Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Windsor Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Windsor

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,628 in Toronto versus $2,353 in Windsor.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,848 in Toronto versus $3,159 in Windsor.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,067 in Toronto versus $3,964 in Windsor.

Living in Toronto is roughly 12% more expensive than in Windsor, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Toronto 91% above, Windsor 71% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.88 CA$24.66

$14.34 CA$19.77

24.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$87.9 CA$121

$66.2 CA$91.3

32.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.93 CA$15.08

$10.64 CA$14.68

2.73%

Cappuccino

$4.06 CA$5.60

$3.69 CA$5.09

10.03%

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

$2.18 CA$3.01

$2.62 CA$3.61

-16.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 CA$2.34

$1.85 CA$2.55

-8.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.69 CA$9.22

$4.98 CA$6.87

34.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.35 CA$10.13

$5.96 CA$8.22

23.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.78 CA$3.83

$1.84 CA$2.54

51.09%

White Bread (500g)

$2.89 CA$3.99

$2.14 CA$2.95

35.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.56 CA$3.54

$3.11 CA$4.29

-17.68%

Eggs

$3.79 CA$5.22

$3.02 CA$4.16

25.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.17 CA$14.02

$10.21 CA$14.09

-0.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.95 CA$16.48

$10.45 CA$14.41

14.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.12 CA$22.23

$14.28 CA$19.70

12.89%

Apples (1kg)

$3.89 CA$5.37

$4.03 CA$5.56

-3.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 CA$1.76

$1.00 CA$1.38

27.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 CA$5.35

$3.11 CA$4.29

24.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.33 CA$5.97

$3.67 CA$5.06

17.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.83 CA$2.52

$1.96 CA$2.70

-6.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 CA$2.06

$2.15 CA$2.97

-30.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 CA$3.14

$2.25 CA$3.11

1.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 CA$1.98

$1.33 CA$1.84

8.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.20 CA$19.58

$13.23 CA$18.25

7.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.24 CA$19.64

$11.88 CA$16.39

19.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 CA$3.10

$1.89 CA$2.60

19.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 CA$3.49

$3.34 CA$4.60

-24.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 CA$3.41

$2.70 CA$3.72

-8.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$112 CA$154

$89.2 CA$123

25.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 CA$4.20

$2.41 CA$3.32

26.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.24 CA$1.70

$1.03 CA$1.41

20.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.44 CA$30.94

$14.64 CA$20.18

53.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 CA$1.70

$1.23 CA$1.70

0.81%

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

$27.5K CA$37.9K

$28.3K CA$39.0K

-2.85%

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

$21.1K CA$29.2K

$19.2K CA$26.5K

9.90%

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

$128 CA$176

$186 CA$256

-31.25%

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

$33.79 CA$46.59

$39.67 CA$54.7

-14.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.25 CA$67.9

$57.2 CA$78.9

-13.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.93 CA$56.5

$45.19 CA$62.3

-9.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.62 CA$33.95

$28.71 CA$39.59

-14.25%

Cinema Ticket

$13.16 CA$18.15

$10.89 CA$15.01

20.84%

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

$792 CA$1,093

$511 CA$705

55.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.1K CA$33.3K

$4,298 CA$5,926

461.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.5 CA$75.2

$44.44 CA$61.3

22.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.11 CA$59.5

$34.29 CA$47.29

25.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 CA$140

$81.0 CA$112

25.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 CA$170

$83.9 CA$116

46.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 CA$2,279

$1,182 CA$1,630

39.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,452 CA$2,002

$1,207 CA$1,664

20.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,694 CA$3,716

$1,791 CA$2,470

50.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,149 CA$2,964

$1,544 CA$2,129

39.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,347 CA$11.5K

$3,021 CA$4,166

176.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,816 CA$9,399

$3,018 CA$4,162

125.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,614 CA$4,984

$3,078 CA$4,244

17.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.49

4.71

-4.67%

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

Last update for Toronto: August 30, 2026

Last update for Windsor: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,653 in Toronto and $1,182 in Windsor. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Toronto pays 17% 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: $88.0 in Toronto vs $66.0 in Windsor for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $365 vs $322 per month, with Windsor 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 Windsor: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Windsor is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 17% higher in Toronto, 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: $1,653 in Toronto versus $1,182 in Windsor. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Toronto. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Windsor – a meal for two runs $66.0 versus $88.0 in Toronto. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,353 in Windsor versus $2,628 in Toronto, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Windsor but tight or insufficient in Toronto. The gap between the two cities makes Windsor 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 Windsor gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.