Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Winston-Salem, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Winston-Salem, NC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,668 in Toronto versus $2,396 in Winston-Salem, NC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,801 in Toronto versus $3,829 in Winston-Salem, NC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,934 in Toronto versus $5,263 in Winston-Salem, NC.

Living in Toronto is roughly 11% more expensive than in Winston-Salem, NC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Toronto 95% above, Winston-Salem, NC 75% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.31 CA$25.62

$22.88 $22.88

-19.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.4 CA$112

$78.8 $78.8

1.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.61 CA$14.84

$9.83 $9.83

7.93%

Cappuccino

$3.99 CA$5.59

$5.45 $5.45

-26.79%

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

$2.16 CA$3.02

$2.96 $2.96

-27.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 CA$2.46

$1.98 $1.98

-11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.65 CA$9.30

$4.89 $4.89

35.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.20 CA$10.07

$5.85 $5.85

23.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.84 CA$3.97

$1.42 $1.42

100.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 CA$3.85

$4.61 $4.61

-40.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.51 CA$3.50

$9.73 $9.73

-74.20%

Eggs

$3.83 CA$5.35

$5.54 $5.54

-30.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.01 CA$14.00

$17.72 $17.72

-43.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.96 CA$16.73

$13.83 $13.83

-13.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.63 CA$21.87

$27.07 $27.07

-42.26%

Apples (1kg)

$3.67 CA$5.14

$7.89 $7.89

-53.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 CA$1.78

$3.12 $3.12

-59.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.87 CA$5.41

$6.81 $6.81

-43.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.23 CA$5.91

$7.64 $7.64

-44.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 CA$2.60

$4.72 $4.72

-60.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.53 CA$2.15

$6.29 $6.29

-75.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 CA$3.22

$2.84 $2.84

-19.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 CA$2.01

$3.57 $3.57

-59.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.12 CA$19.75

$7.80 $7.80

81.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.53 CA$20.33

$14.91 $14.91

-2.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 CA$3.11

$1.61 $1.61

37.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 CA$3.57

$4.41 $4.41

-42.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 CA$3.46

$2.03 $2.03

21.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$113 CA$158

$29.73 $29.73

279.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.10 CA$4.34

$6.79 $6.79

-54.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.28 CA$1.78

$2.34 $2.34

-45.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.87 CA$30.60

$14.87 $14.87

47.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 CA$1.72

$0.93 $0.93

32.26%

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

$27.2K CA$38.1K

$36.0K $36.0K

-24.49%

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

$20.3K CA$28.5K

$26.2K $26.2K

-22.29%

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

$122 CA$171

$174 $174

-29.40%

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

$33.21 CA$46.46

$51.2 $51.2

-35.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.37 CA$69.1

$62.1 $62.1

-20.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.05 CA$56.0

$48.29 $48.29

-17.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.78 CA$33.26

$16.20 $16.20

46.79%

Cinema Ticket

$12.70 CA$17.76

$11.96 $11.96

6.19%

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

$772 CA$1,080

$1,324 $1,324

-41.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.8K CA$33.3K

$10.1K $10.1K

137.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 CA$74.7

$39.03 $39.03

36.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.13 CA$58.9

$31.35 $31.35

34.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.7 CA$139

$87.3 $87.3

14.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 CA$172

$94.8 $94.8

29.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,597 CA$2,234

$1,435 $1,435

11.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,439 CA$2,013

$960 $960

49.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,738 CA$3,830

$2,631 $2,631

4.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,163 CA$3,026

$1,886 $1,886

14.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,246 CA$11.5K

$6,340 $6,340

30.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,695 CA$9,366

$3,293 $3,293

103.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,830 CA$5,358

$3,499 $3,499

9.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.47

6.04

-25.99%

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

Last update for Toronto: September 12, 2026

Last update for Winston-Salem, NC: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,597 in Toronto and $1,435 in Winston-Salem, NC. 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: $80.0 in Toronto vs $79.0 in Winston-Salem, NC. Groceries flip the comparison at $361 vs $576, with Toronto cheaper for home cooking.

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 Winston-Salem, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Winston-Salem, NC is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 9% 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: $1,597 in Toronto versus $1,435 in Winston-Salem, NC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Toronto pay roughly 60% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Winston-Salem, NC – a meal for two runs $79.0 versus $80.0 in Toronto. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Winston-Salem, NC 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 Winston-Salem, NC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.