Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Salem, OR

For one person, living is cheaper in Toronto: $2,530 a month against $2,709 in Salem, OR, rent and utilities included – about $2,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Toronto
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,530
/mo nomad
Salem, OR
🇺🇸 United States
$2,709
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Toronto and in Salem, OR

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 Salem, OR actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,530 per month in Toronto vs $2,709 in Salem, OR, rent included.

  • Toronto $2,530
  • Salem, OR $2,709

A couple spends around $3,646 per month in Toronto vs $3,869 in Salem, OR, rent included.

  • Toronto $3,646
  • Salem, OR $3,869

A family of three spends $4,761 per month in Toronto vs $5,029 in Salem, OR, rent included.

  • Toronto $4,761
  • Salem, OR $5,029

Toronto is about 7% cheaper than Salem, OR, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Toronto and Salem, OR sit above the global median – Toronto by 89%, Salem, OR by 102%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Toronto
Salem, OR
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.67 CA$25.19
$20.26 $20.26
-12.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.4 CA$110
$95.5 $95.5
-18.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.47 CA$14.93
$12.21 $12.21
-14.25%
Cappuccino
$4.08 CA$5.81
$4.56 $4.56
-10.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 CA$3.02
$2.41 $2.41
-12.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 CA$2.51
$2.09 $2.09
-15.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.17 CA$8.80
$4.99 $4.99
23.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.89 CA$9.82
$7.04 $7.04
-2.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Toronto
Salem, OR
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.43 CA$3.46
$1.12 $1.12
116.96%
White Bread (500g)
$2.75 CA$3.92
$3.80 $3.80
-27.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.23 CA$3.18
$4.01 $4.01
-44.39%
Eggs
$3.45 CA$4.91
$4.86 $4.86
-29.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.93 CA$12.73
$14.52 $14.52
-38.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.44 CA$16.31
$13.89 $13.89
-17.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.61 CA$20.83
$18.41 $18.41
-20.64%
Apples (1kg)
$3.75 CA$5.34
$4.83 $4.83
-22.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.15 CA$1.64
$1.81 $1.81
-36.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.55 CA$5.06
$3.95 $3.95
-10.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.28 CA$6.10
$3.98 $3.98
7.54%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 CA$2.63
$3.08 $3.08
-39.94%
Onion (1kg)
$1.67 CA$2.38
$3.29 $3.29
-49.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.22 CA$3.16
$1.77 $1.77
25.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 CA$1.72
$2.11 $2.11
-42.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.88 CA$19.78
$13.30 $13.30
4.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.25 CA$20.31
$15.12 $15.12
-5.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20 CA$3.13
$1.69 $1.69
30.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 CA$3.45
$3.00 $3.00
-19.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Toronto
Salem, OR
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.42 CA$3.44
$2.01 $2.01
20.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$111 CA$158
$45.46 $45.46
143.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.90 CA$4.13
$3.42 $3.42
-15.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.26 CA$1.80
$2.15 $2.15
-41.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.03 CA$31.40
$49.81 $49.81
-55.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 CA$1.74
$1.29 $1.29
-5.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6K CA$39.4K
$33.7K $33.7K
-17.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K CA$28.3K
$23.6K $23.6K
-16.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
Salem, OR
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 CA$174
$218 $218
-44.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.03 CA$45.66
$61.4 $61.4
-47.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.92 CA$68.3
$97.6 $97.6
-50.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
Salem, OR
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.90 CA$55.5
$46.90 $46.90
-17.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.24 CA$33.12
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.61 CA$17.97
$14.88 $14.88
-15.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Toronto
Salem, OR
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$834 CA$1,189
$1,067 $1,067
-21.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.3K CA$33.3K
$16.4K $16.4K
42.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
Salem, OR
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.6 CA$75.0
$55.4 $55.4
-5.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.26 CA$57.4
$47.55 $47.55
-15.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.2 CA$137
$83.6 $83.6
15.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 CA$175
$78.9 $78.9
55.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Toronto
Salem, OR
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,598 CA$2,278
$1,520 $1,520
5.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,435 CA$2,045
$1,360 $1,360
5.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,657 CA$3,787
$2,351 $2,351
13.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,096 CA$2,988
$2,062 $2,062
1.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,033 CA$11.5K
$3,015 $3,015
166.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,557 CA$9,347
$3,098 $3,098
111.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Toronto
Salem, OR
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,743 CA$5,335
$3,730 $3,730
0.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.47
6.59
-32.17%

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

Last update for Toronto: October 4, 2026

Last update for Salem, OR: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Toronto
$1.4K
Salem, OR
$1.4K 5.2% $75
Groceries & Markets
Toronto
$340
Salem, OR
$416 22.4% $76
Eating Out
Toronto
$282
Salem, OR
$310 10.1% $29
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
$202
Salem, OR
$377 86.8% $175
Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
$140
Salem, OR
$119 14.9% $21
Getting Around
Toronto
$130
Salem, OR
$68 47.8% $62
Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
$64
Salem, OR
$77 19.6% $13

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,598 in Toronto versus $1,520 in Salem, OR. 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 0% higher in Toronto, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $77.0 in Toronto versus $95.0 in Salem, OR. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $340 vs $416 – making Toronto the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Toronto
🇺🇸 Salem, OR
🕒 Local time
02:10 2:10 AM
23:10 11:10 PM
3 h behind Toronto
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,731,571
155,469
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 CAD (1 CAD = 0.702 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.626 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Toronto Salem, OR 3,430 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Toronto
  • Salem, OR

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 Salem, OR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Salem, OR cheaper than Toronto?
Yes – Salem, OR is pricier by about 7%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in utilities.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,795 per month in Toronto and $4,064 in Salem, OR. 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 Toronto, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Toronto or in Salem, OR?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $77.0 in Toronto and $95.0 in Salem, OR. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Toronto and in Salem, OR?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,530 in Toronto and $2,709 in Salem, OR. That's a gap of about 7%.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Toronto or in Salem, OR?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,530 in Toronto and $2,709 in Salem, OR. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Toronto or Salem, OR more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Toronto – 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 Toronto. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Salem, OR makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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