Cost of Living in Oshawa - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $1,139 (excluding rent), and $2,539 including rent.
Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $2,785 (excluding rent), and $4,926 including rent.
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🍽 Eating Out
Cost
Range
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.17 CA$24.90
$13.08 CA$17.92
$23.33 CA$31.97
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.7 CA$102
$52.3 CA$71.6
$161 CA$221
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.26 CA$14.06
$9.52 CA$13.05
$11.72 CA$16.06
Cappuccino
$3.70 CA$5.06
$2.93 CA$4.01
$4.39 CA$6.02
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 CA$2.61
$1.45 CA$1.99
$2.55 CA$3.49
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 CA$2.24
$1.49 CA$2.04
$2.27 CA$3.12
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.04 CA$6.91
$3.60 CA$4.93
$6.49 CA$8.89
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.36 CA$8.71
$5.23 CA$7.16
$7.47 CA$10.24
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cost
Range
Milk (1 liter)
$2.68 CA$3.68
$1.81 CA$2.48
$3.16 CA$4.33
White Bread (500g)
$2.63 CA$3.60
$2.16 CA$2.97
$2.92 CA$3.99
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.74 CA$5.12
$2.14 CA$2.93
$4.45 CA$6.10
Eggs
$3.44 CA$4.71
$1.46 CA$2.00
$3.95 CA$5.42
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.39 CA$16.98
$5.93 CA$8.12
$22.24 CA$30.47
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.36 CA$15.56
$8.83 CA$12.10
$24.27 CA$33.25
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.98 CA$21.90
$8.71 CA$11.93
$25.39 CA$34.79
Apples (1kg)
$3.57 CA$4.90
$1.26 CA$1.73
$5.20 CA$7.12
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 CA$1.60
$0.92 CA$1.27
$2.16 CA$2.96
Oranges (1kg)
$3.81 CA$5.21
$2.06 CA$2.83
$10.03 CA$13.75
Tomato (1kg)
$5.08 CA$6.96
$3.03 CA$4.15
$8.32 CA$11.39
Potato (1kg)
$4.72 CA$6.47
$0.98 CA$1.35
$6.72 CA$9.20
Onion (1kg)
$3.33 CA$4.57
$2.25 CA$3.08
$5.24 CA$7.17
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.87 CA$3.93
$2.14 CA$2.93
$4.30 CA$5.89
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 CA$1.74
$0.54 CA$0.74
$2.16 CA$2.96
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.79 CA$20.26
$10.05 CA$13.77
$18.48 CA$25.32
Wine (Bottle)
$14.67 CA$20.10
$10.27 CA$14.07
$14.67 CA$20.10
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.22 CA$4.41
$2.07 CA$2.83
$5.30 CA$7.26
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 CA$3.96
$1.58 CA$2.17
$4.31 CA$5.91
🚌 Getting Around
Cost
Range
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.59 CA$3.55
$2.32 CA$3.18
$3.11 CA$4.26
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$88.2 CA$121
$85.6 CA$117
$92.9 CA$127
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.63 CA$4.97
$3.45 CA$4.73
$4.58 CA$6.27
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 CA$3.00
$2.19 CA$3.00
$2.19 CA$3.00
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.30 CA$30.55
$22.30 CA$30.55
$32.67 CA$44.76
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 CA$1.49
$1.00 CA$1.37
$1.29 CA$1.76
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K CA$33.9K
$24.8K CA$33.9K
$28.9K CA$39.6K
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K CA$27.9K
$20.1K CA$27.5K
$21.3K CA$29.2K
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cost
Range
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$233 CA$319
$182 CA$249
$309 CA$423
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.3 CA$81.2
$14.98 CA$20.53
$105 CA$144
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.5 CA$103
$52.4 CA$71.8
$93.6 CA$128
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cost
Range
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.75 CA$57.2
$18.64 CA$25.54
$55.9 CA$76.6
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.46 CA$51.3
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.06 CA$16.52
$10.95 CA$15.01
$13.88 CA$19.02
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cost
Range
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,330 CA$1,822
$1,182 CA$1,619
$1,477 CA$2,024
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.8K CA$16.2K
$8,843 CA$12.1K
$14.7K CA$20.2K
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cost
Range
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.3 CA$82.6
$22.39 CA$30.68
$112 CA$153
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.7 CA$80.5
$37.03 CA$50.7
$83.7 CA$115
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 CA$158
$80.4 CA$110
$146 CA$200
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$160 CA$219
$56.3 CA$77.1
$188 CA$257
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cost
Range
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,270 CA$1,740
$802 CA$1,098
$1,530 CA$2,097
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,185 CA$1,623
$815 CA$1,116
$1,481 CA$2,029
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,027 CA$2,778
$1,775 CA$2,432
$2,255 CA$3,089
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,943 CA$2,662
$1,495 CA$2,048
$2,392 CA$3,277
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,152 CA$5,688
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.2K CA$15.3K
$1,547 CA$2,119
$21.4K CA$29.3K
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cost
Range
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,156 CA$4,323
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.21
4.45
6.9

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

Last update: March 3, 2026

Oshawa Median Internet Speeds (Updated December 2025)

Mobile

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Upload
Mbps
Latency
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Fixed Broadband

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The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
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Cost of Living in Oshawa - Frequently Asked Questions
How affordable is Oshawa overall for travelers, expats, and digital nomads?
Oshawa generally offers a good balance for travelers, expats, and digital nomads who want city amenities without Toronto-level prices. You will find diverse neighborhoods, workable transit connections, and a local scene that supports work and play. Cost of Living in Oshawa, Canada sits in the mid-range of regional options, with housing that can be more affordable than the big city core and groceries that align with the broader area. Seasonal demand can lift short-term rentals, but longer stays often yield stable options. Tip: Build a month-by-month budget around housing, transit, groceries, and leisure.
What does daily life look like in Oshawa for housing, food, transit, and coworking?
Daily life in Oshawa blends practicality with local flavor. Housing search tends to focus on Downtown Oshawa, Lakeview, and North Oshawa for reasonable access to transit and amenities, with options from older low-rises to newer units. Grocery stores range from big chains to farmers markets, depending on neighborhood. Transit connections include local buses and GO Transit links for quick trips to the Toronto region; cycling is feasible in many parts of the city. Co-working spots appear in libraries, campus spaces, and selective cafés with reliable Wi‑Fi. The Oshawa living cost varies by area, so plan your search around neighborhoods that fit your routine. Tip: Time your shopping and transit with the work week to save.
What is a practical budgeting approach and neighborhood fit for a longer stay in Oshawa, including seasonality and safety?
Quality of life in Oshawa comes from steady services, walkable neighborhoods, and accessible parks and culture. A practical budgeting framework emphasizes flexible housing options, predictable transit costs, and prioritizing groceries and utilities. Consider neighborhoods by your routine: downtown for an active scene and easy errands, Lakeview for waterfront strolls, or North Oshawa for longer commutes. Winter seasonality means budgeting for heating and snow-clearance, while summer offers more outdoor activities at minimal cost. Shopping at local markets, cooking at home, and leveraging free or low-cost community events can stretch your budget. Tip: Align your housing choice and daily routine with your preferred pace and safety priorities.

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