Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Westminster, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in Westminster, CA: $2,479 a month against $2,610 in Toronto, rent and utilities included – about $1,600 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Toronto outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Toronto
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,610
/mo nomad
Westminster, CA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,479
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Toronto and in Westminster, 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 Westminster, CA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,610 in Toronto versus $2,479 in Westminster, CA.

  • Toronto $2,610
  • Westminster, CA $2,479

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,727 in Toronto versus $3,908 in Westminster, CA.

  • Toronto $3,727
  • Westminster, CA $3,908

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,844 in Toronto versus $5,337 in Westminster, CA.

  • Toronto $4,844
  • Westminster, CA $5,337

Living in Toronto is roughly 5% more expensive than in Westminster, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Toronto 93% above, Westminster, CA 83% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Toronto
Westminster, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59 CA$24.87
$25.14 $25.14
-30.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.8 CA$111
$77.0 $77.0
2.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.73 CA$15.16
$11.68 $11.68
-8.13%
Cappuccino
$4.09 CA$5.78
$5.53 $5.53
-26.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 CA$2.97
$2.77 $2.77
-24.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 CA$2.43
$2.05 $2.05
-16.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.36 CA$8.99
$7.37 $7.37
-13.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.08 CA$10.01
$9.43 $9.43
-24.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Toronto
Westminster, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.54 CA$3.59
$1.18 $1.18
115.25%
White Bread (500g)
$2.72 CA$3.85
$5.20 $5.20
-47.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.18 CA$3.09
$4.25 $4.25
-48.71%
Eggs
$3.63 CA$5.13
$4.92 $4.92
-26.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.46 CA$13.37
$12.55 $12.55
-24.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.54 CA$16.32
$8.93 $8.93
29.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.37 CA$20.32
$13.82 $13.82
3.98%
Apples (1kg)
$3.70 CA$5.23
$4.87 $4.87
-24.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.19 CA$1.68
$1.78 $1.78
-33.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.46 CA$4.90
$4.02 $4.02
-13.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.22 CA$5.97
$5.58 $5.58
-24.37%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 CA$2.52
$3.57 $3.57
-49.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.65 CA$2.33
$3.14 $3.14
-47.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.20 CA$3.11
$2.17 $2.17
1.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 CA$1.78
$2.30 $2.30
-45.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.97 CA$19.75
$11.87 $11.87
17.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.20 CA$20.07
$15.10 $15.10
-5.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.25 CA$3.18
$1.69 $1.69
33.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 CA$3.58
$3.19 $3.19
-20.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Toronto
Westminster, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.32 CA$3.28
$1.88 $1.88
23.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$112 CA$158
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.06 CA$4.33
$4.38 $4.38
-30.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.22 CA$1.72
$1.91 $1.91
-36.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.69 CA$30.66
$35.29 $35.29
-38.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 CA$1.72
$1.59 $1.59
-23.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K CA$37.0K
$27.6K $27.6K
-5.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1K CA$29.9K
$26.2K $26.2K
-19.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
Westminster, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 CA$169
$212 $212
-43.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.21 CA$45.54
$71.2 $71.2
-54.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.88 CA$69.1
$69.3 $69.3
-29.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
Westminster, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.34 CA$55.6
$47.31 $47.31
-16.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.58 CA$33.34
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.58 CA$17.79
$11.89 $11.89
5.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Toronto
Westminster, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$832 CA$1,176
$1,192 $1,192
-30.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.6K CA$33.4K
$42.5K $42.5K
-44.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
Westminster, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.3 CA$73.9
$74.2 $74.2
-29.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.44 CA$55.8
$47.57 $47.57
-17.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.0 CA$140
$104 $104
-5.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 CA$172
$103 $103
18.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Toronto
Westminster, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,631 CA$2,306
$1,465 $1,465
11.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,448 CA$2,048
$1,108 $1,108
30.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,737 CA$3,869
$2,743 $2,743
-0.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,129 CA$3,010
$2,324 $2,324
-8.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,206 CA$11.6K
$2,933 $2,933
179.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,838 CA$9,666
$2,679 $2,679
155.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Toronto
Westminster, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,520 CA$4,976
$4,559 $4,559
-22.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.47
6.31
-29.16%

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

Last update for Toronto: October 18, 2026

Last update for Westminster, CA: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Toronto
$1.4K
Westminster, CA
$1.1K 23.5% $341
Groceries & Markets
Toronto
$343
Westminster, CA
$402 17.1% $59
Eating Out
Toronto
$283
Westminster, CA
$377 33.3% $94
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
$201
Westminster, CA
$352 75.5% $151
Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
$141
Westminster, CA
$148 5.1% $7.2
Getting Around
Toronto
$130
Westminster, CA
$21 * 83.5% $109
Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
$65
Westminster, CA
$71 10.2% $6.6

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,631 in Toronto and $1,465 in Westminster, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Westminster, CA pays 30% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $79.0 in Toronto vs $77.0 in Westminster, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $343 vs $402, with Toronto cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Toronto
🇺🇸 Westminster, CA
🕒 Local time
15:10 3:10 PM
12:10 12:10 PM
3 h behind Toronto
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,731,571
110,945
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Toronto Westminster, CA 3,490 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Toronto
  • Westminster, 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 Westminster, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Westminster, CA cheaper than Toronto?
Westminster, CA is cheaper overall, especially in transport. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Toronto or Westminster, CA?
On paper, salaries run 30% lower in Westminster, CA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Toronto and Westminster, CA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,631 in Toronto versus $1,465 in Westminster, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $832 in Toronto versus $1,192 in Westminster, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Toronto or in Westminster, CA?
Dining out is cheaper in Westminster, CA – a meal for two runs $77.0 versus $79.0 in Toronto. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $3,000 enough to cover costs in Toronto or in Westminster, CA?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Westminster, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is it better to live in Toronto or in Westminster, CA?
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.
Which city is safer, Toronto or Westminster, CA?
Safety-wise, Toronto and Westminster, CA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Westminster, CA 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.

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