Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Matamoros

For one person, living is cheaper in Matamoros: $1,090 a month against $2,561 in Toronto, rent and utilities included – about $17,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Toronto
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,561
/mo nomad
Matamoros
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,090
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Toronto and in Matamoros

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,561 in Toronto versus $1,090 in Matamoros.

  • Toronto $2,561
  • Matamoros $1,090

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,694 in Toronto versus $1,832 in Matamoros.

  • Toronto $3,694
  • Matamoros $1,832

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,826 in Toronto versus $2,573 in Matamoros.

  • Toronto $4,826
  • Matamoros $2,573

Living in Toronto is roughly 135% more expensive than in Matamoros, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

The two cities straddle the global median: Toronto is 90% above, Matamoros is 19% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Toronto
Matamoros
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.18 CA$24.29
$12.38 MX$229
38.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.0 CA$107
$37.67 MX$696
101.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.54 CA$14.89
$9.06 MX$167
16.34%
Cappuccino
$4.02 CA$5.68
$3.29 MX$60.8
22.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 CA$3.00
$1.47 MX$27.18
44.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 CA$2.48
$1.05 MX$19.40
66.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.24 CA$8.83
$2.26 MX$41.81
176.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.09 CA$10.02
$4.48 MX$82.8
58.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Toronto
Matamoros
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.44 CA$3.45
$1.63 MX$30.12
49.69%
White Bread (500g)
$2.68 CA$3.78
$2.40 MX$44.43
11.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 CA$3.17
$1.70 MX$31.43
31.76%
Eggs
$3.56 CA$5.03
$2.57 MX$47.54
38.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.09 CA$12.85
$9.01 MX$167
0.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.33 CA$16.01
$7.82 MX$144
44.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.53 CA$20.55
$11.74 MX$217
23.76%
Apples (1kg)
$3.62 CA$5.12
$2.70 MX$49.81
34.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.21 CA$1.72
$1.73 MX$31.92
-30.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.60 CA$5.09
$1.67 MX$30.82
115.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.21 CA$5.96
$2.05 MX$37.92
105.37%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 CA$2.53
$2.17 MX$40.01
-17.51%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 CA$2.25
$2.09 MX$38.70
-23.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.27 CA$3.21
$1.61 MX$29.73
40.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 CA$1.77
$1.22 MX$22.48
2.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.82 CA$19.53
$4.72 MX$87.2
192.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.27 CA$20.18
$10.79 MX$199
32.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20 CA$3.10
$2.02 MX$37.32
8.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 CA$3.44
$3.18 MX$58.8
-23.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Toronto
Matamoros
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.39 CA$3.38
$0.65 MX$12.03
267.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$111 CA$157
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.91 CA$4.12
$2.71 MX$50.0
7.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.20 CA$1.69
$2.25 MX$41.49
-46.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.38 CA$30.23
$11.47 MX$212
86.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 CA$1.71
$1.34 MX$24.72
-9.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K CA$39.8K
$23.5K MX$435.0K
19.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K CA$28.6K
$23.9K MX$441.3K
-15.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
Matamoros
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 CA$170
$56.2 MX$1,038
114.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.26 CA$45.60
$25.44 MX$470
26.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.93 CA$67.8
$26.61 MX$492
80.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
Matamoros
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.48 CA$54.4
$32.88 MX$608
17.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.96 CA$32.46
$22.40 MX$414
2.50%
Cinema Ticket
$12.38 CA$17.50
$4.48 MX$82.7
176.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Toronto
Matamoros
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$830 CA$1,173
$223 MX$4,114
272.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.1K CA$32.6K
$4,650 MX$85.9K
396.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
Matamoros
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.7 CA$71.7
$53.3 MX$986
-4.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.02 CA$56.6
$38.50 MX$711
3.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 CA$139
$99.1 MX$1,832
-1.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 CA$171
$79.4 MX$1,467
52.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Toronto
Matamoros
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,592 CA$2,251
$646 MX$11.9K
146.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,410 CA$1,994
$337 MX$6,220
318.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,670 CA$3,775
$901 MX$16.7K
196.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,152 CA$3,042
$826 MX$15.3K
160.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,945 CA$11.2K
$2,039 MX$37.7K
289.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,542 CA$9,249
$1,054 MX$19.5K
520.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Toronto
Matamoros
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,727 CA$5,269
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.47
11.3
-60.44%

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

Last update for Toronto: October 12, 2026

Last update for Matamoros: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Toronto
$1.4K
Matamoros
$337 76.1% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Toronto
$340
Matamoros
$269 20.7% $70
Eating Out
Toronto
$278
Matamoros
$196 29.5% $82
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
$201
Matamoros
$108 46% $92
Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
$139
Matamoros
$122 12.6% $18
Getting Around
Toronto
$129
Matamoros
$17 * 87.2% $113
Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
$63
Matamoros
$42 33.8% $21

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,592 in Toronto and $646 in Matamoros. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $76.0 in Toronto vs $38.00 in Matamoros for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $340 vs $269 per month, with Matamoros cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Toronto
🇲🇽 Matamoros
🕒 Local time
00:16 12:16 AM
23:16 11:16 PM
1 h behind Toronto
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,731,571
510,739
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Toronto Matamoros 2,570 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Toronto
  • Matamoros

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 Matamoros: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Toronto or Matamoros?
Matamoros wins on cost – living expenses run 135% lower than in Toronto. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Matamoros the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Toronto and in Matamoros?
You'd need roughly $3,841 in Toronto and $1,635 in Matamoros to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Toronto compared to Matamoros?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,592 in Toronto versus $646 in Matamoros. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Toronto and in Matamoros?
Childcare runs $830 in Toronto versus $223 in Matamoros. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Toronto and in Matamoros?
Dining out is cheaper in Matamoros – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $76.0 in Toronto. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Toronto or in Matamoros?
At $1,090 in Matamoros versus $2,561 in Toronto, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Matamoros but tight or insufficient in Toronto. The gap between the two cities makes Matamoros the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Toronto or Matamoros?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Matamoros gentler on the wallet – expenses run 135% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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