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New York vs Toronto cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐บ๐ธ New York
๐จ๐ฆ Toronto
At a glance
- Where Toronto is clearly cheaper: Scooter rental (78%โ), Studio rent (month) (52%โ), Taxi (46%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Toronto is easier to travel (1.4 vs 1.6). Biggest gap: rip-offs & haggling โ New York 2 vs Toronto 1. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | New York | Toronto | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | $ 20$20 | C$ 25$18.4 | Toronto โ8% |
| Street food1 item | $ 10$10 | C$ 11$8.09 | Toronto โ19% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | $ 55$55 | C$ 57$41.9 | Toronto โ24% |
| Coffeeone cup | $ 6$6 | C$ 5.9$4.34 | Toronto โ28% |
| Beerone bottle | $ 9$9 | C$ 9$6.62 | Toronto โ26% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | $ 19$19 | C$ 17$12.5 | Toronto โ34% |
| Bottled water | $ 2$2 | C$ 2.5$1.84 | Toronto โ8% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | $ 3$3 | C$ 3$2.21 | Toronto โ26% |
| Taxi5 km in town | $ 23$23 | C$ 17$12.5 | Toronto โ46% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | $ 14$14 | C$ 11$8.09 | Toronto โ42% |
| Transitone ride | $ 3$3 | C$ 3.35$2.46 | Toronto โ18% |
| Scooter rentalper day | $ 68$68 | C$ 20$14.7 | Toronto โ78% |
| Hotel night3-star | $ 270$270 | C$ 260$191 | Toronto โ29% |
| Studio rent (month) | $ 3,300$3,300 | C$ 2,150$1,581 | Toronto โ52% |
| Laundry | $ 4.5$4.5 | C$ 5.5$4.04 | Toronto โ10% |
| SIM card1 week data | $ 30$30 | C$ 34$25 | Toronto โ17% |
| Haircutcut | $ 42$42 | C$ 35$25.7 | Toronto โ39% |
| Massage1 hour | $ 100$100 | C$ 100$73.5 | Toronto โ26% |
| Half-day tourper person | $ 80$80 | C$ 100$73.5 | Toronto โ8% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | $ 30$30 | C$ 30$22.1 | Toronto โ26% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, New York or Toronto?
Toronto is 36% cheaper than New York. Daily budget $467 vs $336; a month $10,297 vs $5,782.
Which is easier to travel, New York or Toronto?
Toronto is easier: Toronto 1.4/5 vs New York 1.6/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between New York and Toronto?
With a short-term studio and living costs, New York is about $10,297 and Toronto about $5,782 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.