Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and New Westminster Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and New Westminster

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,788 per month in Toronto vs $2,521 in New Westminster, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,110 per month in Toronto vs $3,864 in New Westminster, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,432 per month in Toronto vs $5,207 in New Westminster, rent included.

Toronto costs about 11% more than New Westminster, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Toronto and New Westminster sit above the global median – Toronto by 109%, New Westminster by 89%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.51 CA$26.05

$14.70 CA$20.68

25.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.8 CA$118

$74.9 CA$105

11.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.97 CA$15.44

$9.85 CA$13.86

11.37%

Cappuccino

$3.99 CA$5.61

$4.07 CA$5.73

-1.97%

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

$2.11 CA$2.98

$2.01 CA$2.84

4.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 CA$2.38

$1.40 CA$1.97

20.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.92 CA$8.33

$6.24 CA$8.78

-5.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.48 CA$9.11

$6.55 CA$9.21

-1.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.71 CA$3.82

$2.32 CA$3.27

16.81%

White Bread (500g)

$2.85 CA$4.02

$2.49 CA$3.51

14.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.56 CA$5.01

$3.76 CA$5.29

-5.32%

Eggs

$3.54 CA$4.98

$3.60 CA$5.07

-1.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.26 CA$18.66

$10.04 CA$14.13

32.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.05 CA$18.36

$10.21 CA$14.37

27.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.77 CA$23.59

$9.85 CA$13.86

70.25%

Apples (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.79

$3.11 CA$4.37

32.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 CA$1.60

$1.42 CA$2.00

-19.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.40 CA$4.78

$2.94 CA$4.14

15.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.02 CA$5.66

$3.72 CA$5.24

8.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.43 CA$3.42

$2.53 CA$3.56

-3.95%

Onion (1kg)

$2.94 CA$4.13

$2.20 CA$3.10

33.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 CA$3.48

$1.88 CA$2.65

31.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 CA$2.70

$2.14 CA$3.00

-10.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.99 CA$21.09

$15.89 CA$22.35

-5.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.34 CA$20.17

$10.66 CA$15.00

34.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 CA$3.81

$2.17 CA$3.06

24.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 CA$4.39

$2.99 CA$4.20

4.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.45 CA$3.45

$2.57 CA$3.61

-4.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$113 CA$159

$94.6 CA$133

19.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.63 CA$5.10

$2.16 CA$3.03

68.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 CA$1.89

$1.60 CA$2.25

-16.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.55 CA$35.95

$23.11 CA$32.52

10.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 CA$1.56

$1.26 CA$1.77

-11.90%

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

$25.3K CA$35.6K

$25.4K CA$35.8K

-0.55%

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

$21.8K CA$30.6K

$19.8K CA$27.9K

9.95%

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

$117 CA$164

$115 CA$161

1.71%

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

$37.60 CA$52.9

$45.62 CA$64.2

-17.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.7 CA$75.6

$66.8 CA$93.9

-19.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.1 CA$80.3

$35.04 CA$49.31

62.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.86 CA$29.35

$18.72 CA$26.34

11.43%

Cinema Ticket

$11.56 CA$16.26

$12.17 CA$17.13

-5.01%

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

$1,125 CA$1,583

$820 CA$1,153

37.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.4K CA$25.9K

$8,048 CA$11.3K

129.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.3 CA$80.7

$48.26 CA$67.9

18.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.05 CA$55.0

$33.28 CA$46.83

17.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 CA$123

$83.0 CA$117

5.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 CA$160

$105 CA$147

8.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,842 CA$2,591

$1,625 CA$2,286

13.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,531 CA$2,154

$1,374 CA$1,933

11.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,925 CA$4,116

$3,016 CA$4,243

-2.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,502 CA$3,521

$2,752 CA$3,873

-9.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,725 CA$12.3K

$4,732 CA$6,659

84.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,867 CA$9,663

$4,089 CA$5,754

67.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,454 CA$4,860

$3,065 CA$4,313

12.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.16

6.44

-19.88%

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

Last update for Toronto: July 11, 2026

Last update for New Westminster: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,842 in Toronto versus $1,625 in New Westminster. 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 13% 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 $84.0 in Toronto versus $75.0 in New Westminster. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $395 vs $326 – making New Westminster 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 New Westminster: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Toronto costs about 11% more than New Westminster, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,181 per month in Toronto and $3,782 in New Westminster. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $1,125 per month in Toronto and $820 in New Westminster. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% more in Toronto, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,788 in Toronto and $2,521 in New Westminster. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward New Westminster – 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 New Westminster. 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.