Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Pickering, ON Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Pickering, ON

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,788 per month in Toronto vs $2,779 in Pickering, ON, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,110 per month in Toronto vs $3,850 in Pickering, ON, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,432 per month in Toronto vs $4,922 in Pickering, ON, rent included.

Toronto and Pickering, ON have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Toronto and Pickering, ON sit above the global median – Toronto by 109%, Pickering, ON by 108%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.51 CA$26.05

$18.67 CA$26.27

-0.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.8 CA$118

$73.0 CA$103

14.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.97 CA$15.44

$11.10 CA$15.62

-1.17%

Cappuccino

$3.99 CA$5.61

$2.38 CA$3.34

67.65%

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

$2.11 CA$2.98

$1.61 CA$2.27

31.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 CA$2.38

$1.45 CA$2.04

16.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.92 CA$8.33

$4.83 CA$6.80

22.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.48 CA$9.11

$5.10 CA$7.17

27.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.71 CA$3.82

$2.06 CA$2.89

31.55%

White Bread (500g)

$2.85 CA$4.02

$2.14 CA$3.02

33.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.56 CA$5.01

$4.39 CA$6.18

-18.91%

Eggs

$3.54 CA$4.98

$3.25 CA$4.58

8.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.26 CA$18.66

$11.12 CA$15.65

19.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.05 CA$18.36

$16.06 CA$22.59

-18.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.77 CA$23.59

$14.65 CA$20.62

14.47%

Apples (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.79

$4.18 CA$5.88

-1.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 CA$1.60

$1.05 CA$1.48

8.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.40 CA$4.78

$4.20 CA$5.91

-19.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.02 CA$5.66

$5.11 CA$7.20

-21.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.43 CA$3.42

$2.88 CA$4.06

-15.62%

Onion (1kg)

$2.94 CA$4.13

$3.42 CA$4.82

-14.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 CA$3.48

$2.76 CA$3.89

-10.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 CA$2.70

$1.11 CA$1.56

72.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.99 CA$21.09

$9.08 CA$12.77

65.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.34 CA$20.17

$12.51 CA$17.61

14.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 CA$3.81

$2.72 CA$3.83

-0.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 CA$4.39

$2.99 CA$4.21

4.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.45 CA$3.45

$2.74 CA$3.86

-10.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$113 CA$159

$62.1 CA$87.4

81.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.63 CA$5.10

$2.83 CA$3.98

28.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 CA$1.89

$1.26 CA$1.77

6.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.55 CA$35.95

$22.49 CA$31.64

13.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 CA$1.56

$1.12 CA$1.58

-0.89%

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

$25.3K CA$35.6K

-0.19%

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

$21.8K CA$30.6K

$22.3K CA$31.4K

-2.57%

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

$117 CA$164

$166 CA$234

-29.80%

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

$37.60 CA$52.9

$35.93 CA$50.6

4.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.7 CA$75.6

$66.0 CA$92.8

-18.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.1 CA$80.3

$62.3 CA$87.7

-8.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.86 CA$29.35

Cinema Ticket

$11.56 CA$16.26

$11.85 CA$16.67

-2.45%

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

$1,125 CA$1,583

$762 CA$1,073

47.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.4K CA$25.9K

$11.9K CA$16.7K

55.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.3 CA$80.7

$75.3 CA$106

-23.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.05 CA$55.0

$54.5 CA$76.7

-28.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 CA$123

$75.7 CA$106

15.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 CA$160

$87.6 CA$123

29.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,842 CA$2,591

$1,679 CA$2,362

9.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,531 CA$2,154

$1,582 CA$2,226

-3.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,925 CA$4,116

$2,246 CA$3,161

30.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,502 CA$3,521

$2,097 CA$2,951

19.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,725 CA$12.3K

$4,199 CA$5,908

107.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,867 CA$9,663

$3,909 CA$5,500

75.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,454 CA$4,860

$2,974 CA$4,185

16.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.16

6.57

-21.46%

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

Last update for Toronto: July 11, 2026

Last update for Pickering, ON: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,842 in Toronto versus $1,679 in Pickering, ON. 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 16% higher in Toronto. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $84.0 in Toronto versus $73.0 in Pickering, ON. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $395 vs $384 – making Pickering, ON 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 Pickering, ON: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,181 per month in Toronto and $4,168 in Pickering, ON. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 3% more in Toronto, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

Kindergarten costs $1,125 per month in Toronto and $762 in Pickering, ON. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,788 in Toronto and $2,779 in Pickering, ON. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Pickering, ON – 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 Pickering, ON. 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.