Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Islamabad

For one person, living is cheaper in Islamabad: $613 a month against $2,530 in Toronto, rent and utilities included – about $23,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Toronto
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,530
/mo nomad
Islamabad
🇵🇰 Pakistan
$613
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Toronto and in Islamabad

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

A single person spends $2,530 per month in Toronto vs $613 in Islamabad, rent included.

  • Toronto $2,530
  • Islamabad $613

A couple spends around $3,646 per month in Toronto vs $951 in Islamabad, rent included.

  • Toronto $3,646
  • Islamabad $951

A family of three spends $4,761 per month in Toronto vs $1,289 in Islamabad, rent included.

  • Toronto $4,761
  • Islamabad $1,289

Toronto costs about 313% more than Islamabad, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Toronto sits 89% above the global median, while Islamabad is 54% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Toronto
Islamabad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.67 CA$25.19
$3.55 PKR 983
397.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.4 CA$110
$23.32 PKR 6,453
231.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.47 CA$14.93
$5.50 PKR 1,522
90.36%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.51 PKR 971
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$7.05 PKR 1,950
-
Cappuccino
$4.08 CA$5.81
$2.72 PKR 753
50.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 CA$3.02
$0.35 PKR 97.4
505.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 CA$2.51
$0.23 PKR 63.8
665.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.17 CA$8.80
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.89 CA$9.82
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Toronto
Islamabad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.43 CA$3.46
$0.99 PKR 273
145.45%
White Bread (500g)
$2.75 CA$3.92
$0.73 PKR 201
276.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.23 CA$3.18
$1.24 PKR 342
79.84%
Eggs
$3.45 CA$4.91
$1.31 PKR 363
163.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.93 CA$12.73
$6.12 PKR 1,695
45.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.44 CA$16.31
$3.23 PKR 893
254.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.61 CA$20.83
$5.44 PKR 1,506
168.57%
Apples (1kg)
$3.75 CA$5.34
$1.35 PKR 375
177.78%
Banana (1kg)
$1.15 CA$1.64
$0.86 PKR 239
33.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.55 CA$5.06
$1.08 PKR 298
228.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.28 CA$6.10
$0.55 PKR 153
678.18%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 CA$2.63
$0.28 PKR 78.3
560.71%
Onion (1kg)
$1.67 CA$2.38
$0.36 PKR 98.6
363.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.22 CA$3.16
$0.30 PKR 83.5
640.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 CA$1.72
$0.42 PKR 115
188.10%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.98 PKR 549
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.26 PKR 347
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.58 PKR 715
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.88 CA$19.78
$2.32 PKR 642
498.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.25 CA$20.31
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20 CA$3.13
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 CA$3.45
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Toronto
Islamabad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.42 CA$3.44
$0.20 PKR 54.5
1110.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$111 CA$158
$21.45 PKR 5,936
416.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.90 CA$4.13
$1.23 PKR 339
135.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.26 CA$1.80
$0.75 PKR 209
68.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.03 CA$31.40
$1.64 PKR 454
1243.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 CA$1.74
$1.39 PKR 385
-12.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6K CA$39.4K
$53.8K PKR 14.9M
-48.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K CA$28.3K
$24.0K PKR 6.6M
-17.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
Islamabad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 CA$174
$103 PKR 28.5K
18.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.03 CA$45.66
$5.76 PKR 1,594
456.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.92 CA$68.3
$16.49 PKR 4,565
190.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
Islamabad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.90 CA$55.5
$29.77 PKR 8,240
30.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.24 CA$33.12
$8.62 PKR 2,386
169.61%
Cinema Ticket
$12.61 CA$17.97
$4.45 PKR 1,233
183.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Toronto
Islamabad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$834 CA$1,189
$74.5 PKR 20.6K
1019.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.3K CA$33.3K
$5,023 PKR 1.4M
364.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
Islamabad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.6 CA$75.0
$24.55 PKR 6,793
114.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.26 CA$57.4
$34.19 PKR 9,461
17.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.2 CA$137
$96.0 PKR 26.6K
0.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 CA$175
$40.93 PKR 11.3K
200.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Toronto
Islamabad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,598 CA$2,278
$272 PKR 75.2K
488.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,435 CA$2,045
$137 PKR 38.0K
944.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,657 CA$3,787
$572 PKR 158.4K
364.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,096 CA$2,988
$275 PKR 76.0K
663.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,033 CA$11.5K
$1,677 PKR 464.1K
378.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,557 CA$9,347
$820 PKR 227.0K
699.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Toronto
Islamabad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,743 CA$5,335
$379 PKR 104.8K
888.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.47
13.08
-65.83%

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

Last update for Toronto: October 4, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Toronto
$1.4K
Islamabad
$137 90.4% $1.3K
Groceries & Markets
Toronto
$340
Islamabad
$105 69.1% $235
Eating Out
Toronto
$282
Islamabad
$80 71.7% $202
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
$202
Islamabad
$125 38% $77
Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
$140
Islamabad
$88 37.3% $52
Getting Around
Toronto
$130
Islamabad
$27 79% $102
Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
$64
Islamabad
$39 39.7% $25

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,598 in Toronto versus $272 in Islamabad. 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 888% higher in Toronto, 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 $23.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $340 vs $105 – making Islamabad the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Toronto
🇵🇰 Islamabad
🕒 Local time
02:29 2:29 AM
11:29 11:29 AM
9 h ahead of Toronto
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,731,571
1,009,832 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PKR, 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).

Pakistani Rupee exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 277 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.61 USD). 1 EUR = 310 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.22 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Toronto Islamabad 10,970 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Toronto
  • Islamabad

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 Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Islamabad cheaper than Toronto?
Yes – Toronto is pricier by about 313%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,795 per month in Toronto and $919 in Islamabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Islamabad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Toronto and in Islamabad?
Groceries cost about 224% more in Toronto, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Toronto or in Islamabad?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $77.0 in Toronto and $23.00 in Islamabad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Toronto or in Islamabad?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Islamabad, where all-in costs run around $613, than in Toronto at $2,530. In Islamabad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Toronto it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Toronto or Islamabad more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Islamabad – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Toronto or Islamabad?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Islamabad. 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.

Toronto vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?