🇨🇦 Toronto vs 🇨🇦 Vancouver
Cost of Living Comparison (2026)
Similar cost of living in both cities
Quick answer
Comparing Toronto, Canada and Vancouver, Canada: a moderate single-person monthly budget is approximately $3,953 in Toronto versus $3,950 in Vancouver. Both cities have a similar cost of living. Central 1-bed rent: $2,100/mo (Toronto) vs $2,000/mo (Vancouver). The totals use the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Key facts
- Moderate budget: $3,953/mo in Toronto single person — city-centre rent + modeled non-housing categories.
- Moderate budget: $3,950/mo in Vancouver single person — like-for-like city-centre basket.
- Central 1-bed rent $2,100/mo in Toronto · $2,000/mo in Vancouver.
- Cheaper overall: tied near-identical cost-of-living index.
- Source World Bank ICP + national statistics · CC BY 4.0.
Monthly Budget Comparison
| Lifestyle | 🇨🇦 Toronto | 🇨🇦 Vancouver | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $2,750/mo | $2,750/mo | 0% |
| Moderate | $3,953/mo | $3,950/mo | 0% |
| Comfortable | $5,950/mo | $5,950/mo | 0% |
The Moderate row equals the category table below: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending. Budget and Comfortable scale that same basket.
Cost Breakdown by Category
| Category | 🇨🇦 Toronto | 🇨🇦 Vancouver | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1-bed, center) | $2,100/mo | $2,000/mo | -5% |
| Groceries & Food | $570/mo | $600/mo | +5% |
| Dining Out | $285/mo | $300/mo | +5% |
| Transport | $285/mo | $300/mo | +5% |
| Utilities & Internet | $285/mo | $300/mo | +5% |
| Healthcare | $228/mo | $240/mo | +5% |
| Leisure & Personal | $200/mo | $210/mo | +5% |
Category sum = Moderate budget. Basis: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Housing (1-bed, center)
Toronto
$2,100
Vancouver
$2,000
Groceries & Food
Toronto
$570
Vancouver
$600
Dining Out
Toronto
$285
Vancouver
$300
Transport
Toronto
$285
Vancouver
$300
Utilities & Internet
Toronto
$285
Vancouver
$300
Healthcare
Toronto
$228
Vancouver
$240
Leisure & Personal
Toronto
$200
Vancouver
$210
Quick Facts
🇨🇦 Toronto
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $3,953
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $2,100/mo
- Cappuccino
- $4.80
- Inexpensive meal
- $18.00
- Monthly transit pass
- $110
- Internet speed
- 150 Mbps
- Safety index
- 80/100(very safe)
- Healthcare index
- 94/100
- Country
- Canada
🇨🇦 Vancouver
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $3,950
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $2,000/mo
- Cappuccino
- $4.50
- Inexpensive meal
- $16.00
- Monthly transit pass
- $75
- Internet speed
- 135 Mbps
- Safety index
- 82/100(very safe)
- Healthcare index
- 94/100
- Country
- Canada
Explore more: Toronto city guide | Vancouver city guide | Canada
Related Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Toronto or Vancouver cheaper to live in?
Toronto and Vancouver have a similar cost of living.
How much does it cost to live in Toronto per month?
A moderate monthly budget for a single person in Toronto is approximately $3,953 on the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
How much does it cost to live in Vancouver per month?
A moderate monthly budget for a single person in Vancouver is approximately $3,950 on the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
What is the rent difference between Toronto and Vancouver?
A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center costs around $2,100/month in Toronto and $2,000/month in Vancouver.