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: $2,811 in Toronto versus $2,389 in Windsor.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,130 in Toronto versus $3,392 in Windsor.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,449 in Toronto versus $4,395 in Windsor.

Living in Toronto is roughly 18% more expensive than Windsor, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Toronto 110% above, Windsor 78% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.71 CA$25.90

$11.23 CA$15.55

66.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.9 CA$113

$74.2 CA$103

10.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.83 CA$14.99

$11.18 CA$15.48

-3.13%

Cappuccino

$3.89 CA$5.38

$4.17 CA$5.77

-6.71%

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

$2.22 CA$3.07

$2.09 CA$2.89

6.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 CA$2.28

$1.88 CA$2.60

-12.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 CA$8.38

$5.11 CA$7.08

18.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.58 CA$9.11

$6.28 CA$8.69

4.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.73 CA$3.77

$1.85 CA$2.56

47.57%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 CA$3.76

$2.17 CA$3.00

25.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.54 CA$4.90

$3.95 CA$5.47

-10.38%

Eggs

$3.50 CA$4.84

$3.18 CA$4.40

10.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.53 CA$18.73

$10.73 CA$14.85

26.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.09 CA$18.12

$10.86 CA$15.04

20.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.96 CA$23.49

$13.88 CA$19.22

22.19%

Apples (1kg)

$4.16 CA$5.76

$3.93 CA$5.44

5.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 CA$1.63

$1.03 CA$1.43

14.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.25 CA$4.50

$3.34 CA$4.62

-2.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.12 CA$5.70

$3.84 CA$5.31

7.29%

Potato (1kg)

$2.50 CA$3.47

$1.95 CA$2.69

28.21%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 CA$3.98

$2.05 CA$2.83

40.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.35 CA$3.25

$2.34 CA$3.24

0.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 CA$2.77

$1.51 CA$2.09

32.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.58 CA$20.19

$13.11 CA$18.15

11.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.18 CA$19.63

$11.66 CA$16.14

21.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.80 CA$3.88

$2.90 CA$4.02

-3.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 CA$4.51

$2.83 CA$3.92

14.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.40 CA$3.32

$2.74 CA$3.79

-12.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$114 CA$158

$90.8 CA$126

25.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.76 CA$5.20

$3.34 CA$4.63

12.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 CA$1.95

$1.39 CA$1.93

1.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.53 CA$35.34

$22.27 CA$30.84

14.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 CA$1.52

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

$25.2K CA$34.9K

$24.9K CA$34.5K

1.35%

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

$21.1K CA$29.2K

$24.7K CA$34.2K

-14.80%

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

$120 CA$166

$202 CA$279

-40.71%

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

$37.54 CA$52.0

$54.2 CA$75.1

-30.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.5 CA$75.5

$60.8 CA$84.1

-10.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.5 CA$76.9

$45.96 CA$63.6

20.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.15 CA$29.28

$26.00 CA$36.00

-18.65%

Cinema Ticket

$11.56 CA$16.00

$10.06 CA$13.93

14.91%

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

$1,129 CA$1,564

$512 CA$709

120.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.0K CA$24.9K

$4,450 CA$6,161

303.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 CA$78.8

$37.34 CA$51.7

52.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.96 CA$55.3

$35.19 CA$48.72

13.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 CA$124

$82.5 CA$114

8.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 CA$158

$79.5 CA$110

43.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 CA$2,561

$1,228 CA$1,700

50.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,560 CA$2,159

$1,270 CA$1,759

22.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,925 CA$4,051

$1,742 CA$2,413

67.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,470 CA$3,420

$1,858 CA$2,572

32.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,085 CA$12.6K

$3,012 CA$4,170

201.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,036 CA$9,742

$3,085 CA$4,271

128.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,572 CA$4,946

$3,047 CA$4,219

17.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.16

6.66

-22.52%

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

Last update for Toronto: May 31, 2026

Last update for Windsor: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,849 in Toronto and $1,228 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: $82.0 in Toronto vs $74.0 in Windsor for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $396 vs $336 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 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Toronto pays 17% 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 $1,228 in Windsor. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 18% 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 $74.0 versus $82.0 in Toronto. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,389 in Windsor versus $2,811 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 18% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.