Cost of Living Comparison Between West Lafayette, IN and Ajax, ON Cost of Living Comparison Between West Lafayette, IN and Ajax, ON

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,454 per month in West Lafayette, IN vs $2,498 in Ajax, ON, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,607 per month in West Lafayette, IN vs $3,606 in Ajax, ON, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,759 per month in West Lafayette, IN vs $4,713 in Ajax, ON, rent included.

West Lafayette, IN is about 2% cheaper than Ajax, ON, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both West Lafayette, IN and Ajax, ON sit above the global median – West Lafayette, IN by 79%, Ajax, ON by 83%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.17 $12.17

$18.16 CA$25.40

-32.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.1 $79.1

$54.4 CA$76.0

45.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.66 $6.66

$10.90 CA$15.25

-38.90%

Cappuccino

$4.54 $4.54

$3.81 CA$5.32

19.16%

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

$1.87 $1.87

$1.78 CA$2.49

5.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.51 CA$2.12

49.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.58 $5.58

$3.65 CA$5.11

52.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 $3.41

$5.67 CA$7.93

-39.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.68 $0.68

$2.01 CA$2.81

-66.17%

White Bread (500g)

$4.18 $4.18

$2.97 CA$4.16

40.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 $1.94

$3.51 CA$4.91

-44.73%

Eggs

$4.10 $4.10

$3.09 CA$4.33

32.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.93 $14.93

$9.59 CA$13.42

55.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.37 $14.37

$11.64 CA$16.28

23.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.20 $19.20

$17.19 CA$24.06

11.69%

Apples (1kg)

$5.68 $5.68

$4.06 CA$5.68

39.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.67 CA$2.33

Oranges (1kg)

$4.13 $4.13

$4.16 CA$5.82

-0.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.15 $5.15

$3.48 CA$4.87

47.99%

Potato (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.92 CA$4.09

-2.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.99 CA$2.78

43.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$3.11 CA$4.35

-28.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.07 $3.07

$2.00 CA$2.80

53.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.31 $16.31

$14.54 CA$20.34

12.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.98 $14.98

$13.06 CA$18.28

14.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.14 CA$3.00

-21.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 $3.46

$2.65 CA$3.71

30.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 $0.98

$2.43 CA$3.40

-59.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.50 $27.50

$89.3 CA$125

-69.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.38 CA$4.73

-2.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.91 $0.91

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$24.70 CA$34.55

0.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.05 CA$1.48

-14.29%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$28.2K CA$39.5K

31.25%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$19.3K CA$27.1K

36.14%

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

$158 $158

$129 CA$181

22.07%

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

$53.3 $53.3

$27.02 CA$37.80

97.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.7 $61.7

$58.1 CA$81.2

6.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.83 $29.83

$33.82 CA$47.31

-11.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.64 $12.64

$10.60 CA$14.83

19.25%

Cinema Ticket

$13.64 $13.64

$10.17 CA$14.23

34.12%

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

$987 $987

$912 CA$1,275

8.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.8K $31.8K

$17.6K CA$24.6K

81.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.4 $63.4

$51.1 CA$71.5

24.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.5 $55.5

$38.26 CA$53.5

45.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$87.4 CA$122

17.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$96.4 CA$135

58.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,399 $1,399

$1,542 CA$2,157

-9.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,249 $1,249

$1,390 CA$1,945

-10.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,389 $2,389

$2,361 CA$3,304

1.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,000 $2,000

$2,231 CA$3,122

-10.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,772 $1,772

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,745 $1,745

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,840 $8,840

$2,991 CA$4,184

195.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.13

4.8

27.71%

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

Last update for West Lafayette, IN: September 12, 2026

Last update for Ajax, ON: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,399 in West Lafayette, IN versus $1,542 in Ajax, ON. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 196% higher in West Lafayette, IN, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in West Lafayette, IN versus $54.0 in Ajax, ON. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $433 vs $370 – making Ajax, ON the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

West Lafayette, IN vs Ajax, ON: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ajax, ON is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,681 per month in West Lafayette, IN and $3,747 in Ajax, ON. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in West Lafayette, IN, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,454 in West Lafayette, IN and $2,498 in Ajax, ON. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 225% less in West Lafayette, IN. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,454 in West Lafayette, IN and $2,498 in Ajax, ON. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward West Lafayette, IN – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with West Lafayette, IN. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ajax, ON makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.