Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Victoria Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Victoria

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,811 in Toronto versus $2,683 in Victoria.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,130 in Toronto versus $4,048 in Victoria.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,449 in Toronto versus $5,413 in Victoria.

Living in Toronto is roughly 5% more expensive than Victoria, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Toronto 110% above, Victoria 100% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.71 CA$25.99

$18.24 CA$25.34

2.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.9 CA$114

-0.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.83 CA$15.04

$11.15 CA$15.50

-2.87%

Cappuccino

$3.89 CA$5.40

$4.00 CA$5.56

-2.75%

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

$2.22 CA$3.09

$2.32 CA$3.22

-4.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 CA$2.29

$2.05 CA$2.85

-19.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 CA$8.41

$5.22 CA$7.26

15.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.58 CA$9.15

$6.45 CA$8.97

2.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.73 CA$3.79

$2.95 CA$4.09

-7.46%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 CA$3.77

$3.20 CA$4.45

-15.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.54 CA$4.91

$5.26 CA$7.31

-32.70%

Eggs

$3.50 CA$4.86

$4.36 CA$6.06

-19.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.53 CA$18.80

$13.22 CA$18.37

2.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.09 CA$18.19

$14.96 CA$20.78

-12.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.96 CA$23.57

$15.32 CA$21.28

10.70%

Apples (1kg)

$4.16 CA$5.78

$4.56 CA$6.33

-8.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 CA$1.64

$1.67 CA$2.32

-29.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.25 CA$4.51

$4.40 CA$6.11

-26.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.12 CA$5.72

$4.81 CA$6.68

-14.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.50 CA$3.48

$3.78 CA$5.26

-33.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 CA$4.00

$3.25 CA$4.51

-11.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.35 CA$3.26

$2.78 CA$3.86

-15.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 CA$2.78

$2.65 CA$3.69

-24.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.58 CA$20.26

$15.68 CA$21.79

-7.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.18 CA$19.70

$18.28 CA$25.39

-22.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.80 CA$3.89

$3.94 CA$5.47

-28.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 CA$4.52

$4.55 CA$6.32

-28.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.40 CA$3.33

$1.87 CA$2.60

28.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$114 CA$158

$63.7 CA$88.5

79.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.76 CA$5.22

$2.70 CA$3.75

39.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 CA$1.96

$1.34 CA$1.86

5.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.53 CA$35.47

$33.20 CA$46.13

-23.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 CA$1.53

$1.36 CA$1.89

-19.12%

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

$25.2K CA$35.1K

$25.4K CA$35.3K

-0.63%

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

$21.1K CA$29.3K

$21.2K CA$29.5K

-0.74%

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

$120 CA$166

$140 CA$194

-14.28%

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

$37.54 CA$52.2

$53.4 CA$74.1

-29.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.5 CA$75.7

$71.3 CA$99.1

-23.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.5 CA$77.1

$44.65 CA$62.0

24.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.15 CA$29.39

$16.99 CA$23.60

24.48%

Cinema Ticket

$11.56 CA$16.06

$11.82 CA$16.43

-2.20%

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

$1,129 CA$1,569

$646 CA$897

74.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.0K CA$25.0K

$14.0K CA$19.4K

28.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 CA$79.1

$58.6 CA$81.5

-2.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.96 CA$55.5

$44.75 CA$62.2

-10.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 CA$125

$96.0 CA$133

-6.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 CA$159

$112 CA$156

1.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 CA$2,570

$1,564 CA$2,173

18.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,560 CA$2,167

$1,375 CA$1,910

13.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,925 CA$4,065

$2,740 CA$3,807

6.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,470 CA$3,432

$2,402 CA$3,337

2.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,085 CA$12.6K

$5,702 CA$7,922

59.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,036 CA$9,775

$4,713 CA$6,548

49.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,572 CA$4,963

$2,994 CA$4,160

19.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.16

6.38

-19.12%

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

Last update for Toronto: May 31, 2026

Last update for Victoria: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,849 in Toronto and $1,564 in Victoria. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Toronto pays 19% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $82.0 in Toronto vs $82.0 in Victoria for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $396 vs $461 per month, with Toronto cheaper across the board.

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 Victoria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Victoria is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Toronto pays 19% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,849 in Toronto versus $1,564 in Victoria. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Toronto pay roughly 16% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Victoria – a meal for two runs $82.0 versus $82.0 in Toronto. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Victoria is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Victoria gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.