Cost of Living Comparison Between Winston-Salem, NC and Toronto Cost of Living Comparison Between Winston-Salem, NC and Toronto

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,354 in Winston-Salem, NC versus $2,788 in Toronto.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,558 in Winston-Salem, NC versus $4,110 in Toronto.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,761 in Winston-Salem, NC versus $5,432 in Toronto.

Living in Winston-Salem, NC costs roughly 16% less than in Toronto, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Winston-Salem, NC 76% above, Toronto 109% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.81 $19.81

$18.51 CA$25.96

7.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.6 $75.6

$83.8 CA$118

-9.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.16 $10.16

$10.97 CA$15.38

-7.38%

Cappuccino

$5.39 $5.39

$3.99 CA$5.59

35.09%

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

$2.29 $2.29

$2.11 CA$2.96

8.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$1.69 CA$2.37

18.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.76 $5.76

$5.92 CA$8.30

-2.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.82 $5.82

$6.48 CA$9.08

-10.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$2.71 CA$3.80

-65.68%

White Bread (500g)

$4.08 $4.08

$2.85 CA$4.00

43.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.19 $3.19

$3.56 CA$4.99

-10.39%

Eggs

$4.78 $4.78

$3.54 CA$4.96

35.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.31 $15.31

$13.26 CA$18.59

15.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.33 $11.33

$13.05 CA$18.29

-13.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.05 $26.05

$16.77 CA$23.51

55.34%

Apples (1kg)

$6.83 $6.83

$4.11 CA$5.77

66.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.14 CA$1.60

21.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.78 $5.78

$3.40 CA$4.76

70.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.31 $6.31

$4.02 CA$5.64

56.97%

Potato (1kg)

$3.58 $3.58

$2.43 CA$3.41

47.33%

Onion (1kg)

$4.16 $4.16

$2.94 CA$4.12

41.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.47 CA$3.47

-9.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.92 CA$2.69

17.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.91 $5.91

$14.99 CA$21.01

-60.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.22 $15.22

$14.34 CA$20.10

6.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 $1.67

$2.71 CA$3.80

-38.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 $3.08

$3.12 CA$4.38

-1.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 $0.98

$2.45 CA$3.44

-60.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.4 $65.4

$113 CA$158

-42.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.63 CA$5.08

-29.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.34 CA$1.88

26.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.76 $14.76

$25.55 CA$35.82

-42.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 $0.79

$1.11 CA$1.55

-28.83%

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

$29.0K $29.0K

$25.3K CA$35.4K

14.68%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$21.8K CA$30.5K

20.72%

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

$190 $190

$117 CA$164

62.47%

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

$52.8 $52.8

$37.60 CA$52.7

40.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.9 $69.9

$53.7 CA$75.3

30.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.28 $17.28

$57.1 CA$80.1

-69.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.26 $15.26

$20.86 CA$29.24

-26.85%

Cinema Ticket

$12.80 $12.80

$11.56 CA$16.20

10.73%

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

$1,516 $1,516

$1,125 CA$1,577

34.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.9K $23.9K

$18.4K CA$25.9K

29.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.89 $45.89

$57.3 CA$80.4

-19.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.94 $21.94

$39.05 CA$54.8

-43.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.4 $66.4

$87.6 CA$123

-24.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 $101

$114 CA$159

-11.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,487 $1,487

$1,842 CA$2,582

-19.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,071 $1,071

$1,531 CA$2,146

-30.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,250 $2,250

$2,925 CA$4,101

-23.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,767 $1,767

$2,502 CA$3,508

-29.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,397 $6,397

$8,725 CA$12.2K

-26.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,207 $3,207

$6,867 CA$9,628

-53.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,551 $3,551

$3,454 CA$4,842

2.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

5.16

26.55%

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

Last update for Winston-Salem, NC: July 11, 2026

Last update for Toronto: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,487 in Winston-Salem, NC and $1,842 in Toronto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Winston-Salem, NC pays 3% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $76.0 in Winston-Salem, NC vs $84.0 in Toronto. Groceries flip the comparison at $460 vs $395, 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

Winston-Salem, NC vs Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Winston-Salem, NC is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 3% higher in Winston-Salem, NC, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,487 in Winston-Salem, NC versus $1,842 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 Winston-Salem, NC – a meal for two runs $76.0 versus $84.0 in Toronto. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Winston-Salem, NC 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 Winston-Salem, NC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.