Cost of Living Comparison Between Windsor, NS and Toronto Cost of Living Comparison Between Windsor, NS and Toronto

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,322 in Windsor, NS versus $2,843 in Toronto.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,286 in Windsor, NS versus $4,122 in Toronto.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,250 in Windsor, NS versus $5,402 in Toronto.

Living in Windsor, NS costs roughly 18% less than in Toronto, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Windsor, NS 74% above, Toronto 114% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.80 CA$20.77

$18.86 CA$26.47

-21.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.09 CA$52.1

$84.0 CA$118

-55.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.66 CA$12.16

$11.20 CA$15.72

-22.68%

Cappuccino

$3.59 CA$5.04

$3.93 CA$5.52

-8.65%

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

$1.74 CA$2.44

$2.15 CA$3.01

-19.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 CA$1.80

$1.61 CA$2.26

-20.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.73 CA$8.04

$5.85 CA$8.22

-2.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.74 CA$8.05

$6.75 CA$9.48

-14.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 CA$2.73

$2.69 CA$3.78

-27.51%

White Bread (500g)

$2.91 CA$4.09

$2.74 CA$3.85

6.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.05 CA$5.68

$3.54 CA$4.97

14.41%

Eggs

$4.13 CA$5.79

$3.48 CA$4.88

18.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.49 CA$17.54

$13.55 CA$19.01

-7.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.21 CA$19.95

$13.13 CA$18.43

8.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.43 CA$23.06

$16.52 CA$23.19

-0.54%

Apples (1kg)

$4.08 CA$5.73

$4.11 CA$5.77

-0.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 CA$2.19

$1.13 CA$1.58

38.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.68 CA$5.17

$3.39 CA$4.75

8.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.33 CA$7.48

$4.04 CA$5.67

31.93%

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 CA$2.90

$2.56 CA$3.60

-19.53%

Onion (1kg)

$2.21 CA$3.10

$2.82 CA$3.97

-21.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.78 CA$3.90

$2.47 CA$3.47

12.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 CA$2.71

$1.92 CA$2.69

0.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.26 CA$25.62

$14.66 CA$20.58

24.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.32 CA$20.09

$13.89 CA$19.50

3.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.25 CA$4.57

$2.71 CA$3.81

19.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 CA$4.69

$3.17 CA$4.45

5.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.39 CA$3.36

$2.46 CA$3.45

-2.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$62.9 CA$88.3

$114 CA$160

-44.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.70 CA$10.80

$3.60 CA$5.06

113.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 CA$2.11

$1.36 CA$1.91

10.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.11 CA$40.86

$25.82 CA$36.24

12.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 CA$1.69

$1.14 CA$1.59

5.26%

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

$25.5K CA$35.8K

$24.7K CA$34.6K

3.30%

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

$20.8K CA$29.2K

$21.2K CA$29.8K

-2.06%

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

$130 CA$183

$119 CA$167

9.63%

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

$33.08 CA$46.43

$36.98 CA$51.9

-10.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.22 CA$50.8

$54.3 CA$76.2

-33.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.80 CA$58.7

$56.0 CA$78.6

-25.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.56 CA$28.86

Cinema Ticket

$11.14 CA$15.64

$11.59 CA$16.26

-3.88%

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

$165 CA$231

$1,155 CA$1,621

-85.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.0K CA$16.8K

$17.9K CA$25.1K

-33.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.81 CA$57.3

$58.3 CA$81.8

-29.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.53 CA$48.47

$39.15 CA$55.0

-11.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.7 CA$123

$87.5 CA$123

0.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 CA$195

$115 CA$162

20.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,329 CA$1,866

$1,785 CA$2,505

-25.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,158 CA$1,625

$1,543 CA$2,165

-24.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,045 CA$2,870

$2,918 CA$4,096

-29.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,781 CA$2,500

$2,471 CA$3,468

-27.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,193 CA$5,885

$8,725 CA$12.2K

-51.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,772 CA$5,294

$6,800 CA$9,544

-44.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$923 CA$1,295

$3,476 CA$4,879

-73.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.46

5.16

25.19%

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

Last update for Windsor, NS: July 27, 2026

Last update for Toronto: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,329 in Windsor, NS and $1,785 in Toronto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Toronto pays 277% 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: $37.00 in Windsor, NS vs $84.0 in Toronto. Groceries flip the comparison at $407 vs $393, 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

Windsor, NS vs Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Windsor, NS is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 277% lower in Toronto. 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: $1,329 in Windsor, NS versus $1,785 in Toronto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Toronto pay roughly 3% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Windsor, NS – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $84.0 in Toronto. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,322 in Windsor, NS versus $2,843 in Toronto, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Windsor, NS but tight or insufficient in Toronto. The gap between the two cities makes Windsor, NS the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 Windsor, NS gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.