$13.98

0.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.02 CA$16.66

$11.51 CA$15.97

4.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.61 CA$21.65

$15.16 CA$21.03

2.97%

Apples (1kg)

$3.90 CA$5.41

$3.77 CA$5.23

3.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.24 CA$1.72

$1.36 CA$1.89

-8.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.78 CA$5.24

$3.82 CA$5.30

-1.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.38 CA$6.08

$3.74 CA$5.18

17.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.93 CA$2.67

$2.55 CA$3.53

-24.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 CA$2.08

$2.30 CA$3.19

-34.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 CA$3.17

$2.46 CA$3.42

-7.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 CA$2.02

$1.63 CA$2.26

-10.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.52 CA$20.13

$14.40 CA$19.97

0.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.42 CA$19.99

$12.77 CA$17.71

12.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 CA$3.14

$2.67 CA$3.70

-15.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 CA$3.60

$3.05 CA$4.23

-15.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.36 CA$3.28

$2.29 CA$3.17

3.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$114 CA$159

$63.8 CA$88.5

79.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 CA$4.38

$2.89 CA$4.01

9.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.26 CA$1.74

$1.52 CA$2.11

-17.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.57 CA$31.29

$24.07 CA$33.39

-6.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 CA$1.72

$1.17 CA$1.62

5.98%

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

$27.3K CA$37.9K

$28.2K CA$39.1K

-3.04%

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

$20.7K CA$28.8K

$19.5K CA$27.1K

6.18%

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

$124 CA$172

$139 CA$193

-11.06%

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

$32.72 CA$45.37

$39.18 CA$54.3

-16.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.79 CA$67.7

$56.8 CA$78.7

-14.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.27 CA$55.9

$42.09 CA$58.4

-4.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.84 CA$33.06

$18.56 CA$25.74

28.45%

Cinema Ticket

$12.82 CA$17.77

$11.28 CA$15.64

13.65%

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

$787 CA$1,092

$765 CA$1,060

2.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.5K CA$34.0K

$13.7K CA$18.9K

79.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 CA$75.2

0.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.10 CA$59.8

$38.96 CA$54.0

10.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.9 CA$136

$87.8 CA$122

11.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 CA$175

$101 CA$141

24.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,660 CA$2,302

$1,169 CA$1,621

42.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,483 CA$2,057

$1,173 CA$1,626

26.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,800 CA$3,883

$1,961 CA$2,720

42.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,157 CA$2,991

$1,722 CA$2,388

25.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,381 CA$11.6K

$4,288 CA$5,947

95.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,842 CA$9,488

$3,656 CA$5,070

87.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,799 CA$5,269

$4,281 CA$5,937

-11.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.47

4.68

-4.49%

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

Last update for Toronto: September 6, 2026

Last update for Hay River, NT: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,660 in Toronto versus $1,169 in Hay River, NT. 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 13% higher in Hay River, NT, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $87.0 in Toronto versus $66.0 in Hay River, NT. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $364 vs $355 – making Hay River, NT the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Hay River, NT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Toronto costs about 14% more than Hay River, NT, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,930 per month in Toronto and $3,433 in Hay River, NT. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Hay River, NT, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,620 in Toronto and $2,289 in Hay River, NT. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 79% less in Hay River, NT. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Hay River, NT, where all-in costs run around $2,289, than in Toronto at $2,620. In Hay River, NT it covers expenses comfortably, while in Toronto it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Hay River, NT – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Hay River, NT. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Toronto makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.