Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Saanich Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Saanich

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,788 in Toronto versus $2,643 in Saanich.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,110 in Toronto versus $3,643 in Saanich.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,432 in Toronto versus $4,644 in Saanich.

Living in Toronto is roughly 5% more expensive than in Saanich, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Toronto 109% above, Saanich 98% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.51 CA$26.05

$14.59 CA$20.53

26.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.8 CA$118

$66.3 CA$93.3

26.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.97 CA$15.44

$11.18 CA$15.73

-1.88%

Cappuccino

$3.99 CA$5.61

$4.03 CA$5.68

-0.99%

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

$2.11 CA$2.98

$2.27 CA$3.19

-7.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 CA$2.38

$1.85 CA$2.60

-8.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.92 CA$8.33

$5.17 CA$7.27

14.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.48 CA$9.11

$6.65 CA$9.35

-2.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.71 CA$3.82

$1.69 CA$2.37

60.36%

White Bread (500g)

$2.85 CA$4.02

$2.69 CA$3.78

5.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.56 CA$5.01

$5.11 CA$7.19

-30.33%

Eggs

$3.54 CA$4.98

$3.59 CA$5.06

-1.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.26 CA$18.66

$11.33 CA$15.94

17.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.05 CA$18.36

$12.96 CA$18.23

0.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.77 CA$23.59

$13.15 CA$18.50

27.53%

Apples (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.79

$4.36 CA$6.14

-5.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 CA$1.60

$1.60 CA$2.25

-28.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.40 CA$4.78

$4.54 CA$6.39

-25.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.02 CA$5.66

$4.97 CA$7.00

-19.11%

Potato (1kg)

$2.43 CA$3.42

$3.81 CA$5.37

-36.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.94 CA$4.13

$3.25 CA$4.58

-9.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 CA$3.48

$2.66 CA$3.75

-7.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 CA$2.70

$2.45 CA$3.45

-21.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.99 CA$21.09

$11.74 CA$16.51

27.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.34 CA$20.17

$15.42 CA$21.70

-7.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 CA$3.81

$3.93 CA$5.53

-31.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 CA$4.39

$4.58 CA$6.44

-31.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.45 CA$3.45

$1.79 CA$2.52

36.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$113 CA$159

$80.3 CA$113

40.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.63 CA$5.10

$2.68 CA$3.77

35.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 CA$1.89

$1.32 CA$1.86

1.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.55 CA$35.95

$32.64 CA$45.92

-21.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 CA$1.56

$1.34 CA$1.89

-17.16%

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

$25.3K CA$35.6K

$25.1K CA$35.4K

0.53%

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

$21.8K CA$30.6K

$20.7K CA$29.2K

4.97%

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

$117 CA$164

$134 CA$188

-12.68%

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

$37.60 CA$52.9

$21.19 CA$29.81

77.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.7 CA$75.6

$73.1 CA$103

-26.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.1 CA$80.3

$73.8 CA$104

-22.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.86 CA$29.35

Cinema Ticket

$11.56 CA$16.26

$11.66 CA$16.40

-0.86%

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

$1,125 CA$1,583

$628 CA$884

79.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.4K CA$25.9K

$14.0K CA$19.7K

31.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.3 CA$80.7

$56.9 CA$80.1

0.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.05 CA$55.0

$37.29 CA$52.5

4.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 CA$123

$96.1 CA$135

-8.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 CA$160

$112 CA$158

1.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,842 CA$2,591

$1,525 CA$2,146

20.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,531 CA$2,154

$1,347 CA$1,896

13.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,925 CA$4,116

$2,148 CA$3,022

36.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,502 CA$3,521

$1,951 CA$2,745

28.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,725 CA$12.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,867 CA$9,663

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,454 CA$4,860

$2,956 CA$4,160

16.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.16

6.18

-16.50%

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

Last update for Toronto: July 11, 2026

Last update for Saanich: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,842 in Toronto and $1,525 in Saanich. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Toronto pays 17% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $84.0 in Toronto vs $66.0 in Saanich. Groceries flip the comparison at $395 vs $409, with Toronto cheaper for home cooking.

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 Saanich: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saanich is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 17% higher in Toronto, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,842 in Toronto versus $1,525 in Saanich. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Saanich – a meal for two runs $66.0 versus $84.0 in Toronto. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,788 per month in Toronto versus $2,643 in Saanich – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,643 in Saanich versus $2,788 in Toronto, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Saanich but tight or insufficient in Toronto. The gap between the two cities makes Saanich the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Saanich gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.