Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Marathon Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Marathon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,754 per month in Toronto vs $2,404 in Marathon, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,090 per month in Toronto vs $3,402 in Marathon, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,427 per month in Toronto vs $4,401 in Marathon, rent included.

Toronto costs about 15% more than Marathon, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Toronto and Marathon sit above the global median – Toronto by 105%, Marathon by 79%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.93 CA$26.43

$18.52 CA$25.86

2.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.9 CA$114

$60.0 CA$83.7

36.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.13 CA$15.55

$12.44 CA$17.37

-10.53%

Cappuccino

$4.00 CA$5.59

$3.79 CA$5.30

5.54%

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

$2.18 CA$3.05

$1.88 CA$2.63

15.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 CA$2.36

$1.46 CA$2.04

15.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.93 CA$8.28

$5.40 CA$7.54

9.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.58 CA$9.18

$5.07 CA$7.08

29.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.83 CA$3.96

$2.45 CA$3.42

15.51%

White Bread (500g)

$2.73 CA$3.81

$2.52 CA$3.52

8.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.65 CA$5.09

$2.55 CA$3.56

43.14%

Eggs

$3.54 CA$4.94

$2.87 CA$4.01

23.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.49 CA$18.84

$8.77 CA$12.25

53.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.06 CA$18.24

$16.53 CA$23.08

-20.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.51 CA$23.05

$16.06 CA$22.42

2.80%

Apples (1kg)

$3.99 CA$5.57

$3.43 CA$4.78

16.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 CA$1.64

$1.15 CA$1.60

2.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.21 CA$4.49

$3.30 CA$4.60

-2.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 CA$5.64

$3.16 CA$4.42

27.85%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 CA$3.55

$2.59 CA$3.62

-1.93%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 CA$3.92

$0.97 CA$1.36

189.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.46 CA$3.43

$3.02 CA$4.21

-18.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 CA$2.68

$1.13 CA$1.57

69.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.85 CA$20.74

$9.06 CA$12.66

63.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.22 CA$19.86

$12.59 CA$17.58

12.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.69 CA$3.76

$1.66 CA$2.32

62.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 CA$4.57

$2.76 CA$3.86

18.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.40 CA$3.35

$2.32 CA$3.24

3.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$113 CA$158

$63.2 CA$88.2

78.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.71 CA$5.18

$3.29 CA$4.59

12.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 CA$1.97

$1.44 CA$2.01

-2.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.53 CA$35.65

$25.59 CA$35.74

-0.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 CA$1.59

$1.15 CA$1.61

-0.87%

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

$24.7K CA$34.4K

$24.7K CA$34.6K

-0.39%

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

$21.6K CA$30.2K

$20.5K CA$28.7K

5.20%

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

$120 CA$168

$200 CA$279

-39.85%

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

$36.76 CA$51.3

$43.96 CA$61.4

-16.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.9 CA$76.7

$81.7 CA$114

-32.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.2 CA$79.8

$42.72 CA$59.7

33.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.05 CA$29.40

Cinema Ticket

$11.74 CA$16.40

$10.84 CA$15.13

8.30%

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

$1,142 CA$1,595

$734 CA$1,025

55.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.0K CA$25.1K

$11.7K CA$16.4K

53.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 CA$79.2

$59.0 CA$82.4

-3.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.80 CA$55.6

$36.75 CA$51.3

8.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 CA$124

$77.2 CA$108

14.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 CA$162

$141 CA$197

-17.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,830 CA$2,556

$1,289 CA$1,800

42.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,580 CA$2,207

$1,163 CA$1,625

35.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,989 CA$4,174

$1,991 CA$2,781

50.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,511 CA$3,506

$1,818 CA$2,539

38.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,084 CA$12.7K

$4,374 CA$6,108

107.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,885 CA$9,614

$3,900 CA$5,447

76.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,555 CA$4,964

$1,824 CA$2,547

94.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.16

6.19

-16.64%

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

Last update for Toronto: June 7, 2026

Last update for Marathon: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,830 in Toronto versus $1,289 in Marathon. 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 95% 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 $60.0 in Marathon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $394 vs $356 – making Marathon 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 Marathon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Toronto is pricier by about 15%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,131 per month in Toronto and $3,605 in Marathon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Marathon, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $1,142 per month in Toronto and $734 in Marathon. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 11% more in Toronto, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Marathon, where all-in costs run around $2,404, than in Toronto at $2,754. In Marathon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Toronto it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Marathon – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Marathon. 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.