Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Kanata

For one person, living is cheaper in Kanata: $2,514 a month against $2,599 in Toronto, rent and utilities included – about $1,000 less a year. The total is higher in Toronto despite lower rent and utilities.

Toronto, Canada
Kanata, Canada
Toronto
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,599
/mo nomad
Kanata
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,514
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Toronto and in Kanata

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

A single person spends $2,599 per month in Toronto vs $2,514 in Kanata, rent included.

  • Toronto $2,599
  • Kanata $2,514

A couple spends around $3,700 per month in Toronto vs $3,581 in Kanata, rent included.

  • Toronto $3,700
  • Kanata $3,581

A family of three spends $4,801 per month in Toronto vs $4,648 in Kanata, rent included.

  • Toronto $4,801
  • Kanata $4,648

Toronto costs about 3% more than Kanata, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Toronto and Kanata sit above the global median – Toronto by 92%, Kanata by 86%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Toronto
Kanata
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.98 CA$25.09
$18.08 CA$25.24
-0.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.3 CA$101
$77.2 CA$108
-6.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.83 CA$15.11
$10.87 CA$15.17
-0.37%
Cappuccino
$4.34 CA$6.06
$3.46 CA$4.83
25.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 CA$3.01
$2.00 CA$2.79
8.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 CA$2.31
$1.66 CA$2.32
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.35 CA$8.86
$2.65 CA$3.69
139.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.34 CA$10.25
$2.74 CA$3.83
167.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Toronto
Kanata
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.57 CA$3.59
$1.98 CA$2.76
29.80%
White Bread (500g)
$2.71 CA$3.78
$2.74 CA$3.82
-1.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.28 CA$3.18
$1.83 CA$2.56
24.59%
Eggs
$3.60 CA$5.03
$4.36 CA$6.09
-17.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.94 CA$12.48
$13.52 CA$18.87
-33.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.19 CA$15.62
$11.22 CA$15.66
-0.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.23 CA$21.25
$8.95 CA$12.50
70.17%
Apples (1kg)
$3.74 CA$5.23
$3.42 CA$4.78
9.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.23 CA$1.71
$0.98 CA$1.37
25.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.58 CA$5.00
$2.86 CA$4.00
25.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.25 CA$5.93
$3.91 CA$5.46
8.70%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 CA$2.71
$1.13 CA$1.57
71.68%
Onion (1kg)
$1.67 CA$2.33
$2.14 CA$2.98
-21.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.30 CA$3.21
$2.56 CA$3.57
-10.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 CA$1.76
$1.41 CA$1.97
-10.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.19 CA$19.81
$13.08 CA$18.26
8.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.25 CA$19.89
$21.76 CA$30.37
-34.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.28 CA$3.18
$2.71 CA$3.78
-15.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 CA$3.61
$3.23 CA$4.51
-20.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Toronto
Kanata
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.35 CA$3.29
$2.64 CA$3.69
-10.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$111 CA$155
$89.4 CA$125
24.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.01 CA$4.21
$2.89 CA$4.03
4.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.22 CA$1.71
$1.25 CA$1.75
-2.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.82 CA$30.47
$33.64 CA$46.96
-35.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 CA$1.72
$1.17 CA$1.63
5.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.0K CA$37.6K
$26.8K CA$37.4K
0.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K CA$30.5K
$18.4K CA$25.7K
18.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
Kanata
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$121 CA$169
$112 CA$157
7.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.10 CA$46.21
$44.44 CA$62.0
-25.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.09 CA$68.5
$41.78 CA$58.3
17.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
Kanata
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.65 CA$51.2
$45.73 CA$63.8
-19.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.01 CA$34.91
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.78 CA$17.84
$9.40 CA$13.12
35.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Toronto
Kanata
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$754 CA$1,053
$861 CA$1,202
-12.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$33.7K CA$47.0K
$10.6K CA$14.8K
217.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
Kanata
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.4 CA$70.3
$57.0 CA$79.5
-11.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.43 CA$57.8
$31.75 CA$44.32
30.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 CA$141
$86.9 CA$121
16.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 CA$182
$63.3 CA$88.3
105.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Toronto
Kanata
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,590 CA$2,219
$1,559 CA$2,177
1.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,424 CA$1,988
$1,435 CA$2,003
-0.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,641 CA$3,687
$2,248 CA$3,138
17.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,090 CA$2,918
$2,133 CA$2,978
-2.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,730 CA$10.8K
$3,266 CA$4,559
136.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,892 CA$9,620
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Toronto
Kanata
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,623 CA$5,057
$2,992 CA$4,177
21.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.45
4.97
-10.46%

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

Last update for Toronto: November 2, 2026

Last update for Kanata: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Toronto
$1.4K
Kanata
$1.4K 0.7% $11
Groceries & Markets
Toronto
$345
Kanata
$348 0.8% $2.9
Eating Out
Toronto
$290
Kanata
$252 13.1% $38
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
$203
Kanata
$198 2.3% $4.6
Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
$145
Kanata
$108 26.1% $38
Getting Around
Toronto
$130
Kanata
$109 15.8% $20
Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
$62
Kanata
$65 3.7% $2.3

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,590 in Toronto versus $1,559 in Kanata. 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 Toronto. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $72 in Toronto versus $77 in Kanata. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $345 vs $348 – making Toronto the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Toronto
🇨🇦 Kanata
🕒 Local time
14:23 2:23 PM
14:23 2:23 PM
Same time as Toronto
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,731,571
90,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.716 USD). 1 EUR = 1.57 CAD (1 CAD = 0.638 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Toronto Kanata 330 km
From you
  • Toronto
  • Kanata

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 Kanata: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kanata cheaper than Toronto?
Yes – Toronto is pricier by about 3%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,899 per month in Toronto and $3,772 in Kanata. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What is the rent difference between Toronto and Kanata?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $1,590 in Toronto and $1,559 in Kanata. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
Is eating out cheaper in Toronto or in Kanata?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $72 in Toronto and $77 in Kanata. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 19% less in Kanata. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Toronto or in Kanata?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,599 in Toronto and $2,514 in Kanata. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is it better to live in Toronto or in Kanata?
It depends on your priorities. Kanata has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,514 in Kanata to $2,599 in Toronto. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kanata. If higher salaries 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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