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Toronto vs Washington, D.C. cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐จ๐ฆ Toronto
๐บ๐ธ Washington, D.C.
At a glance
- Where Washington, D.C. is clearly cheaper: Half-day tour (32%โ)
- Where Toronto is clearly cheaper: Scooter rental (58%โ), Street food (42%โ), Massage (33%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Both cities are about equally easy to travel. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Toronto | Washington, D.C. | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | C$ 25$18.4 | $ 22$22 | Toronto โ16% |
| Street food1 item | C$ 11$8.09 | $ 14$14 | Toronto โ42% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | C$ 57$41.9 | $ 50$50 | Toronto โ16% |
| Coffeeone cup | C$ 5.9$4.34 | $ 6$6 | Toronto โ28% |
| Beerone bottle | C$ 9$6.62 | $ 8.5$8.5 | Toronto โ22% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | C$ 17$12.5 | $ 17$17 | Toronto โ26% |
| Bottled water | C$ 2.5$1.84 | $ 2.3$2.3 | Toronto โ20% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | C$ 3$2.21 | $ 3$3 | Toronto โ26% |
| Taxi5 km in town | C$ 17$12.5 | $ 14$14 | Toronto โ11% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | C$ 11$8.09 | $ 9$9 | Toronto โ10% |
| Transitone ride | C$ 3.35$2.46 | $ 2.25$2.25 | Washington, D.C. โ9% |
| Scooter rentalper day | C$ 20$14.7 | $ 35$35 | Toronto โ58% |
| Hotel night3-star | C$ 260$191 | $ 230$230 | Toronto โ17% |
| Studio rent (month) | C$ 2,150$1,581 | $ 2,200$2,200 | Toronto โ28% |
| Laundry | C$ 5.5$4.04 | $ 6$6 | Toronto โ33% |
| SIM card1 week data | C$ 34$25 | $ 30$30 | Toronto โ17% |
| Haircutcut | C$ 35$25.7 | $ 35$35 | Toronto โ26% |
| Massage1 hour | C$ 100$73.5 | $ 110$110 | Toronto โ33% |
| Half-day tourper person | C$ 100$73.5 | $ 50$50 | Washington, D.C. โ32% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | C$ 30$22.1 | $ 30$30 | 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, Toronto or Washington, D.C.?
Toronto is 20% cheaper than Washington, D.C.. Daily budget $336 vs $402; a month $5,782 vs $7,631.
Which is easier to travel, Toronto or Washington, D.C.?
About the same: Toronto 1.4/5, Washington, D.C. 1.4/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Toronto and Washington, D.C.?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Toronto is about $5,782 and Washington, D.C. about $7,631 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.