Cost of living in Toronto

🇨🇦 Canada · A realistic 2026 budget for newcomers — rent, food, transport, and what a month actually costs.

Wondering how far your salary goes in Toronto? Here’s what everyday life costs, in local prices — the numbers that matter when you’re deciding to move or negotiating a package.

What things cost

One-bed apartment, downtownCAD 2,200–2,800 / month
TTC monthly pass≈CAD 156 / month
Groceries, one personCAD 400–650 / month
CoffeeCAD 3.00–5.50
Mobile planCAD 35–60 / month

Good to know

Population
≈2.8 million (city); ≈6.8 million (Greater Toronto Area)
Languages
English; over 180 languages spoken, ~50% born outside Canada
Currency
Canadian dollar (CAD)
Time zone
EST (GMT−5); EDT (GMT−4) in daylight saving
Power plug
Type A/B, 120 V / 60 Hz
Climate
Humid continental — hot humid summers, cold snowy winters
Driving side
Right
Sales tax
13% HST, added at the register

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.

A note on budgeting

Rent is usually the swing factor — location and whether bills are included move the number most. Build your estimate from the rent band above, add a monthly living figure, and keep a buffer for one-off setup costs (deposits, a residence permit, a local SIM, first-month transport). Globe Quest turns this into a personalized Toronto checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.

Plan your move to Toronto

A free, AI-personalized plan — the language, culture, and setup steps timed to your move date.