😐A single person spends $2,811 per month in Toronto vs $1,745 in Joliette, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,130 per month in Toronto vs $2,663 in Joliette, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,449 per month in Toronto vs $3,581 in Joliette, rent included.
😐Toronto costs about 61% more than Joliette, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Toronto and Joliette sit above the global median – Toronto by 110%, Joliette by 30%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Toronto
Joliette
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.71CA$26.02
$18.09CA$25.16
3.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.9CA$114
$56.3CA$78.3
45.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.83CA$15.06
$11.13CA$15.48
-2.70%
Cappuccino
$3.89CA$5.41
$2.56CA$3.56
51.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22CA$3.09
$2.16CA$3.00
2.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65CA$2.29
$1.70CA$2.37
-2.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.05CA$8.41
$4.39CA$6.11
37.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.58CA$9.15
$6.66CA$9.26
-1.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Toronto
Joliette
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.73CA$3.79
$2.29CA$3.18
19.21%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72CA$3.78
$2.62CA$3.64
3.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.54CA$4.92
$3.19CA$4.43
10.97%
Eggs
$3.50CA$4.87
$2.65CA$3.68
32.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.53CA$18.81
$11.26CA$15.66
20.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.09CA$18.20
$13.00CA$18.08
0.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.96CA$23.59
$16.06CA$22.34
5.60%
Apples(1kg)
$4.16CA$5.79
$4.16CA$5.79
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.18CA$1.64
$1.34CA$1.87
-11.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.25CA$4.52
$3.50CA$4.87
-7.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.12CA$5.73
$3.70CA$5.14
11.35%
Potato(1kg)
$2.50CA$3.48
$2.56CA$3.56
-2.34%
Onion(1kg)
$2.88CA$4.00
$3.15CA$4.37
-8.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.35CA$3.27
$1.64CA$2.29
43.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.00CA$2.78
$1.52CA$2.11
31.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.58CA$20.28
$14.14CA$19.66
3.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.18CA$19.71
$11.50CA$15.99
23.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.80CA$3.89
$2.52CA$3.50
11.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25CA$4.53
$3.15CA$4.38
3.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Toronto
Joliette
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.40CA$3.34
$2.43CA$3.39
-1.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$114CA$159
$63.5CA$88.4
79.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.76CA$5.22
$2.81CA$3.91
33.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.41CA$1.96
$1.49CA$2.08
-5.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.53CA$35.50
$20.26CA$28.17
26.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.10CA$1.53
$0.96CA$1.33
14.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2KCA$35.1K
$25.3KCA$35.2K
-0.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1KCA$29.3K
$22.3KCA$31.0K
-5.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
Joliette
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$120CA$166
$164CA$228
-27.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.54CA$52.2
$43.84CA$61.0
-14.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.5CA$75.8
$51.9CA$72.1
5.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
Joliette
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.5CA$77.2
$42.53CA$59.2
30.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.15CA$29.41
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.56CA$16.07
$11.15CA$15.51
3.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Toronto
Joliette
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,129CA$1,571
$894CA$1,244
26.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.0KCA$25.0K
$16.0KCA$22.3K
11.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
Joliette
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.9CA$79.2
$52.6CA$73.1
8.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.96CA$55.6
$40.97CA$57.0
-2.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.7CA$125
$88.8CA$123
1.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114CA$159
$95.9CA$133
19.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Toronto
Joliette
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,849CA$2,572
$670CA$932
175.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,560CA$2,169
$626CA$870
149.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,925CA$4,068
$1,346CA$1,872
117.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,470CA$3,435
$1,101CA$1,531
124.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,085CA$12.6K
$4,624CA$6,431
96.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$7,036CA$9,785
$4,348CA$6,046
61.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Toronto
Joliette
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,572CA$4,967
$2,747CA$3,820
30.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.16
5.48
-5.84%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Toronto: May 31, 2026
Last update for Joliette: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,849 in Toronto versus $670 in Joliette. 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 30% 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 $82.0 in Toronto versus $56.0 in Joliette. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $396 vs $361 – making Joliette 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 Joliette: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Joliette cheaper than Toronto?
Yes – Toronto is pricier by about 61%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,216 per month in Toronto and $2,617 in Joliette. 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 Joliette, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,129 per month in Toronto and $894 in Joliette. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Toronto and Joliette?
Groceries cost about 10% 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 $2,500 a realistic budget for Toronto or Joliette?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Joliette, where all-in costs run around $1,745, than in Toronto at $2,811. In Joliette it covers expenses comfortably, while in Toronto it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Toronto or Joliette more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Joliette – 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 Joliette?
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 Joliette. 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.