🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,628 in Toronto versus $2,646 in Laurel, MD.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,848 in Toronto versus $4,280 in Laurel, MD.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,067 in Toronto versus $5,913 in Laurel, MD.
🌍Living in Toronto costs roughly 1% less than in Laurel, MD, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Toronto91% above, Laurel, MD93% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Toronto
Laurel, MD
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.88CA$24.75
$14.62$14.62
22.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.9CA$122
$91.0$91.0
-3.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.93CA$15.13
$11.12$11.12
-1.71%
Cappuccino
$4.06CA$5.62
$5.91$5.91
-31.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18CA$3.02
$2.68$2.68
-18.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70CA$2.35
$2.39$2.39
-28.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.69CA$9.25
$7.94$7.94
-15.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.35CA$10.16
$8.70$8.70
-15.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Toronto
Laurel, MD
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.78CA$3.85
$1.20$1.20
131.67%
White Bread(500g)
$2.89CA$4.00
$4.56$4.56
-36.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.56CA$3.55
$5.39$5.39
-52.50%
Eggs
$3.79CA$5.24
$5.17$5.17
-26.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.17CA$14.07
$16.51$16.51
-38.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.95CA$16.53
$15.50$15.50
-22.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.12CA$22.31
$19.29$19.29
-16.43%
Apples(1kg)
$3.89CA$5.39
$5.52$5.52
-29.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.27CA$1.76
$1.82$1.82
-30.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.88CA$5.37
$4.60$4.60
-15.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.33CA$5.99
$5.41$5.41
-19.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83CA$2.53
$2.94$2.94
-37.76%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50CA$2.07
$2.16$2.16
-30.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.28CA$3.15
$2.09$2.09
9.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.44CA$1.99
$2.79$2.79
-48.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.20CA$19.64
$10.50$10.50
35.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.24CA$19.71
$14.78$14.78
-3.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.25CA$3.11
$1.78$1.78
26.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53CA$3.50
$2.95$2.95
-14.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Toronto
Laurel, MD
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.47CA$3.42
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$112CA$155
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.05CA$4.22
$4.09$4.09
-25.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.24CA$1.71
$1.21$1.21
2.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.44CA$31.05
$25.12$25.12
-10.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24CA$1.71
$1.01$1.01
22.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCA$38.1K
$34.2K$34.2K
-19.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1KCA$29.3K
$25.5K$25.5K
-17.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
Laurel, MD
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$128CA$177
$164$164
-22.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.79CA$46.75
$52.7$52.7
-35.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.25CA$68.2
$72.0$72.0
-31.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
Laurel, MD
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.93CA$56.6
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.62CA$34.07
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.16CA$18.21
$16.75$16.75
-21.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Toronto
Laurel, MD
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$792CA$1,097
$1,621$1,621
-51.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$24.1KCA$33.4K
$36.4K$36.4K
-33.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
Laurel, MD
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.5CA$75.4
$46.77$46.77
16.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.11CA$59.7
$36.19$36.19
19.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102CA$140
$103$103
-1.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123CA$171
$118$118
4.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Toronto
Laurel, MD
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,653CA$2,287
$1,587$1,587
4.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,452CA$2,009
$1,391$1,391
4.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,694CA$3,728
$2,643$2,643
1.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,149CA$2,974
$3,013$3,013
-28.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,347CA$11.6K
$2,280$2,280
266.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,816CA$9,431
$2,544$2,544
167.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Toronto
Laurel, MD
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,614CA$5,001
$5,367$5,367
-32.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.49
6.3
-28.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Toronto: August 30, 2026
Last update for Laurel, MD: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,653 in Toronto and $1,587 in Laurel, MD. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Laurel, MD pays 48% 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: $88.0 in Toronto vs $91.0 in Laurel, MD for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $365 vs $468 per month, with Toronto cheaper across the board.
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 Laurel, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Toronto and in Laurel, MD?
Toronto and Laurel, MD differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($2,628 vs $2,646 including rent). Toronto is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 48% lower in Laurel, MD. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Toronto and in Laurel, MD?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,653 in Toronto versus $1,587 in Laurel, MD. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 28% higher in Laurel, MD. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Toronto or Laurel, MD?
All in, you'll spend $2,628 per month in Toronto versus $2,646 in Laurel, MD – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is feasible on a $2,500 budget?
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.
How does quality of life compare between Toronto and Laurel, MD?
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.
Where should expats move: Toronto or Laurel, MD?
Expats usually find Toronto gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Laurel, MD. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.