Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between University Place, WA and Toronto

For one person, living is cheaper in Toronto: $2,610 a month against $2,851 in University Place, WA, rent and utilities included – about $2,900 less a year. The total is higher in University Place, WA despite lower rent and utilities.

University Place, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,851
/mo nomad
Toronto
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,610
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in University Place, WA and in Toronto

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in University Place, WA and in Toronto actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,851 in University Place, WA versus $2,610 in Toronto.

  • University Place, WA $2,851
  • Toronto $2,610

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,224 in University Place, WA versus $3,727 in Toronto.

  • University Place, WA $4,224
  • Toronto $3,727

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,598 in University Place, WA versus $4,844 in Toronto.

  • University Place, WA $5,598
  • Toronto $4,844

Living in University Place, WA is roughly 9% more expensive than in Toronto, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: University Place, WA 110% above, Toronto 93% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
University Place, WA
Toronto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.22 $25.22
$17.59 CA$24.87
43.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$78.8 CA$111
27.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.06 $12.06
$10.73 CA$15.16
12.40%
Cappuccino
$5.89 $5.89
$4.09 CA$5.78
44.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 $3.10
$2.10 CA$2.97
47.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 $3.10
$1.72 CA$2.43
80.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.81 $7.81
$6.36 CA$8.99
22.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.19 $8.19
$7.08 CA$10.01
15.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
University Place, WA
Toronto
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 $1.15
$2.54 CA$3.59
-54.72%
White Bread (500g)
$4.24 $4.24
$2.72 CA$3.85
55.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.72 $5.72
$2.18 CA$3.09
162.39%
Eggs
$5.03 $5.03
$3.63 CA$5.13
38.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.27 $16.27
$9.46 CA$13.37
71.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$18.71 $18.71
$11.54 CA$16.32
62.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.43 $23.43
$14.37 CA$20.32
63.05%
Apples (1kg)
$5.92 $5.92
$3.70 CA$5.23
60.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 $1.67
$1.19 CA$1.68
40.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.14 $5.14
$3.46 CA$4.90
48.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.66 $4.66
$4.22 CA$5.97
10.43%
Potato (1kg)
$3.58 $3.58
$1.79 CA$2.52
100.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.91 $2.91
$1.65 CA$2.33
76.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.20 CA$3.11
-7.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.98 $2.98
$1.26 CA$1.78
136.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.15 $12.15
$13.97 CA$19.75
-13.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.78 $17.78
$14.20 CA$20.07
25.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$2.25 CA$3.18
-21.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76 $4.76
$2.53 CA$3.58
88.14%
🚌 Getting Around
University Place, WA
Toronto
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.08 $2.08
$2.32 CA$3.28
-10.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$112 CA$158
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.58 $2.58
$3.06 CA$4.33
-15.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.70 $1.70
$1.22 CA$1.72
39.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.67 $29.67
$21.69 CA$30.66
36.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.39 $1.39
$1.21 CA$1.72
14.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K $27.8K
$26.1K CA$37.0K
6.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K $26.4K
$21.1K CA$29.9K
24.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
University Place, WA
Toronto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$231 $231
$120 CA$169
92.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$71.0 $71.0
$32.21 CA$45.54
120.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$87.1 $87.1
$48.88 CA$69.1
78.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
University Place, WA
Toronto
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.92 $40.92
$39.34 CA$55.6
4.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$23.58 CA$33.34
-
Cinema Ticket
$18.14 $18.14
$12.58 CA$17.79
44.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
University Place, WA
Toronto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,127 $2,127
$832 CA$1,176
155.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.6K $31.6K
$23.6K CA$33.4K
33.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
University Place, WA
Toronto
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0 $60.0
$52.3 CA$73.9
14.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.92 $44.92
$39.44 CA$55.8
13.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$129 $129
$99.0 CA$140
30.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127 $127
$122 CA$172
4.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
University Place, WA
Toronto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,569 $1,569
$1,631 CA$2,306
-3.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,307 $1,307
$1,448 CA$2,048
-9.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,513 $2,513
$2,737 CA$3,869
-8.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,123 $2,123
$2,129 CA$3,010
-0.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,448 $2,448
$8,206 CA$11.6K
-70.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,307 $2,307
$6,838 CA$9,666
-66.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
University Place, WA
Toronto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,911 $7,911
$3,520 CA$4,976
124.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.64
4.47
48.55%

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

Last update for University Place, WA: October 17, 2026

Last update for Toronto: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
University Place, WA
$1.3K
Toronto
$1.4K 10.8% $142
Groceries & Markets
University Place, WA
$507
Toronto
$343 32.4% $165
Eating Out
University Place, WA
$389
Toronto
$283 27.2% $106
Monthly Utilities & Internet
University Place, WA
$389
Toronto
$201 48.4% $188
Clothing & Footwear
University Place, WA
$162
Toronto
$141 13.3% $22
Sport & Entertainment
University Place, WA
$77
Toronto
$65 16.5% $13
Getting Around
University Place, WA
$19 *
Toronto
$130 571% $111

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,569 in University Place, WA and $1,631 in Toronto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

University Place, WA pays 125% 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: $100 in University Place, WA vs $79.0 in Toronto for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $507 vs $343 per month, with Toronto cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 University Place, WA
🇨🇦 Toronto
🕒 Local time
07:50 7:50 AM
10:50 10:50 AM
3 h ahead of University Place, WA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
34,866
2,731,571
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • University Place, WA Toronto 3,350 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • University Place, WA
  • Toronto

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
University Place, WA vs Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Toronto cheaper than University Place, WA?
Toronto is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: University Place, WA or Toronto?
Average pay runs 125% higher in University Place, WA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between University Place, WA and Toronto?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,569 in University Place, WA versus $1,631 in Toronto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $2,127 in University Place, WA versus $832 in Toronto. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in University Place, WA or in Toronto?
Dining out is cheaper in Toronto – a meal for two runs $79.0 versus $100 in University Place, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in University Place, WA or in Toronto?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Toronto is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is it better to live in University Place, WA or in Toronto?
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.
Which city is safer, University Place, WA or Toronto?
Safety-wise, University Place, WA and Toronto are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Toronto gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in University Place, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

University Place, WA vs other spots: cost of living compared

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