Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Urbana, IL and Toronto

For one person, living is cheaper in Urbana, IL: $1,871 a month against $2,610 in Toronto, rent and utilities included – about $8,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Urbana, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$1,871
/mo nomad
Toronto
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,610
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Urbana, IL 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 Urbana, IL and in Toronto actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,871 in Urbana, IL versus $2,610 in Toronto.

  • Urbana, IL $1,871
  • Toronto $2,610

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,123 in Urbana, IL versus $3,727 in Toronto.

  • Urbana, IL $2,123
  • Toronto $3,727

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,374 in Urbana, IL versus $4,844 in Toronto.

  • Urbana, IL $2,374
  • Toronto $4,844

Living in Urbana, IL costs roughly 28% less than in Toronto, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Urbana, IL 38% above, Toronto 93% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Urbana, IL
Toronto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.83 $14.83
$17.59 CA$24.87
-15.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.0 $59.0
$78.8 CA$111
-25.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.95 $9.95
$10.73 CA$15.16
-7.27%
Cappuccino
$4.71 $4.71
$4.09 CA$5.78
15.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 $2.25
$2.10 CA$2.97
7.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.72 CA$2.43
2.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.46 $5.46
$6.36 CA$8.99
-14.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.65 $5.65
$7.08 CA$10.01
-20.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Urbana, IL
Toronto
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.78 $0.78
$2.54 CA$3.59
-69.29%
White Bread (500g)
$3.03 $3.03
$2.72 CA$3.85
11.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.18 CA$3.09
38.07%
Eggs
$3.82 $3.82
$3.63 CA$5.13
5.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.23 $12.23
$9.46 CA$13.37
29.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.95 $8.95
$11.54 CA$16.32
-22.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.14 $14.14
$14.37 CA$20.32
-1.60%
Apples (1kg)
$4.02 $4.02
$3.70 CA$5.23
8.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 $1.63
$1.19 CA$1.68
36.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.18 $3.18
$3.46 CA$4.90
-8.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.54 $4.54
$4.22 CA$5.97
7.58%
Potato (1kg)
$2.23 $2.23
$1.79 CA$2.52
24.58%
Onion (1kg)
$2.65 $2.65
$1.65 CA$2.33
60.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.30 $2.30
$2.20 CA$3.11
4.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 $1.37
$1.26 CA$1.78
8.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.21 $12.21
$13.97 CA$19.75
-12.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.22 $15.22
$14.20 CA$20.07
7.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.08 $2.08
$2.25 CA$3.18
-7.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51 $3.51
$2.53 CA$3.58
38.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Urbana, IL
Toronto
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.99 $0.99
$2.32 CA$3.28
-57.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$112 CA$158
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 $3.03
$3.06 CA$4.33
-0.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.59 $0.59
$1.22 CA$1.72
-51.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.08 $25.08
$21.69 CA$30.66
15.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$1.21 CA$1.72
-4.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K $27.7K
$26.1K CA$37.0K
5.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$21.1K CA$29.9K
24.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Urbana, IL
Toronto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$242 $242
$120 CA$169
102.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.28 $44.28
$32.21 CA$45.54
37.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.7 $60.7
$48.88 CA$69.1
24.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Urbana, IL
Toronto
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$39.34 CA$55.6
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$23.58 CA$33.34
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.14 $13.14
$12.58 CA$17.79
4.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Urbana, IL
Toronto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,003 $1,003
$832 CA$1,176
20.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.4K $20.4K
$23.6K CA$33.4K
-13.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Urbana, IL
Toronto
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.69 $48.69
$52.3 CA$73.9
-6.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 $50.8
$39.44 CA$55.8
28.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.7 $97.7
$99.0 CA$140
-1.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 $121
$122 CA$172
-1.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Urbana, IL
Toronto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$866 $866
$1,631 CA$2,306
-46.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$746 $746
$1,448 CA$2,048
-48.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,737 CA$3,869
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,129 CA$3,010
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,774 $1,774
$8,206 CA$11.6K
-78.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,732 $1,732
$6,838 CA$9,666
-74.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Urbana, IL
Toronto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,774 $6,774
$3,520 CA$4,976
92.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.82
4.47
52.57%

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

Last update for Urbana, IL: October 19, 2026

Last update for Toronto: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Urbana, IL
$746
Toronto
$1.4K 94.3% $703
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Urbana, IL
$347
Toronto
$201 42.1% $146
Groceries & Markets
Urbana, IL
$340
Toronto
$343 0.9% $2.9
Eating Out
Urbana, IL
$260
Toronto
$283 9.1% $24
Clothing & Footwear
Urbana, IL
$143
Toronto
$141 1.6% $2.3
Sport & Entertainment
Urbana, IL
$26 *
Toronto
$65 145% $38
Getting Around
Urbana, IL
$10 *
Toronto
$130 1207% $120

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 $866 in Urbana, IL and $1,631 in Toronto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Urbana, IL pays 92% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $59.0 in Urbana, IL vs $79.0 in Toronto for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $340 vs $343 per month, with Urbana, IL cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Urbana, IL
🇨🇦 Toronto
🕒 Local time
13:48 1:48 PM
14:48 2:48 PM
1 h ahead of Urbana, IL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
41,250
2,731,571
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 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
  • Urbana, IL Toronto 830 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Urbana, IL
  • 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
Urbana, IL vs Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Toronto cheaper than Urbana, IL?
Urbana, IL is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and leisure. The 40% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Urbana, IL or Toronto?
Average pay runs 92% higher in Urbana, IL, 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 Urbana, IL and Toronto?
Rent for a central apartment: $866 in Urbana, IL 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 $1,003 in Urbana, IL 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 Urbana, IL or in Toronto?
Dining out is cheaper in Urbana, IL – a meal for two runs $59.0 versus $79.0 in Toronto. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Urbana, IL or in Toronto?
At $1,871 in Urbana, IL versus $2,610 in Toronto, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Urbana, IL but tight or insufficient in Toronto. The gap between the two cities makes Urbana, IL the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Urbana, IL 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Urbana, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Urbana, IL vs other spots: cost of living compared

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