Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Monterey, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Monterey, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,811 per month in Toronto vs $3,367 in Monterey, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,130 per month in Toronto vs $5,002 in Monterey, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,449 per month in Toronto vs $6,638 in Monterey, CA, rent included.

Toronto is about 17% cheaper than Monterey, CA, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Toronto and Monterey, CA sit above the global median – Toronto by 110%, Monterey, CA by 151%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.71 CA$25.90

$16.76 $16.76

11.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.9 CA$113

$66.1 $66.1

23.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.83 CA$14.99

$9.31 $9.31

16.33%

Cappuccino

$3.89 CA$5.38

$4.52 $4.52

-13.94%

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

$2.22 CA$3.07

$3.07 $3.07

-27.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 CA$2.28

$1.64 $1.64

0.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 CA$8.38

$6.06 $6.06

-0.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.58 CA$9.11

$4.44 $4.44

48.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.73 CA$3.77

$1.35 $1.35

102.22%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 CA$3.76

$3.51 $3.51

-22.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.54 CA$4.90

$4.31 $4.31

-17.87%

Eggs

$3.50 CA$4.84

$4.01 $4.01

-12.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.53 CA$18.73

$9.49 $9.49

42.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.09 CA$18.12

$17.82 $17.82

-26.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.96 CA$23.49

$13.99 $13.99

21.23%

Apples (1kg)

$4.16 CA$5.76

$3.91 $3.91

6.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 CA$1.63

$1.14 $1.14

3.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.25 CA$4.50

$2.48 $2.48

31.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.12 CA$5.70

$2.21 $2.21

86.43%

Potato (1kg)

$2.50 CA$3.47

$1.95 $1.95

28.21%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 CA$3.98

$2.15 $2.15

33.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.35 CA$3.25

$1.82 $1.82

29.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 CA$2.77

$1.91 $1.91

4.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.58 CA$20.19

$12.07 $12.07

20.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.18 CA$19.63

$16.96 $16.96

-16.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.80 CA$3.88

$2.17 $2.17

29.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 CA$4.51

$2.46 $2.46

32.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.40 CA$3.32

$1.95 $1.95

23.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$114 CA$158

$53.8 $53.8

112.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.76 CA$5.20

$1.58 $1.58

137.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 CA$1.95

$0.90 $0.90

56.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.53 CA$35.34

$29.61 $29.61

-13.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 CA$1.52

$1.26 $1.26

-12.70%

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

$25.2K CA$34.9K

$24.0K $24.0K

5.04%

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

$21.1K CA$29.2K

$24.6K $24.6K

-14.21%

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

$120 CA$166

$185 $185

-35.45%

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

$37.54 CA$52.0

$51.0 $51.0

-26.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.5 CA$75.5

$60.0 $60.0

-9.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.5 CA$76.9

$42.97 $42.97

29.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.15 CA$29.28

$10.51 $10.51

101.24%

Cinema Ticket

$11.56 CA$16.00

$12.67 $12.67

-8.76%

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

$1,129 CA$1,564

$552 $552

104.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.0K CA$24.9K

$12.6K $12.6K

42.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 CA$78.8

$67.5 $67.5

-15.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.96 CA$55.3

$122 $122

-67.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 CA$124

$97.3 $97.3

-7.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 CA$158

$200 $200

-43.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 CA$2,561

$2,279 $2,279

-18.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,560 CA$2,159

$1,961 $1,961

-20.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,925 CA$4,051

$3,707 $3,707

-21.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,470 CA$3,420

$3,649 $3,649

-32.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,085 CA$12.6K

$7,928 $7,928

14.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,036 CA$9,742

$5,874 $5,874

19.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,572 CA$4,946

$5,296 $5,296

-32.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.16

6.4

-19.38%

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

Last update for Toronto: May 31, 2026

Last update for Monterey, CA: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,849 in Toronto versus $2,279 in Monterey, CA. 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 48% higher in Monterey, CA, 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 $66.0 in Monterey, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $396 vs $379 – making Monterey, CA 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 Monterey, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Monterey, CA is pricier by about 20%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,216 per month in Toronto and $5,050 in Monterey, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,811 in Toronto and $3,367 in Monterey, CA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 112% less in Toronto. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,811 in Toronto and $3,367 in Monterey, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Toronto – 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 Toronto. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Monterey, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.