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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,768 per month in Toronto vs $2,466 in Marathon, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,066 per month in Toronto vs $3,508 in Marathon, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,364 per month in Toronto vs $4,549 in Marathon, rent included.

Toronto costs about 12% more than Marathon, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Toronto and Marathon sit above the global median – Toronto by 106%, Marathon by 83%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.40 CA$25.20

$18.75 CA$25.68

-1.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.3 CA$111

$59.8 CA$81.9

36.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.92 CA$14.97

$12.60 CA$17.26

-13.33%

Cappuccino

$3.83 CA$5.25

$3.68 CA$5.05

4.08%

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

$2.19 CA$3.01

$1.79 CA$2.46

22.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 CA$2.25

$1.48 CA$2.02

10.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.87 CA$8.05

$5.21 CA$7.13

12.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.74 CA$9.24

$5.05 CA$6.92

33.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.69 CA$3.68

$2.45 CA$3.36

9.80%

White Bread (500g)

$2.78 CA$3.81

$2.53 CA$3.46

9.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.51 CA$4.81

$2.61 CA$3.57

34.48%

Eggs

$3.47 CA$4.76

$2.94 CA$4.03

18.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.25 CA$18.15

$8.78 CA$12.04

50.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.92 CA$17.70

$16.88 CA$23.12

-23.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.38 CA$22.44

$16.02 CA$21.95

2.25%

Apples (1kg)

$4.03 CA$5.52

$3.60 CA$4.93

11.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 CA$1.61

$1.09 CA$1.49

7.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.35 CA$4.59

$3.34 CA$4.57

0.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.01 CA$5.50

$3.16 CA$4.33

26.90%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 CA$3.34

$2.70 CA$3.69

-9.63%

Onion (1kg)

$2.84 CA$3.90

$0.99 CA$1.35

186.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.39 CA$3.27

$2.92 CA$3.99

-18.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 CA$2.71

$1.08 CA$1.48

83.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.82 CA$20.31

$9.29 CA$12.73

59.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.37 CA$19.68

$13.17 CA$18.05

9.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.77 CA$3.79

$1.58 CA$2.17

75.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 CA$4.52

$2.74 CA$3.76

20.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.45 CA$3.35

$2.34 CA$3.21

4.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$113 CA$155

$61.6 CA$84.4

84.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.61 CA$4.95

$3.26 CA$4.47

10.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 CA$1.94

$1.49 CA$2.05

-4.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.90 CA$35.48

$25.99 CA$35.61

-0.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 CA$1.50

$1.12 CA$1.54

-1.79%

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

$25.5K CA$35.0K

$25.1K CA$34.4K

1.64%

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

$21.0K CA$28.7K

$20.2K CA$27.7K

3.71%

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

$119 CA$163

$206 CA$282

-42.30%

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

$37.69 CA$51.6

$44.11 CA$60.4

-14.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.6 CA$74.7

$80.9 CA$111

-32.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.3 CA$78.5

$42.06 CA$57.6

36.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.68 CA$28.33

Cinema Ticket

$11.62 CA$15.92

$10.73 CA$14.70

8.29%

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

$1,118 CA$1,531

$737 CA$1,009

51.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.3K CA$25.0K

$11.9K CA$16.3K

53.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.3 CA$78.6

$59.7 CA$81.7

-3.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.80 CA$54.5

$37.03 CA$50.7

7.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.4 CA$121

$77.6 CA$106

13.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 CA$159

$139 CA$191

-16.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,836 CA$2,516

$1,313 CA$1,799

39.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,550 CA$2,124

$1,170 CA$1,603

32.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,991 CA$4,097

$2,006 CA$2,748

49.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,492 CA$3,415

$1,825 CA$2,500

36.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,566 CA$11.7K

$4,406 CA$6,036

94.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,905 CA$9,460

$3,723 CA$5,100

85.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,697 CA$5,064

$1,842 CA$2,523

100.70%

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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Marathon: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,836 in Toronto versus $1,313 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 101% 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 $81 in Toronto versus $60 in Marathon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $392 vs $359 – 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 12%, 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 $4,153 per month in Toronto and $3,700 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 $1,118 per month in Toronto and $737 in Marathon. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 9% 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 $2,466, than in Toronto at $2,768. 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.