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 $2,754 per month in Toronto vs $2,335 in Hay River, NT, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,090 per month in Toronto vs $3,416 in Hay River, NT, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,427 per month in Toronto vs $4,497 in Hay River, NT, rent included.

Toronto costs about 18% more than Hay River, NT, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Toronto and Hay River, NT sit above the global median – Toronto by 105%, Hay River, NT by 74%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Toronto
Hay River, NT
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.93 CA$26.43
$16.82 CA$23.49
12.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.9 CA$114
$69.4 CA$96.9
18.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.13 CA$15.55
$10.82 CA$15.12
2.87%
Cappuccino
$4.00 CA$5.59
$3.74 CA$5.23
6.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 CA$3.05
$1.99 CA$2.78
9.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 CA$2.36
$1.65 CA$2.30
2.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.93 CA$8.28
$5.59 CA$7.81
6.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.58 CA$9.18
$5.82 CA$8.13
13.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Toronto
Hay River, NT
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.83 CA$3.96
$2.11 CA$2.95
34.12%
White Bread (500g)
$2.73 CA$3.81
$2.69 CA$3.76
1.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.65 CA$5.09
$3.68 CA$5.14
-0.82%
Eggs
$3.54 CA$4.94
$3.38 CA$4.72
4.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 CA$18.84
$11.09 CA$15.49
21.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.06 CA$18.24
$11.52 CA$16.09
13.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.51 CA$23.05
$14.82 CA$20.70
11.40%
Apples (1kg)
$3.99 CA$5.57
$4.15 CA$5.80
-3.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 CA$1.64
$1.42 CA$1.98
-16.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.21 CA$4.49
$3.69 CA$5.16
-13.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.04 CA$5.64
$3.74 CA$5.22
8.02%
Potato (1kg)
$2.54 CA$3.55
$2.38 CA$3.32
6.72%
Onion (1kg)
$2.81 CA$3.92
$2.47 CA$3.44
13.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.46 CA$3.43
$2.61 CA$3.64
-5.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 CA$2.68
$1.80 CA$2.51
6.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.85 CA$20.74
$13.97 CA$19.51
6.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.22 CA$19.86
$12.45 CA$17.38
14.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.69 CA$3.76
$2.93 CA$4.09
-8.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 CA$4.57
$3.11 CA$4.34
5.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Toronto
Hay River, NT
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.40 CA$3.35
$2.31 CA$3.22
3.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$113 CA$158
$62.3 CA$87.0
81.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.71 CA$5.18
$3.24 CA$4.52
14.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.41 CA$1.97
$1.50 CA$2.10
-6.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.53 CA$35.65
$25.42 CA$35.49
0.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 CA$1.59
$1.12 CA$1.56
1.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K CA$34.4K
$24.9K CA$34.8K
-1.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.6K CA$30.2K
$20.7K CA$28.9K
4.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
Hay River, NT
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 CA$168
$141 CA$196
-14.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.76 CA$51.3
$43.94 CA$61.4
-16.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.9 CA$76.7
$63.0 CA$88.0
-12.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
Hay River, NT
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.2 CA$79.8
$41.96 CA$58.6
36.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.05 CA$29.40
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.74 CA$16.40
$11.59 CA$16.19
1.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Toronto
Hay River, NT
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,142 CA$1,595
$747 CA$1,043
52.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.0K CA$25.1K
$11.7K CA$16.3K
54.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
Hay River, NT
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7 CA$79.2
$53.4 CA$74.5
6.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.80 CA$55.6
$39.21 CA$54.8
1.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 CA$124
$87.3 CA$122
1.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 CA$162
$105 CA$147
9.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Toronto
Hay River, NT
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,830 CA$2,556
$1,311 CA$1,831
39.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,580 CA$2,207
$1,193 CA$1,666
32.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,989 CA$4,174
$2,006 CA$2,802
48.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,511 CA$3,506
$1,781 CA$2,487
40.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,084 CA$12.7K
$4,961 CA$6,927
83.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,885 CA$9,614
$4,294 CA$5,997
60.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Toronto
Hay River, NT
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,555 CA$4,964
$4,308 CA$6,016
-17.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.16
6.46
-20.12%

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

Last update for Toronto: June 7, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,830 in Toronto versus $1,311 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 21% 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 $82.0 in Toronto versus $69.0 in Hay River, NT. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $394 vs $364 – 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
Which city is more expensive, Toronto or Hay River, NT?
Toronto costs about 18% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Toronto vs Hay River, NT?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,131 per month in Toronto and $3,503 in Hay River, NT. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Toronto or Hay River, NT?
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.
How much does it cost to live in Toronto compared to Hay River, NT?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,754 in Toronto and $2,335 in Hay River, NT. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Toronto vs Hay River, NT?
Public transport costs about 81% less in Hay River, NT. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Toronto or Hay River, NT?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Hay River, NT, where all-in costs run around $2,335, than in Toronto at $2,754. In Hay River, NT it covers expenses comfortably, while in Toronto it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
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.
Should I move to Toronto or Hay River, NT?
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.

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