Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Williams Lake, BC Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Williams Lake, BC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,811 in Toronto versus $2,070 in Williams Lake, BC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,130 in Toronto versus $3,036 in Williams Lake, BC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,449 in Toronto versus $4,003 in Williams Lake, BC.

Living in Toronto is roughly 36% more expensive than Williams Lake, BC, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Toronto 110% above, Williams Lake, BC 54% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.71 CA$26.09

$17.15 CA$23.91

9.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.9 CA$114

$68.6 CA$95.7

19.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.83 CA$15.10

$11.12 CA$15.51

-2.61%

Cappuccino

$3.89 CA$5.42

$3.80 CA$5.30

2.37%

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

$2.22 CA$3.10

$2.04 CA$2.85

8.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 CA$2.30

$1.70 CA$2.36

-2.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 CA$8.44

$5.65 CA$7.87

7.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.58 CA$9.18

$5.77 CA$8.05

14.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.73 CA$3.80

$2.47 CA$3.44

10.53%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 CA$3.79

$2.61 CA$3.65

4.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.54 CA$4.93

$3.65 CA$5.09

-3.01%

Eggs

$3.50 CA$4.88

$5.56 CA$7.75

-37.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.53 CA$18.86

$11.23 CA$15.65

20.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.09 CA$18.25

$11.69 CA$16.30

11.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.96 CA$23.66

$14.76 CA$20.59

14.91%

Apples (1kg)

$4.16 CA$5.80

$4.08 CA$5.69

1.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 CA$1.64

$1.40 CA$1.95

-15.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.25 CA$4.53

$3.58 CA$4.99

-9.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.12 CA$5.74

$3.70 CA$5.16

11.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.50 CA$3.49

$2.49 CA$3.47

0.40%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 CA$4.01

$2.51 CA$3.50

14.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.35 CA$3.28

$2.61 CA$3.64

-9.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 CA$2.79

$1.70 CA$2.37

17.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.58 CA$20.34

$13.92 CA$19.41

4.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.18 CA$19.77

$11.88 CA$16.57

19.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.80 CA$3.91

$2.92 CA$4.07

-4.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 CA$4.54

$3.05 CA$4.25

6.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.40 CA$3.35

$2.34 CA$3.26

2.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$114 CA$159

$63.4 CA$88.4

79.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.76 CA$5.24

$3.16 CA$4.40

18.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 CA$1.96

$1.44 CA$2.01

-2.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.53 CA$35.60

$25.58 CA$35.67

-0.20%

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$35.2K

$25.3K CA$35.3K

-0.24%

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

$21.1K CA$29.4K

$20.7K CA$28.9K

1.80%

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

$120 CA$167

$140 CA$196

-14.82%

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

$37.54 CA$52.4

$33.27 CA$46.39

12.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.5 CA$76.0

$86.6 CA$121

-37.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.5 CA$77.4

$41.72 CA$58.2

33.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.15 CA$29.49

Cinema Ticket

$11.56 CA$16.12

$11.36 CA$15.84

1.76%

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

$1,129 CA$1,575

$727 CA$1,014

55.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.0K CA$25.1K

$12.0K CA$16.7K

49.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 CA$79.4

$53.6 CA$74.8

6.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.96 CA$55.7

$39.46 CA$55.0

1.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 CA$125

$85.0 CA$119

5.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 CA$159

$109 CA$152

4.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 CA$2,579

$968 CA$1,350

91.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,560 CA$2,175

$918 CA$1,280

69.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,925 CA$4,080

$1,419 CA$1,979

106.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,470 CA$3,445

$1,298 CA$1,810

90.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,085 CA$12.7K

$4,449 CA$6,204

104.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,036 CA$9,811

$3,964 CA$5,528

77.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,572 CA$4,981

$3,279 CA$4,572

8.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.16

6.46

-20.12%

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

Last update for Toronto: May 31, 2026

Last update for Williams Lake, BC: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,849 in Toronto and $968 in Williams Lake, BC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Toronto pays 9% 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 $69.0 in Williams Lake, BC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $396 vs $373 per month, with Williams Lake, BC 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 Williams Lake, BC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Williams Lake, BC is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 36% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Toronto pays 9% 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 $968 in Williams Lake, BC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Toronto. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Williams Lake, BC – a meal for two runs $69.0 versus $82.0 in Toronto. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,070 in Williams Lake, BC versus $2,811 in Toronto, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Williams Lake, BC but tight or insufficient in Toronto. The gap between the two cities makes Williams Lake, BC the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 Williams Lake, BC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.