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 $2,811 per month in Toronto vs $1,863 in Sydney, NS, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,130 per month in Toronto vs $2,830 in Sydney, NS, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,449 per month in Toronto vs $3,796 in Sydney, NS, rent included.

Toronto costs about 51% more than Sydney, NS, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Toronto and Sydney, NS sit above the global median – Toronto by 110%, Sydney, NS by 39%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.71 CA$26.02

$11.89 CA$16.53

57.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.9 CA$114

$62.6 CA$87.1

30.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.83 CA$15.06

$7.10 CA$9.87

52.54%

Cappuccino

$3.89 CA$5.41

$2.98 CA$4.15

30.54%

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

$2.22 CA$3.09

$2.20 CA$3.06

0.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 CA$2.29

$1.99 CA$2.77

-17.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 CA$8.41

$5.61 CA$7.81

7.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.58 CA$9.15

$6.00 CA$8.35

9.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.73 CA$3.79

$2.37 CA$3.30

15.19%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 CA$3.78

$2.69 CA$3.74

1.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.54 CA$4.92

$2.63 CA$3.66

34.60%

Eggs

$3.50 CA$4.87

$3.54 CA$4.92

-1.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.53 CA$18.81

$6.67 CA$9.27

102.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.09 CA$18.20

$8.32 CA$11.56

57.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.96 CA$23.59

$13.39 CA$18.63

26.66%

Apples (1kg)

$4.16 CA$5.79

$7.52 CA$10.46

-44.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 CA$1.64

$1.23 CA$1.71

-4.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.25 CA$4.52

$3.76 CA$5.23

-13.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.12 CA$5.73

$1.45 CA$2.02

184.14%

Potato (1kg)

$2.50 CA$3.48

$0.90 CA$1.25

177.78%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 CA$4.00

$2.65 CA$3.69

8.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.35 CA$3.27

$2.49 CA$3.46

-5.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 CA$2.78

$1.79 CA$2.49

11.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.58 CA$20.28

$18.53 CA$25.77

-21.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.18 CA$19.71

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.80 CA$3.89

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 CA$4.53

$4.35 CA$6.05

-25.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.40 CA$3.34

$1.12 CA$1.56

114.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$114 CA$159

$50.6 CA$70.4

125.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.76 CA$5.22

$4.40 CA$6.12

-14.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 CA$1.96

$1.48 CA$2.06

-4.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.53 CA$35.50

$25.32 CA$35.22

0.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 CA$1.53

$1.20 CA$1.67

-8.33%

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

$25.2K CA$35.1K

-0.03%

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

$21.1K CA$29.3K

$20.5K CA$28.5K

2.69%

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

$120 CA$166

$91.9 CA$128

30.18%

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

$37.54 CA$52.2

$46.94 CA$65.3

-20.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.5 CA$75.8

$74.9 CA$104

-27.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.5 CA$77.2

$50.4 CA$70.1

10.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.15 CA$29.41

$3.64 CA$5.07

481.04%

Cinema Ticket

$11.56 CA$16.07

$8.18 CA$11.38

41.32%

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

$1,129 CA$1,571

$748 CA$1,040

51.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.0K CA$25.0K

$11.7K CA$16.3K

53.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 CA$79.2

$72.3 CA$101

-21.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.96 CA$55.6

$69.6 CA$96.8

-42.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 CA$125

$101 CA$141

-11.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 CA$159

$108 CA$151

5.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 CA$2,572

$1,100 CA$1,530

68.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,560 CA$2,169

$814 CA$1,131

91.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,925 CA$4,068

$1,926 CA$2,679

51.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,470 CA$3,435

$1,435 CA$1,996

72.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,085 CA$12.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,036 CA$9,785

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,572 CA$4,967

$2,630 CA$3,657

35.84%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Sydney, NS: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,849 in Toronto versus $1,100 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 36% 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 $82.0 in Toronto versus $63.0 in Sydney, NS. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $396 vs $307 – 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 51% more than Sydney, NS, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,216 per month in Toronto and $2,795 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 $2,811 in Toronto and $1,863 in Sydney, NS. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 125% 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 $1,863, than in Toronto at $2,811. 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.