Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Milton Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Milton

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,811 in Toronto versus $3,044 in Milton.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,130 in Toronto versus $4,159 in Milton.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,449 in Toronto versus $5,275 in Milton.

Living in Toronto costs roughly 8% less than in Milton, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Toronto 110% above, Milton 127% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Toronto
Milton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.71 CA$25.90
$14.65 CA$20.29
27.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.9 CA$113
$72.4 CA$100
13.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.83 CA$14.99
$12.96 CA$17.95
-16.44%
Cappuccino
$3.89 CA$5.38
$3.86 CA$5.34
0.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 CA$3.07
$3.23 CA$4.48
-31.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 CA$2.28
$2.50 CA$3.46
-34.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.05 CA$8.38
$8.00 CA$11.08
-24.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.58 CA$9.11
$5.40 CA$7.48
21.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Toronto
Milton
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.73 CA$3.77
$2.50 CA$3.47
9.20%
White Bread (500g)
$2.72 CA$3.76
$2.61 CA$3.61
4.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.54 CA$4.90
$4.55 CA$6.30
-22.20%
Eggs
$3.50 CA$4.84
$3.47 CA$4.81
0.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.53 CA$18.73
$6.61 CA$9.15
104.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.09 CA$18.12
$29.96 CA$41.49
-56.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.96 CA$23.49
$19.04 CA$26.37
-10.92%
Apples (1kg)
$4.16 CA$5.76
$5.60 CA$7.76
-25.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 CA$1.63
$1.57 CA$2.18
-24.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.25 CA$4.50
$2.91 CA$4.03
11.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.12 CA$5.70
$3.29 CA$4.56
25.23%
Potato (1kg)
$2.50 CA$3.47
$1.04 CA$1.44
140.38%
Onion (1kg)
$2.88 CA$3.98
$1.26 CA$1.74
128.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.35 CA$3.25
$1.65 CA$2.29
42.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.00 CA$2.77
$2.27 CA$3.15
-11.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.58 CA$20.19
$12.57 CA$17.40
15.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.18 CA$19.63
$13.56 CA$18.77
4.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.80 CA$3.88
$2.26 CA$3.12
23.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25 CA$4.51
$2.70 CA$3.74
20.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Toronto
Milton
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.40 CA$3.32
$2.93 CA$4.06
-18.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$114 CA$158
$45.77 CA$63.4
149.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.76 CA$5.20
$3.13 CA$4.34
20.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.41 CA$1.95
$1.45 CA$2.01
-2.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.53 CA$35.34
$37.15 CA$51.4
-31.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 CA$1.52
$1.09 CA$1.51
0.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2K CA$34.9K
$24.8K CA$34.4K
1.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1K CA$29.2K
$24.2K CA$33.5K
-13.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
Milton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 CA$166
$247 CA$341
-51.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.54 CA$52.0
$60.4 CA$83.6
-37.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.5 CA$75.5
$67.7 CA$93.8
-19.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
Milton
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.5 CA$76.9
$33.36 CA$46.19
66.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.15 CA$29.28
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.56 CA$16.00
$16.87 CA$23.35
-31.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Toronto
Milton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,129 CA$1,564
$556 CA$770
103.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.0K CA$24.9K
$11.8K CA$16.3K
52.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
Milton
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.9 CA$78.8
$57.5 CA$79.6
-0.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.96 CA$55.3
$53.7 CA$74.3
-25.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.7 CA$124
$95.0 CA$132
-5.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 CA$158
$129 CA$179
-11.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Toronto
Milton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,849 CA$2,561
$1,783 CA$2,469
3.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,560 CA$2,159
$1,672 CA$2,315
-6.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,925 CA$4,051
$2,588 CA$3,583
13.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,470 CA$3,420
$2,288 CA$3,168
7.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,085 CA$12.6K
$4,840 CA$6,701
87.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,036 CA$9,742
$4,220 CA$5,843
66.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Toronto
Milton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,572 CA$4,946
$3,162 CA$4,378
12.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.16
6.8
-24.12%

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

Last update for Toronto: May 31, 2026

Last update for Milton: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,849 in Toronto and $1,783 in Milton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Toronto pays 13% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $82.0 in Toronto vs $72.0 in Milton. Groceries flip the comparison at $396 vs $459, with Toronto cheaper for home cooking.

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 Milton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Toronto and Milton?
Toronto and Milton differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($2,811 vs $3,044 including rent). Toronto is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Toronto or Milton?
Toronto pays 13% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Toronto and Milton?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,849 in Toronto versus $1,783 in Milton. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Toronto and Milton?
A monthly transit pass in Toronto runs roughly 149% less than in Milton. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Toronto and Milton?
Childcare runs $1,129 in Toronto versus $556 in Milton. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
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 Milton?
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.
Is Toronto or Milton safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Toronto and Milton are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Toronto or Milton?
Expats usually find Toronto gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Milton. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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