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: $2,788 in Toronto versus $2,354 in Winston-Salem, NC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,110 in Toronto versus $3,558 in Winston-Salem, NC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,432 in Toronto versus $4,761 in Winston-Salem, NC.

Living in Toronto is roughly 18% more expensive than in Winston-Salem, NC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Toronto 109% above, Winston-Salem, NC 76% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.51 CA$25.96

$19.81 $19.81

-6.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.8 CA$118

$75.6 $75.6

10.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.97 CA$15.38

$10.16 $10.16

7.97%

Cappuccino

$3.99 CA$5.59

$5.39 $5.39

-25.97%

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

$2.11 CA$2.96

$2.29 $2.29

-7.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 CA$2.37

$2.01 $2.01

-15.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.92 CA$8.30

$5.76 $5.76

2.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.48 CA$9.08

$5.82 $5.82

11.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.71 CA$3.80

$0.93 $0.93

191.40%

White Bread (500g)

$2.85 CA$4.00

$4.08 $4.08

-30.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.56 CA$4.99

$3.19 $3.19

11.60%

Eggs

$3.54 CA$4.96

$4.78 $4.78

-25.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.26 CA$18.59

$15.31 $15.31

-13.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.05 CA$18.29

$11.33 $11.33

15.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.77 CA$23.51

$26.05 $26.05

-35.62%

Apples (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.77

$6.83 $6.83

-39.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 CA$1.60

$1.39 $1.39

-17.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.40 CA$4.76

$5.78 $5.78

-41.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.02 CA$5.64

$6.31 $6.31

-36.29%

Potato (1kg)

$2.43 CA$3.41

$3.58 $3.58

-32.12%

Onion (1kg)

$2.94 CA$4.12

$4.16 $4.16

-29.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 CA$3.47

$2.23 $2.23

10.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 CA$2.69

$2.25 $2.25

-14.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.99 CA$21.01

$5.91 $5.91

153.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.34 CA$20.10

$15.22 $15.22

-5.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 CA$3.80

$1.67 $1.67

62.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 CA$4.38

$3.08 $3.08

1.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.45 CA$3.44

$0.98 $0.98

150.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$113 CA$158

$65.4 $65.4

72.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.63 CA$5.08

$2.57 $2.57

41.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 CA$1.88

$1.69 $1.69

-20.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.55 CA$35.82

$14.76 $14.76

73.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 CA$1.55

$0.79 $0.79

40.51%

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

$25.3K CA$35.4K

$29.0K $29.0K

-12.80%

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

$21.8K CA$30.5K

$26.3K $26.3K

-17.16%

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

$117 CA$164

$190 $190

-38.45%

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

$37.60 CA$52.7

$52.8 $52.8

-28.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.7 CA$75.3

$69.9 $69.9

-23.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.1 CA$80.1

$17.28 $17.28

230.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.86 CA$29.24

$15.26 $15.26

36.70%

Cinema Ticket

$11.56 CA$16.20

$12.80 $12.80

-9.69%

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

$1,125 CA$1,577

$1,516 $1,516

-25.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.4K CA$25.9K

$23.9K $23.9K

-22.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.3 CA$80.4

$45.89 $45.89

24.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.05 CA$54.8

$21.94 $21.94

77.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 CA$123

$66.4 $66.4

31.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 CA$159

$101 $101

12.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,842 CA$2,582

$1,487 $1,487

23.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,531 CA$2,146

$1,071 $1,071

42.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,925 CA$4,101

$2,250 $2,250

30.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,502 CA$3,508

$1,767 $1,767

41.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,725 CA$12.2K

$6,397 $6,397

36.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,867 CA$9,628

$3,207 $3,207

114.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,454 CA$4,842

$3,551 $3,551

-2.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.16

6.53

-20.98%

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

Last update for Toronto: July 11, 2026

Last update for Winston-Salem, NC: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,842 in Toronto and $1,487 in Winston-Salem, NC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Winston-Salem, NC pays 3% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $84.0 in Toronto vs $76.0 in Winston-Salem, NC. Groceries flip the comparison at $395 vs $460, 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, Sport & Entertainment. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 3% lower in Winston-Salem, NC. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,842 in Toronto versus $1,487 in Winston-Salem, NC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Toronto pay roughly 16% 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 $76.0 versus $84.0 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 18% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.