Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and San Diego, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in Toronto: $2,530 a month against $4,047 in San Diego, CA, rent and utilities included – about $18,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

125

Cost of Living Index in Toronto
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Toronto Living Index
197

Cost of Living Index in San Diego, CA
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San Diego, CA Living Index

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Toronto

🇨🇦 Canada

$2,530

/mo nomad

San Diego, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$4,047

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Toronto and in San Diego, CA

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 San Diego, CA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,530 per month in Toronto vs $4,047 in San Diego, CA, rent included.

Toronto $2,530
San Diego, CA $4,047

A couple spends around $3,646 per month in Toronto vs $6,129 in San Diego, CA, rent included.

Toronto $3,646
San Diego, CA $6,129

A family of three spends $4,761 per month in Toronto vs $8,211 in San Diego, CA, rent included.

Toronto $4,761
San Diego, CA $8,211

Toronto is about 37% cheaper than San Diego, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Toronto and San Diego, CA sit above the global median – Toronto by 89%, San Diego, CA by 202%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.67 CA$25.19

$24.60 $24.60

-28.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.4 CA$110

$100 $100

-22.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.47 CA$14.93

$13.54 $13.54

-22.67%

Cappuccino

$4.08 CA$5.81

$6.02 $6.02

-32.23%

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

$2.12 CA$3.02

$3.04 $3.04

-30.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 CA$2.51

$2.70 $2.70

-34.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.17 CA$8.80

$8.03 $8.03

-23.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.89 CA$9.82

$10.95 $10.95

-37.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.43 CA$3.46

$1.32 $1.32

84.09%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 CA$3.92

$5.53 $5.53

-50.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 CA$3.18

$4.94 $4.94

-54.86%

Eggs

$3.45 CA$4.91

$7.00 $7.00

-50.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.93 CA$12.73

$17.47 $17.47

-48.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.44 CA$16.31

$14.44 $14.44

-20.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.61 CA$20.83

$20.69 $20.69

-29.39%

Apples (1kg)

$3.75 CA$5.34

$4.73 $4.73

-20.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 CA$1.64

$1.93 $1.93

-40.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.55 CA$5.06

$4.45 $4.45

-20.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.28 CA$6.10

$5.11 $5.11

-16.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 CA$2.63

$3.17 $3.17

-41.64%

Onion (1kg)

$1.67 CA$2.38

$2.60 $2.60

-35.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 CA$3.16

$2.14 $2.14

3.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 CA$1.72

$2.07 $2.07

-41.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.88 CA$19.78

$11.73 $11.73

18.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.25 CA$20.31

$16.61 $16.61

-14.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 CA$3.13

$2.16 $2.16

1.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 CA$3.45

$3.23 $3.23

-25.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.42 CA$3.44

$2.48 $2.48

-2.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$111 CA$158

$71.0 $71.0

55.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.90 CA$4.13

$3.06 $3.06

-5.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.26 CA$1.80

$2.05 $2.05

-38.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.03 CA$31.40

$27.65 $27.65

-20.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 CA$1.74

$1.63 $1.63

-25.15%

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

$27.6K CA$39.4K

$37.0K $37.0K

-25.32%

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

$19.8K CA$28.3K

$25.7K $25.7K

-22.76%

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

$122 CA$174

$255 $255

-52.20%

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

$32.03 CA$45.66

$74.5 $74.5

-56.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.92 CA$68.3

$86.3 $86.3

-44.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.90 CA$55.5

$71.3 $71.3

-45.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.24 CA$33.12

$24.19 $24.19

-3.93%

Cinema Ticket

$12.61 CA$17.97

$19.86 $19.86

-36.51%

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

$834 CA$1,189

$1,938 $1,938

-56.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.3K CA$33.3K

$36.8K $36.8K

-36.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.6 CA$75.0

$66.2 $66.2

-20.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.26 CA$57.4

$55.0 $55.0

-26.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.2 CA$137

$114 $114

-15.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 CA$175

$147 $147

-16.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,598 CA$2,278

$3,255 $3,255

-50.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,435 CA$2,045

$2,381 $2,381

-39.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,657 CA$3,787

$5,549 $5,549

-52.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,096 CA$2,988

$4,363 $4,363

-51.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,033 CA$11.5K

$8,042 $8,042

-0.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,557 CA$9,347

$6,489 $6,489

1.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,743 CA$5,335

$4,856 $4,856

-22.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.47

6.7

-33.28%

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

Last update for Toronto: October 4, 2026

Last update for San Diego, CA: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Toronto

$1.4K 55.4%

San Diego, CA

$2.4K 58.8% 65.9% $946

Groceries & Markets

Toronto

$340 13.1%

San Diego, CA

$480 11.9% 41.1% $140

Eating Out

Toronto

$282 10.9%

San Diego, CA

$395 9.8% 40% $113

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Toronto

$202 7.8%

San Diego, CA

$416 10.3% 106% $214

Clothing & Footwear

Toronto

$140 5.4%

San Diego, CA

$172 4.3% 22.6% $32

Getting Around

Toronto

$130 5%

San Diego, CA

$94 2.3% 27.3% $35

Sport & Entertainment

Toronto

$64 2.5%

San Diego, CA

$111 2.7% 73.1% $47

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,598 in Toronto versus $3,255 in San Diego, CA. 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 30% higher in San Diego, CA, 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 $77.0 in Toronto versus $100 in San Diego, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $340 vs $480 – making Toronto the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇨🇦 Toronto

🇺🇸 San Diego, CA

🕒 Local time

10:14 10:14 AM

07:14 7:14 AM

3 h behind Toronto

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,731,571

1,386,932

💱 Currency

Canadian Dollar CAD $

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 CAD = 0.702 USD

1 CAD = 0.626 EUR

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇨🇦 Canadian Dollar ($)

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).

USD to CAD in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Toronto San Diego, CA 3,480 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Toronto
San Diego, CA

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 San Diego, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,530 in Toronto, $4,047 in San Diego, CA – roughly 60% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,795 per month in Toronto and $6,071 in San Diego, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $834 per month in Toronto and $1,938 in San Diego, CA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 41% more in San Diego, CA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,530 in Toronto and $4,047 in San Diego, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. San Diego, CA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,530 in Toronto to $4,047 in San Diego, CA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Toronto. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Diego, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.