Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Sydney, NS Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Sydney, NS

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,768 per month in Toronto vs $1,880 in Sydney, NS, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,066 per month in Toronto vs $2,831 in Sydney, NS, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,364 per month in Toronto vs $3,782 in Sydney, NS, rent included.

Toronto costs about 47% more than Sydney, NS, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Toronto and Sydney, NS sit above the global median – Toronto by 106%, Sydney, NS by 40%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.40 CA$25.20

$11.69 CA$16.02

57.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.3 CA$111

$61.2 CA$83.8

32.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.92 CA$14.97

$7.06 CA$9.67

54.67%

Cappuccino

$3.83 CA$5.25

$3.00 CA$4.12

27.67%

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

$2.19 CA$3.01

$2.20 CA$3.01

-0.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 CA$2.25

$1.98 CA$2.71

-17.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.87 CA$8.05

$5.57 CA$7.64

5.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.74 CA$9.24

$5.74 CA$7.87

17.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.69 CA$3.68

$2.25 CA$3.09

19.56%

White Bread (500g)

$2.78 CA$3.81

$2.59 CA$3.55

7.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.51 CA$4.81

$2.54 CA$3.48

38.19%

Eggs

$3.47 CA$4.76

$3.54 CA$4.85

-1.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.25 CA$18.15

$6.57 CA$9.01

101.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.92 CA$17.70

$8.72 CA$11.95

48.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.38 CA$22.44

$13.88 CA$19.02

18.01%

Apples (1kg)

$4.03 CA$5.52

$7.33 CA$10.05

-45.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 CA$1.61

$1.25 CA$1.71

-6.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.35 CA$4.59

$3.63 CA$4.98

-7.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.01 CA$5.50

$1.43 CA$1.96

180.42%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 CA$3.34

$0.85 CA$1.16

187.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.84 CA$3.90

$2.52 CA$3.45

12.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.39 CA$3.27

$2.43 CA$3.32

-1.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 CA$2.71

$1.74 CA$2.38

13.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.82 CA$20.31

$18.69 CA$25.61

-20.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.37 CA$19.68

$11.68 CA$16.00

23.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.77 CA$3.79

$2.85 CA$3.91

-2.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 CA$4.52

$4.29 CA$5.88

-23.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.45 CA$3.35

$1.13 CA$1.55

116.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$113 CA$155

$49.24 CA$67.5

130.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.61 CA$4.95

$4.53 CA$6.21

-20.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 CA$1.94

$1.42 CA$1.95

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.90 CA$35.48

$25.31 CA$34.67

2.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 CA$1.50

$1.16 CA$1.58

-5.17%

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

$25.5K CA$35.0K

$24.9K CA$34.2K

2.46%

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

$21.0K CA$28.7K

$20.1K CA$27.5K

4.32%

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

$119 CA$163

$90.9 CA$124

30.60%

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

$37.69 CA$51.6

$48.11 CA$65.9

-21.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.6 CA$74.7

$76.9 CA$105

-29.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.3 CA$78.5

$50.3 CA$68.9

13.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.68 CA$28.33

$3.63 CA$4.98

469.70%

Cinema Ticket

$11.62 CA$15.92

$7.97 CA$10.91

45.80%

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

$1,118 CA$1,531

$741 CA$1,015

50.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.3K CA$25.0K

$11.8K CA$16.2K

54.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.3 CA$78.6

$71.7 CA$98.2

-20.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.80 CA$54.5

$68.1 CA$93.3

-41.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.4 CA$121

$104 CA$142

-14.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 CA$159

$109 CA$149

6.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,836 CA$2,516

$1,089 CA$1,491

68.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,550 CA$2,124

$811 CA$1,111

91.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,991 CA$4,097

$1,962 CA$2,687

52.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,492 CA$3,415

$1,443 CA$1,977

72.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,566 CA$11.7K

$5,060 CA$6,933

69.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,905 CA$9,460

$3,746 CA$5,132

84.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,697 CA$5,064

$2,560 CA$3,507

44.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.16

6.85

-24.67%

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

Last update for Toronto: April 13, 2026

Last update for Sydney, NS: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,836 in Toronto versus $1,089 in Sydney, NS. 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 44% 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 $81 in Toronto versus $61 in Sydney, NS. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $392 vs $328 – making Sydney, NS the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Sydney, NS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Toronto costs about 47% more than Sydney, NS, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,153 per month in Toronto and $2,820 in Sydney, NS. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sydney, NS, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,768 in Toronto and $1,880 in Sydney, NS. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 130% less in Sydney, NS. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sydney, NS, where all-in costs run around $1,880, than in Toronto at $2,768. In Sydney, NS it covers expenses comfortably, while in Toronto it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sydney, NS – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Sydney, NS. 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.