Amid ongoing debates over which city has the highest cost of living, Vancouver or Toronto, Canada’s representative high-cost cities, the biggest difference is found to be rent.
According to the global database Numbeo, the cost-of-living excluding rent is only about 2% different between the two cities, but the gap widens significantly when rent is included.
Vancouver’s rent is 14.5% more expensive than Toronto’s on average, and Vancouver’s overall cost of living is also higher.
Numbeo said, “In Vancouver, you need about $9,372.40 to maintain the same standard of living as Toronto, but you can do it for $8,800 in Toronto.”
Vancouver has higher rent, while Toronto has higher dining out costs. Vancouver has higher housing costs, but Toronto has higher dining out costs. Imported beer, soft drinks, and cheap restaurant meals are slightly cheaper in Vancouver, while the prices of high-end restaurants, fast food, and cigarettes are almost the same in both cities.
Grocery costs differ by item. In Vancouver, eggs are 19.8% more expensive, and a kilo of chicken breast is about 15% more expensive, but in Toronto, milk costs almost twice as much, residents say.
Transportation costs are relatively low in Vancouver, but the cost of driving a car is the highest in Vancouver. Vancouver has the highest fuel tax in the country, at about 30 cents per litre, which makes vehicle maintenance costs high.
Meanwhile, utility bills (electricity, water, heating, etc.) are more expensive in Toronto, at an average of $154.67 per month, and monthly gym membership fees are also slightly higher.
Toronto’s monthly salary is slightly higher, putting Toronto ahead of Vancouver in terms of average monthly salary. The average monthly salary in Toronto is $4,813, while in Vancouver it is $4,597. This shows that Toronto residents can afford a little more when considering the difference in living expenses.
In this way, the gap in living expenses between Vancouver and Toronto is highlighted by the fact that there are differences in various items such as housing, food, and transportation, and that choices can vary depending on individual priorities.