Cost of Living Comparison Between Victoria and Toronto Cost of Living Comparison Between Victoria and Toronto

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,683 in Victoria versus $2,811 in Toronto.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,048 in Victoria versus $4,130 in Toronto.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,413 in Victoria versus $5,449 in Toronto.

Living in Victoria costs roughly 5% less than in Toronto, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Victoria 100% above, Toronto 110% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.24 CA$25.34

$18.71 CA$25.99

-2.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.9 CA$114

0.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.15 CA$15.50

$10.83 CA$15.04

2.95%

Cappuccino

$4.00 CA$5.56

$3.89 CA$5.40

2.83%

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

$2.32 CA$3.22

$2.22 CA$3.09

4.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 CA$2.85

$1.65 CA$2.29

24.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.22 CA$7.26

$6.05 CA$8.41

-13.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.45 CA$8.97

$6.58 CA$9.15

-1.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.95 CA$4.09

$2.73 CA$3.79

8.06%

White Bread (500g)

$3.20 CA$4.45

$2.72 CA$3.77

17.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.26 CA$7.31

$3.54 CA$4.91

48.59%

Eggs

$4.36 CA$6.06

$3.50 CA$4.86

24.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.22 CA$18.37

$13.53 CA$18.80

-2.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.96 CA$20.78

$13.09 CA$18.19

14.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.32 CA$21.28

$16.96 CA$23.57

-9.67%

Apples (1kg)

$4.56 CA$6.33

$4.16 CA$5.78

9.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 CA$2.32

$1.18 CA$1.64

41.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 CA$6.11

$3.25 CA$4.51

35.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.81 CA$6.68

$4.12 CA$5.72

16.75%

Potato (1kg)

$3.78 CA$5.26

$2.50 CA$3.48

51.20%

Onion (1kg)

$3.25 CA$4.51

$2.88 CA$4.00

12.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.78 CA$3.86

$2.35 CA$3.26

18.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 CA$3.69

$2.00 CA$2.78

32.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.68 CA$21.79

$14.58 CA$20.26

7.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.28 CA$25.39

$14.18 CA$19.70

28.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.94 CA$5.47

$2.80 CA$3.89

40.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.55 CA$6.32

$3.25 CA$4.52

40.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.87 CA$2.60

$2.40 CA$3.33

-22.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.7 CA$88.5

$114 CA$158

-44.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 CA$3.75

$3.76 CA$5.22

-28.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 CA$1.86

$1.41 CA$1.96

-4.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.20 CA$46.13

$25.53 CA$35.47

30.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 CA$1.89

$1.10 CA$1.53

23.64%

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

$25.4K CA$35.3K

$25.2K CA$35.1K

0.64%

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

$21.2K CA$29.5K

$21.1K CA$29.3K

0.74%

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

$140 CA$194

$120 CA$166

16.65%

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

$53.4 CA$74.1

$37.54 CA$52.2

42.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.3 CA$99.1

$54.5 CA$75.7

30.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.65 CA$62.0

$55.5 CA$77.1

-19.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.99 CA$23.60

$21.15 CA$29.39

-19.67%

Cinema Ticket

$11.82 CA$16.43

$11.56 CA$16.06

2.25%

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

$646 CA$897

$1,129 CA$1,569

-42.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.0K CA$19.4K

$18.0K CA$25.0K

-22.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 CA$81.5

$56.9 CA$79.1

3.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.75 CA$62.2

$39.96 CA$55.5

11.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.0 CA$133

$89.7 CA$125

7.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 CA$156

$114 CA$159

-1.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,564 CA$2,173

$1,849 CA$2,570

-15.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,375 CA$1,910

$1,560 CA$2,167

-11.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,740 CA$3,807

$2,925 CA$4,065

-6.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,402 CA$3,337

$2,470 CA$3,432

-2.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,702 CA$7,922

$9,085 CA$12.6K

-37.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,713 CA$6,548

$7,036 CA$9,775

-33.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,994 CA$4,160

$3,572 CA$4,963

-16.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

5.16

23.64%

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

Last update for Victoria: June 1, 2026

Last update for Toronto: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,564 in Victoria and $1,849 in Toronto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Toronto pays 19% 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 Victoria vs $82.0 in Toronto. Groceries flip the comparison at $461 vs $396, 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

Victoria vs Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Victoria is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Toronto earns 19% less. 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: $1,564 in Victoria versus $1,849 in Toronto. 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 Victoria – a meal for two runs $82.0 versus $82.0 in Toronto. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Victoria 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 Victoria gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.