Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Rockford, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Rockford, IL: $2,166 a month against $2,610 in Toronto, rent and utilities included – about $5,300 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Toronto outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Toronto
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,610
/mo nomad
Rockford, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,166
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Toronto and in Rockford, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Toronto and in Rockford, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,610 per month in Toronto vs $2,166 in Rockford, IL, rent included.

  • Toronto $2,610
  • Rockford, IL $2,166

A couple spends around $3,727 per month in Toronto vs $3,480 in Rockford, IL, rent included.

  • Toronto $3,727
  • Rockford, IL $3,480

A family of three spends $4,844 per month in Toronto vs $4,794 in Rockford, IL, rent included.

  • Toronto $4,844
  • Rockford, IL $4,794

Toronto costs about 21% more than Rockford, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Toronto and Rockford, IL sit above the global median – Toronto by 93%, Rockford, IL by 60%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Toronto
Rockford, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59 CA$24.87
$15.72 $15.72
11.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.8 CA$111
$73.6 $73.6
7.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.73 CA$15.16
$9.97 $9.97
7.62%
Cappuccino
$4.09 CA$5.78
$5.03 $5.03
-18.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 CA$2.97
$2.82 $2.82
-25.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 CA$2.43
$1.99 $1.99
-13.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.36 CA$8.99
$4.59 $4.59
38.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.08 CA$10.01
$6.83 $6.83
3.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Toronto
Rockford, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.54 CA$3.59
$0.82 $0.82
209.76%
White Bread (500g)
$2.72 CA$3.85
$3.40 $3.40
-20.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.18 CA$3.09
$5.30 $5.30
-58.87%
Eggs
$3.63 CA$5.13
$2.91 $2.91
24.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.46 CA$13.37
$10.07 $10.07
-6.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.54 CA$16.32
$13.99 $13.99
-17.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.37 CA$20.32
$16.79 $16.79
-14.41%
Apples (1kg)
$3.70 CA$5.23
$4.78 $4.78
-22.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.19 CA$1.68
$1.53 $1.53
-22.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.46 CA$4.90
$3.79 $3.79
-8.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.22 CA$5.97
$5.15 $5.15
-18.06%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 CA$2.52
$2.45 $2.45
-26.94%
Onion (1kg)
$1.65 CA$2.33
$2.59 $2.59
-36.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.20 CA$3.11
$2.23 $2.23
-1.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 CA$1.78
$1.85 $1.85
-31.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.97 CA$19.75
$10.97 $10.97
27.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.20 CA$20.07
$15.82 $15.82
-10.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.25 CA$3.18
$1.99 $1.99
13.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 CA$3.58
$1.86 $1.86
36.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Toronto
Rockford, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.32 CA$3.28
$1.52 $1.52
52.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$112 CA$158
$55.5 $55.5
101.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.06 CA$4.33
$2.75 $2.75
11.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.22 CA$1.72
$1.58 $1.58
-22.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.69 CA$30.66
$20.70 $20.70
4.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 CA$1.72
$1.04 $1.04
16.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K CA$37.0K
$33.5K $33.5K
-21.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1K CA$29.9K
$26.2K $26.2K
-19.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
Rockford, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 CA$169
$192 $192
-37.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.21 CA$45.54
$45.71 $45.71
-29.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.88 CA$69.1
$71.1 $71.1
-31.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
Rockford, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.34 CA$55.6
$41.82 $41.82
-5.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.58 CA$33.34
$25.44 $25.44
-7.31%
Cinema Ticket
$12.58 CA$17.79
$14.03 $14.03
-10.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Toronto
Rockford, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$832 CA$1,176
$520 $520
60.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.6K CA$33.4K
$4,074 $4,074
479.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
Rockford, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.3 CA$73.9
$45.23 $45.23
15.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.44 CA$55.8
$35.80 $35.80
10.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.0 CA$140
$93.1 $93.1
6.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 CA$172
$113 $113
8.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Toronto
Rockford, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,631 CA$2,306
$1,293 $1,293
26.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,448 CA$2,048
$925 $925
56.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,737 CA$3,869
$2,298 $2,298
19.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,129 CA$3,010
$2,040 $2,040
4.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,206 CA$11.6K
$1,476 $1,476
455.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,838 CA$9,666
$1,421 $1,421
381.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Toronto
Rockford, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,520 CA$4,976
$3,398 $3,398
3.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.47
6.49
-31.12%

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

Last update for Toronto: October 18, 2026

Last update for Rockford, IL: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Toronto
$1.4K
Rockford, IL
$925 36.1% $523
Groceries & Markets
Toronto
$343
Rockford, IL
$389 13.3% $46
Eating Out
Toronto
$283
Rockford, IL
$272 4% $11
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
$201
Rockford, IL
$309 54% $108
Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
$141
Rockford, IL
$129 8.3% $12
Getting Around
Toronto
$130
Rockford, IL
$72 44.5% $58
Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
$65
Rockford, IL
$70 8.3% $5.4

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,631 in Toronto versus $1,293 in Rockford, IL. 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 4% 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 $79.0 in Toronto versus $74.0 in Rockford, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $343 in Toronto vs $389 in Rockford, IL – so Toronto wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Toronto
🇺🇸 Rockford, IL
🕒 Local time
23:51 11:51 PM
22:51 10:51 PM
1 h behind Toronto
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,731,571
148,655
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Toronto Rockford, IL 800 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Toronto
  • Rockford, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Rockford, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rockford, IL cheaper than Toronto?
Yes – Toronto is pricier by about 21%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in transport.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,916 per month in Toronto and $3,249 in Rockford, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Rockford, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $832 per month in Toronto and $520 in Rockford, IL. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Toronto and in Rockford, IL?
Interestingly, groceries are about 13% cheaper in Toronto – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Toronto or in Rockford, IL?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Rockford, IL, where all-in costs run around $2,166, than in Toronto at $2,610. In Rockford, IL it covers expenses comfortably, while in Toronto it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Toronto or Rockford, IL more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Rockford, IL – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Rockford, IL. 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.

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