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 $2,811 per month in Toronto vs $2,472 in New Westminster, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,130 per month in Toronto vs $3,911 in New Westminster, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,449 per month in Toronto vs $5,351 in New Westminster, rent included.

Toronto costs about 14% more than New Westminster, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Toronto and New Westminster sit above the global median – Toronto by 110%, New Westminster by 84%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.71 CA$26.02

$14.83 CA$20.63

26.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.9 CA$114

$72.7 CA$101

12.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.83 CA$15.06

$9.66 CA$13.43

12.11%

Cappuccino

$3.89 CA$5.41

$3.88 CA$5.39

0.26%

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

$2.22 CA$3.09

$2.05 CA$2.85

8.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 CA$2.29

$1.42 CA$1.97

16.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 CA$8.41

$6.09 CA$8.47

-0.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.58 CA$9.15

$6.68 CA$9.28

-1.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.73 CA$3.79

$2.33 CA$3.25

17.17%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 CA$3.78

$2.44 CA$3.40

11.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.54 CA$4.92

$3.74 CA$5.21

-5.35%

Eggs

$3.50 CA$4.87

$3.42 CA$4.76

2.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.53 CA$18.81

$10.15 CA$14.12

33.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.09 CA$18.20

$10.25 CA$14.26

27.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.96 CA$23.59

$10.01 CA$13.93

69.43%

Apples (1kg)

$4.16 CA$5.79

$3.08 CA$4.28

35.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 CA$1.64

$1.39 CA$1.93

-15.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.25 CA$4.52

$2.95 CA$4.10

10.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.12 CA$5.73

$3.73 CA$5.19

10.46%

Potato (1kg)

$2.50 CA$3.48

$2.43 CA$3.38

2.88%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 CA$4.00

$2.22 CA$3.09

29.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.35 CA$3.27

$1.89 CA$2.62

24.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 CA$2.78

$2.11 CA$2.94

-5.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.58 CA$20.28

$15.99 CA$22.23

-8.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.18 CA$19.71

$12.60 CA$17.52

12.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.80 CA$3.89

$2.20 CA$3.07

27.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 CA$4.53

$2.91 CA$4.05

11.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.40 CA$3.34

$2.60 CA$3.61

-7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$114 CA$159

$95.9 CA$133

18.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.76 CA$5.22

$2.27 CA$3.16

65.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 CA$1.96

$1.66 CA$2.31

-15.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.53 CA$35.50

$23.28 CA$32.37

9.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 CA$1.53

$1.33 CA$1.84

-17.29%

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

$25.2K CA$35.1K

$24.7K CA$34.4K

2.09%

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

$21.1K CA$29.3K

$20.2K CA$28.1K

4.31%

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

$120 CA$166

$117 CA$163

1.88%

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

$37.54 CA$52.2

$45.91 CA$63.8

-18.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.5 CA$75.8

$66.3 CA$92.2

-17.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.5 CA$77.2

$34.64 CA$48.17

60.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.15 CA$29.41

$18.46 CA$25.67

14.57%

Cinema Ticket

$11.56 CA$16.07

$12.00 CA$16.69

-3.67%

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

$1,129 CA$1,571

$820 CA$1,141

37.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.0K CA$25.0K

$8,202 CA$11.4K

119.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 CA$79.2

$47.31 CA$65.8

20.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.96 CA$55.6

$34.02 CA$47.31

17.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 CA$125

$82.2 CA$114

9.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 CA$159

$104 CA$144

10.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 CA$2,572

$1,627 CA$2,263

13.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,560 CA$2,169

$1,355 CA$1,885

15.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,925 CA$4,068

$2,968 CA$4,127

-1.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,470 CA$3,435

$2,702 CA$3,758

-8.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,085 CA$12.6K

$4,826 CA$6,712

88.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,036 CA$9,785

$4,068 CA$5,657

72.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,572 CA$4,967

$3,133 CA$4,356

14.03%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for New Westminster: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,849 in Toronto versus $1,627 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 14% 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 $82.0 in Toronto versus $73.0 in New Westminster. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $396 vs $329 – 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 14% 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 $4,216 per month in Toronto and $3,707 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 $1,129 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 20% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in New Westminster, where all-in costs run around $2,472, than in Toronto at $2,811. In New Westminster it covers expenses comfortably, while in Toronto it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.