😐A single person spends $2,628 per month in Toronto vs $1,214 in St. Albert, AB, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,848 per month in Toronto vs $2,538 in St. Albert, AB, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,067 per month in Toronto vs $3,862 in St. Albert, AB, rent included.
😐Toronto costs about 116% more than St. Albert, AB, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Toronto sits 91% above the global median, while St. Albert, AB is 12% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Toronto
St. Albert, AB
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.88CA$24.66
$20.59CA$28.40
-13.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.9CA$121
$70.6CA$97.3
24.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.93CA$15.08
$10.06CA$13.88
8.65%
Cappuccino
$4.06CA$5.60
$3.93CA$5.41
3.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18CA$3.01
$2.15CA$2.97
1.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70CA$2.34
$1.93CA$2.66
-11.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.69CA$9.22
$5.13CA$7.08
30.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.35CA$10.13
$5.62CA$7.74
30.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Toronto
St. Albert, AB
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.78CA$3.83
$1.72CA$2.37
61.63%
White Bread(500g)
$2.89CA$3.99
$2.22CA$3.07
30.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.56CA$3.54
$3.16CA$4.36
-18.99%
Eggs
$3.79CA$5.22
$3.60CA$4.96
5.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.17CA$14.02
$11.58CA$15.97
-12.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.95CA$16.48
$11.61CA$16.01
2.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.12CA$22.23
$18.33CA$25.27
-12.06%
Apples(1kg)
$3.89CA$5.37
$4.50CA$6.21
-13.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.27CA$1.76
$1.35CA$1.86
-5.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.88CA$5.35
$4.20CA$5.80
-7.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.33CA$5.97
$3.96CA$5.46
9.34%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83CA$2.52
$2.68CA$3.69
-31.72%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50CA$2.06
$2.85CA$3.93
-47.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.28CA$3.14
$2.65CA$3.66
-13.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.44CA$1.98
$1.55CA$2.14
-7.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.20CA$19.58
$14.46CA$19.95
-1.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.24CA$19.64
$12.18CA$16.79
16.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.25CA$3.10
$2.64CA$3.63
-14.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53CA$3.49
$2.88CA$3.98
-12.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Toronto
St. Albert, AB
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.47CA$3.41
$2.20CA$3.04
12.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$112CA$154
$63.2CA$87.1
77.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.05CA$4.20
$2.90CA$4.00
5.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.24CA$1.70
$1.35CA$1.86
-8.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.44CA$30.94
$21.55CA$29.71
4.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24CA$1.70
$1.19CA$1.63
4.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCA$37.9K
$28.1KCA$38.7K
-2.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1KCA$29.2K
$20.0KCA$27.5K
5.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
St. Albert, AB
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$128CA$176
$184CA$254
-30.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.79CA$46.59
$38.58CA$53.2
-12.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.25CA$67.9
$56.3CA$77.6
-12.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
St. Albert, AB
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.93CA$56.5
$41.61CA$57.4
-1.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.62CA$33.95
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.16CA$18.15
$13.34CA$18.40
-1.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Toronto
St. Albert, AB
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$792CA$1,093
$783CA$1,079
1.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$24.1KCA$33.3K
$9,897CA$13.6K
143.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
St. Albert, AB
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.5CA$75.2
$56.8CA$78.3
-3.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.11CA$59.5
$39.09CA$53.9
10.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102CA$140
$86.7CA$120
17.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123CA$170
$114CA$157
8.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Toronto
St. Albert, AB
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,653CA$2,279
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,452CA$2,002
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,694CA$3,716
$1,348CA$1,858
99.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,149CA$2,964
$1,156CA$1,595
85.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,347CA$11.5K
$2,564CA$3,536
225.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,816CA$9,399
$2,578CA$3,556
164.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Toronto
St. Albert, AB
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,614CA$4,984
$3,355CA$4,627
7.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.49
4.4
2.05%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Toronto: August 30, 2026
Last update for St. Albert, AB: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 8% 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 $88.0 in Toronto versus $71.0 in St. Albert, AB. Groceries tell a different story – $365 in Toronto vs $368 in St. Albert, AB – so Toronto wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 St. Albert, AB: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Toronto or St. Albert, AB?
Toronto costs about 116% more than St. Albert, AB, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Toronto and in St. Albert, AB?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,942 per month in Toronto and $1,821 in St. Albert, AB. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Toronto and in St. Albert, AB?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Toronto and $71.0 in St. Albert, AB. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Toronto compared to St. Albert, AB?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,628 in Toronto and $1,214 in St. Albert, AB. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Toronto or in St. Albert, AB?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in St. Albert, AB, where all-in costs run around $1,214, than in Toronto at $2,628. In St. Albert, AB it covers expenses comfortably, while in Toronto it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward St. Albert, AB – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Toronto or to St. Albert, AB?
If budget matters most, go with St. Albert, AB. 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.