Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Hikkaduwa

For one person, living is cheaper in Hikkaduwa: $509 a month against $2,561 in Toronto, rent and utilities included – about $24,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Toronto
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,561
/mo nomad
Hikkaduwa
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
$509
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Toronto and in Hikkaduwa

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,561 in Toronto versus $509 in Hikkaduwa.

  • Toronto $2,561
  • Hikkaduwa $509

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,694 in Toronto versus $826 in Hikkaduwa.

  • Toronto $3,694
  • Hikkaduwa $826

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,826 in Toronto versus $1,144 in Hikkaduwa.

  • Toronto $4,826
  • Hikkaduwa $1,144

Living in Toronto is roughly 403% more expensive than in Hikkaduwa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Toronto is 90% above, Hikkaduwa is 62% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Toronto
Hikkaduwa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.18 CA$24.38
$4.45 LKR 1,475
286.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.0 CA$108
$24.59 LKR 8,144
208.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.54 CA$14.95
$7.57 LKR 2,507
39.23%
Cappuccino
$4.02 CA$5.71
$2.50 LKR 827
60.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 CA$3.01
$0.72 LKR 238
194.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 CA$2.49
$0.27 LKR 90.1
548.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.24 CA$8.86
$2.16 LKR 716
188.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.09 CA$10.06
$3.01 LKR 998
135.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Toronto
Hikkaduwa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.44 CA$3.46
$1.57 LKR 520
55.41%
White Bread (500g)
$2.68 CA$3.80
$0.53 LKR 175
405.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 CA$3.18
$0.80 LKR 266
180.00%
Eggs
$3.56 CA$5.05
$1.60 LKR 530
122.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.09 CA$12.90
$14.00 LKR 4,636
-35.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.33 CA$16.08
$4.88 LKR 1,618
132.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.53 CA$20.63
$7.26 LKR 2,405
100.14%
Apples (1kg)
$3.62 CA$5.14
$6.84 LKR 2,265
-47.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.21 CA$1.72
$0.85 LKR 281
42.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.60 CA$5.11
$4.46 LKR 1,478
-19.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.21 CA$5.98
$1.23 LKR 406
242.28%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 CA$2.54
$1.02 LKR 339
75.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 CA$2.25
$0.82 LKR 270
93.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.27 CA$3.22
$0.92 LKR 306
146.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 CA$1.78
$0.44 LKR 145
184.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.82 CA$19.61
$10.32 LKR 3,418
33.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.27 CA$20.26
$13.70 LKR 4,536
4.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20 CA$3.12
$1.89 LKR 625
16.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 CA$3.45
$3.01 LKR 998
-19.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Toronto
Hikkaduwa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.39 CA$3.40
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$111 CA$157
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.91 CA$4.14
$0.38 LKR 126
665.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.20 CA$1.70
$0.37 LKR 123
224.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.38 CA$30.35
$0.88 LKR 293
2329.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 CA$1.72
$1.33 LKR 441
-9.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K CA$40.0K
$37.8K LKR 12.5M
-25.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K CA$28.8K
$40.9K LKR 13.5M
-50.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
Hikkaduwa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 CA$171
$54.8 LKR 18.2K
119.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.26 CA$45.78
$4.14 LKR 1,371
679.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.93 CA$68.0
$21.01 LKR 6,959
128.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
Hikkaduwa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.48 CA$54.6
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.96 CA$32.59
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.38 CA$17.57
$4.45 LKR 1,474
178.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Toronto
Hikkaduwa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$830 CA$1,178
$37.63 LKR 12.5K
2105.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.1K CA$32.8K
$1,227 LKR 406.4K
1781.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
Hikkaduwa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.7 CA$72.0
$18.35 LKR 6,077
176.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.02 CA$56.8
$16.80 LKR 5,564
138.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 CA$139
$77.6 LKR 25.7K
26.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 CA$171
$42.92 LKR 14.2K
181.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Toronto
Hikkaduwa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,592 CA$2,260
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,410 CA$2,002
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,670 CA$3,790
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,152 CA$3,054
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,945 CA$11.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,542 CA$9,286
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Toronto
Hikkaduwa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,727 CA$5,290
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.47
12.69
-64.78%

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

Last update for Toronto: October 12, 2026

Last update for Hikkaduwa: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Toronto
$1.4K
Hikkaduwa
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Toronto
$340
Hikkaduwa
$239 29.8% $101
Eating Out
Toronto
$278
Hikkaduwa
$109 60.8% $169
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
$201
Hikkaduwa
$80 60.1% $121
Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
$139
Hikkaduwa
$70 49.7% $69
Getting Around
Toronto
$129
Hikkaduwa
$2.2 * 98.3% $127
Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
$63
Hikkaduwa
$8.9 * 85.9% $54

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $76.0 in Toronto vs $25.00 in Hikkaduwa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $340 vs $239 per month, with Hikkaduwa cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Toronto
🇱🇰 Hikkaduwa
🕒 Local time
07:58 7:58 AM
17:28 5:28 PM
9 h 30 min ahead of Toronto
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,731,571
101,342
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

LKR, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 16, 2026: 1 USD = 1.42 CAD (1 CAD = 0.705 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.628 EUR).

Sri Lankan Rupee exchange rates as of October 16, 2026: 1 USD = 331 LKR (1,000 LKR = 3.02 USD). 1 EUR = 371 LKR (1,000 LKR = 2.69 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Toronto Hikkaduwa 14,110 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Toronto
  • Hikkaduwa

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 Hikkaduwa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hikkaduwa cheaper than Toronto?
Hikkaduwa is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 403% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,841 in Toronto and $763 in Hikkaduwa to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do food prices compare in Toronto and in Hikkaduwa?
Supermarket bills run roughly 42% higher in Toronto. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Toronto and in Hikkaduwa?
All in, you'll spend $2,561 per month in Toronto versus $509 in Hikkaduwa – a 403% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Toronto or in Hikkaduwa?
At $509 in Hikkaduwa versus $2,561 in Toronto, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Hikkaduwa but tight or insufficient in Toronto. The gap between the two cities makes Hikkaduwa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Toronto or in Hikkaduwa?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Hikkaduwa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 403% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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