Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Saint John, New Brunswick Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Saint John, New Brunswick

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,628 in Toronto versus $1,970 in Saint John, New Brunswick.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,848 in Toronto versus $2,928 in Saint John, New Brunswick.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,067 in Toronto versus $3,887 in Saint John, New Brunswick.

Living in Toronto is roughly 33% more expensive than in Saint John, New Brunswick, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Toronto 91% above, Saint John, New Brunswick 43% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.88 CA$24.75

$19.25 CA$26.64

-7.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$87.9 CA$122

$60.6 CA$83.8

45.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.93 CA$15.13

$10.92 CA$15.12

0.09%

Cappuccino

$4.06 CA$5.62

$3.16 CA$4.37

28.48%

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

$2.18 CA$3.02

$1.81 CA$2.51

20.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 CA$2.35

$1.10 CA$1.52

54.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.69 CA$9.25

$4.59 CA$6.35

45.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.35 CA$10.16

$5.14 CA$7.11

43.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.78 CA$3.85

$2.19 CA$3.03

26.94%

White Bread (500g)

$2.89 CA$4.00

$2.70 CA$3.74

7.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.56 CA$3.55

$3.22 CA$4.45

-20.50%

Eggs

$3.79 CA$5.24

$3.69 CA$5.11

2.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.17 CA$14.07

$13.85 CA$19.17

-26.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.95 CA$16.53

$10.81 CA$14.96

10.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.12 CA$22.31

$13.14 CA$18.18

22.68%

Apples (1kg)

$3.89 CA$5.39

$5.15 CA$7.13

-24.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 CA$1.76

$1.54 CA$2.12

-17.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 CA$5.37

$4.31 CA$5.96

-9.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.33 CA$5.99

$4.06 CA$5.62

6.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.83 CA$2.53

$2.13 CA$2.94

-14.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 CA$2.07

$2.24 CA$3.10

-33.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 CA$3.15

$2.66 CA$3.67

-14.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 CA$1.99

$1.47 CA$2.04

-2.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.20 CA$19.64

$14.66 CA$20.29

-3.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.24 CA$19.71

$9.98 CA$13.81

42.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 CA$3.11

$1.85 CA$2.56

21.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 CA$3.50

$2.13 CA$2.94

18.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 CA$3.42

$2.19 CA$3.03

12.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$112 CA$155

$57.8 CA$80.0

93.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 CA$4.22

$2.95 CA$4.09

3.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.24 CA$1.71

$1.22 CA$1.68

1.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.44 CA$31.05

$21.97 CA$30.41

2.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 CA$1.71

$1.21 CA$1.68

2.48%

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

$27.5K CA$38.1K

$25.4K CA$35.2K

8.19%

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

$21.1K CA$29.3K

$19.4K CA$26.9K

8.85%

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

$128 CA$177

$124 CA$172

2.64%

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

$33.79 CA$46.75

$41.81 CA$57.9

-19.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.25 CA$68.2

$65.4 CA$90.5

-24.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.93 CA$56.6

$54.6 CA$75.5

-25.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.62 CA$34.07

$35.76 CA$49.49

-31.15%

Cinema Ticket

$13.16 CA$18.21

$12.76 CA$17.65

3.13%

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

$792 CA$1,097

$384 CA$531

106.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.1K CA$33.4K

$11.5K CA$15.9K

110.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.5 CA$75.4

$51.5 CA$71.2

5.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.11 CA$59.7

$35.92 CA$49.70

20.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 CA$140

$106 CA$147

-4.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 CA$171

$110 CA$153

11.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 CA$2,287

$1,011 CA$1,399

63.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,452 CA$2,009

$841 CA$1,163

72.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,694 CA$3,728

$1,637 CA$2,265

64.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,149 CA$2,974

$1,335 CA$1,847

61.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,347 CA$11.6K

$2,072 CA$2,867

302.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,816 CA$9,431

$2,192 CA$3,033

210.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,614 CA$5,001

$2,491 CA$3,447

45.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.49

4.69

-4.26%

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

Last update for Toronto: August 30, 2026

Last update for Saint John, New Brunswick: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,653 in Toronto and $1,011 in Saint John, New Brunswick. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Toronto pays 45% 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: $88.0 in Toronto vs $61.0 in Saint John, New Brunswick for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $365 vs $357 per month, with Saint John, New Brunswick cheaper across the board.

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 Saint John, New Brunswick: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saint John, New Brunswick wins on cost – living expenses run 33% lower than in Toronto. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Saint John, New Brunswick the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 45% 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: $1,653 in Toronto versus $1,011 in Saint John, New Brunswick. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Saint John, New Brunswick – a meal for two runs $61.0 versus $88.0 in Toronto. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,628 per month in Toronto versus $1,970 in Saint John, New Brunswick – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,970 in Saint John, New Brunswick versus $2,628 in Toronto, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Saint John, New Brunswick but tight or insufficient in Toronto. The gap between the two cities makes Saint John, New Brunswick 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 Saint John, New Brunswick gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.