Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Iqaluit, NU Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Iqaluit, NU

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,811 in Toronto versus $3,053 in Iqaluit, NU.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,130 in Toronto versus $4,047 in Iqaluit, NU.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,449 in Toronto versus $5,042 in Iqaluit, NU.

Living in Toronto costs roughly 8% less than in Iqaluit, NU, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Toronto 110% above, Iqaluit, NU 128% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.71 CA$25.90

$31.29 CA$43.33

-40.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.9 CA$113

$65.7 CA$91.0

24.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.83 CA$14.99

$12.97 CA$17.96

-16.50%

Cappuccino

$3.89 CA$5.38

$6.69 CA$9.26

-41.85%

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

$2.22 CA$3.07

$3.99 CA$5.53

-44.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 CA$2.28

$1.68 CA$2.33

-1.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 CA$8.38

$6.89 CA$9.53

-12.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.58 CA$9.11

$5.99 CA$8.30

9.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.73 CA$3.77

$2.44 CA$3.37

11.89%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 CA$3.76

$2.69 CA$3.72

1.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.54 CA$4.90

$3.00 CA$4.16

18.00%

Eggs

$3.50 CA$4.84

$4.41 CA$6.11

-20.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.53 CA$18.73

$12.17 CA$16.85

11.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.09 CA$18.12

$13.62 CA$18.86

-3.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.96 CA$23.49

$24.77 CA$34.30

-31.53%

Apples (1kg)

$4.16 CA$5.76

$2.03 CA$2.82

104.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 CA$1.63

$2.98 CA$4.12

-60.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.25 CA$4.50

$1.97 CA$2.72

64.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.12 CA$5.70

$2.03 CA$2.81

102.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.50 CA$3.47

$2.96 CA$4.10

-15.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 CA$3.98

$3.90 CA$5.41

-26.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.35 CA$3.25

$2.99 CA$4.14

-21.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 CA$2.77

$3.55 CA$4.92

-43.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.58 CA$20.19

$14.43 CA$19.98

1.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.18 CA$19.63

$12.80 CA$17.73

10.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.80 CA$3.88

$1.46 CA$2.02

91.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 CA$4.51

$2.19 CA$3.03

48.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.40 CA$3.32

$2.35 CA$3.25

2.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$114 CA$158

$144 CA$200

-20.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.76 CA$5.20

$6.82 CA$9.44

-44.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 CA$1.95

$0.71 CA$0.98

98.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.53 CA$35.34

$25.47 CA$35.26

0.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 CA$1.52

$1.27 CA$1.76

-13.39%

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

$25.2K CA$34.9K

$50.5K CA$70.0K

-50.05%

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

$21.1K CA$29.2K

$45.7K CA$63.3K

-53.89%

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

$120 CA$166

$119 CA$164

0.70%

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

$37.54 CA$52.0

$54.3 CA$75.2

-30.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.5 CA$75.5

$56.3 CA$77.9

-3.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.5 CA$76.9

$42.07 CA$58.3

31.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.15 CA$29.28

$22.02 CA$30.49

-3.95%

Cinema Ticket

$11.56 CA$16.00

$8.50 CA$11.77

36.00%

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

$1,129 CA$1,564

$1,019 CA$1,411

10.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.0K CA$24.9K

$3,997 CA$5,534

349.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 CA$78.8

$62.9 CA$87.0

-9.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.96 CA$55.3

$36.88 CA$51.1

8.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 CA$124

$103 CA$143

-13.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 CA$158

$121 CA$167

-5.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 CA$2,561

$1,687 CA$2,336

9.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,560 CA$2,159

$1,567 CA$2,169

-0.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,925 CA$4,051

$3,136 CA$4,342

-6.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,470 CA$3,420

$1,838 CA$2,545

34.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,085 CA$12.6K

$4,603 CA$6,373

97.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,036 CA$9,742

$3,811 CA$5,277

84.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,572 CA$4,946

$4,299 CA$5,952

-16.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.16

8.1

-36.30%

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

Last update for Toronto: May 31, 2026

Last update for Iqaluit, NU: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,849 in Toronto and $1,687 in Iqaluit, NU. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Iqaluit, NU pays 20% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $82.0 in Toronto vs $66.0 in Iqaluit, NU. Groceries flip the comparison at $396 vs $414, with Toronto cheaper for home cooking.

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 Iqaluit, NU: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Toronto is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Iqaluit, NU earns 20% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,849 in Toronto versus $1,687 in Iqaluit, NU. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,129 in Toronto versus $1,019 in Iqaluit, NU. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Iqaluit, NU. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Toronto is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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.

Expats usually find Toronto gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Iqaluit, NU. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.