Cost of Living in Toronto

Toronto

As well as being the provincial capital of Ontario, it has the largest urban population of any Canadian City. The city it self has a population of over 2.7 million. And the total metropolitan area exceed 5.9 million. This is truly a global city and possibly the world’s most multicultural. It is a center for arts, culture, finance, and business. It is also involved in movie and film production.

It also has a huge strength in sport. All four of the main North American sports, basket ball, baseball ice hockey and gridiron football, are fully represented in Toronto by world class teams. Plus there is a lot more as well.

Visiting Toronto

There are a lot of cultural features in the city. Museums, art galleries and cultural events regularly take place. For those that love shopping, the Eaton Centre is one of Toronto”s prime tourist attractions with numbers of over 50 million. This super mall attracts more visitors than Disney Land in North America.

Cost of Living in Toronto

This will depend upon a number of different factors. Are you a student passing through, on a temporary work visa or a gap year? You may have a family and you are visiting Toronto as tourists. You could be reallocating to Toronto, because of employment opportunities.

A Basket of Items

This is a list of the average prices of current items. These are listed in Canadian dollars. There will be an indication of the range, from the cheapest to most expensive, that you should expect.

Restaurants

• Cheap restaurant, a meal for one will be $15.00. This can range between $10.00 to $20.00.

• A mid range three course meal for two will cost you, $70.00. This can be from $50.00 to $100.00.

• A McDonald’s “ Mac meal” or similar combo type meal, will be $9.00. This can average between $8.00 and $10.00.

• Canadian domestic beer, half a liter draught beer will cost $6.50. This can vary between $4.50 and $7.50.

• An imported bottle of imported beer in a 33cl bottle, would cost you again $6.50 on average. This can range from $5.00 to $8.00.

• A regular cappuccino will set you back $3.84. This averages between $3.00 and $5.00.

• A 33cl bottle of Coke or Pepsi will cost you $1.80- This can be between $1.13 and $2.50.

• A 33cl of bottled water will be $1.54. This can range between $1.00 to $2.20.

• For any smoker, a packet of Marlboro averages at $12.00. This can vary between $10.00 and $13.00.

Markets

This could be for those that have access to cookers etc. or see what they can do with basic ingredients. Buying from markets, as a rule, works out cheaper than eating out. Again the prices are in Canadian dollars.

• I liter of regular milk will cost $1.98. This can vary between $1.20 and $3.59.

• A loaf of 500 grams of white bread will cost on average $2.61. This can range between $2.00 to $3.50.

• 1 kilo of white rice will cost $2.89. This can be between $1.99 and $5.00!

• 12, a dozen regular eggs, $2.81. This can range between $2.00 to $4.00.

• 1 kg of local cheese averages out at $13.56. This can range between $6.00 and $20.00!

• 1 kg of boneless skinless chicken breasts equals on average $11.38. This can vary between $9.00 and $19.00.

• 1 kg of back leg red meat, beef round averages out at $13.09. This can range between $9.00 and $17.64

• 1 kg of apples equals $3.62. This ranges between $2,20 and $5.50.

• 1 kg of bananas averages out at $3.63. These can be between $2.20 and $5.50.

• 1 kg of oranges is $3.22. This can range between $2.20 and $4.70.

• 1 kg of tomatoes equals $2.90. This can vary between $2.00 and $5.00.

• 1 kg of potatoes is $1.97. These can range between $1.00 and $3.00.

• 1kg of onions is $2..13. This can average between $1.20 and $2.30.

Getting around Toronto

This applies to any mode of transport. If you are a tourist or aim to be a permanent resident there. Again these prices are in Canadian dollars. There will be the average price as well as the range of prices available.

• One way ticket on local transport will cost you $3,25. This can vary between $3.00 and $3,25.

• A regular monthly pass on pubic transportation will be $143.00. This can range between $140.00 and $146.25.

• The starting price for a taxi on a normal tariff is $3.75. It can average between $3.25 and $4,50.

• A 1 km taxi ride, on a normal tariff, will cost you $1.75. This can vary between $1.29 and $2.00.

• One hour waiting time for a taxi on a normal tariff, equals $31.03 and this varies between $30.00 and $37.79.

• The present price of one liter of gasoline is $1.08. This can be $1.00 and $1.20.

For those that want tp permanently move to Toronto, it would be a good idea to check the current prices of autos that are available. These are priced in Canadian dollars.

• A new VW 1.4 Trendline or similar car would average out at (at present) $24,000.00. A new car like this can range between $20,000.00 and $28,000.00.

• A new Toyota Corolla 1.6i Comfort or similar car, would average out at $21,643.00. This can vary between $17,000.00 and $26,000.00.

Again, for anyone wanting to stay in Toronto for some time and buy or rent a house or apartment, should be aware of potential utility charges.

These are some monthly utility charges in Canadian Dollars:

• A “basket” of different utilities (garbage, heating, electricity and water) would cost $127.23 a month. This can range from $65.38 to $246.50.

• A basic minute of prepaid local mobile connection, which does not include plans or discounts would average out at $ 0.36. This can average between $0.20 to $0,50.

• A ADSL/Cable unlimited internet connection at 60 Mbps or more would be on average $59.67 a month. This can be between $40.00 and $80.00.

Again if you are in Toronto for any length of time you may want to join a sports or fitness club etc. This is an outline of prices in Canadian dollars:

• Membership of a fitness club for a month for one adult would cost on average $53.19. This can average out at between $35.00 to $79.00. This will depend what the clubs have to offer.

• Renting a tennis court for an hour during the weekend will average out at $22.65. The range of prices at present are $9.82 to $40.00.

• If you want to go the cinema in Toronto one adult ticket will cost you $13.00. This can vary between $12.00 and $15.00 on average.

Average costs for young child care in Canadian dollars. If you come to Toronto with a young family, this is something else you may need to consider.

• A monthly average charge for a pre-school child or kindergarten would equal $1,442.06 a month. This can range between $800.00 and $2000.00.

• In an international primary school, annual costs for a Year 1 child would average out at $16,960.00. This can vary from $14,000.00 to $22,000.00

The average cost of clothing and shoes in Toronto.

These are prices based on regular outlets found in Malls and stores. If you are on a limited budget and only staying for a limited period, it might be an idea to look at cheaper alternatives. These could be on line or in local markets. As before, all these prices are in Canadian dollars.

• The average price of 501 Levis or something similar is at present $90.00. This can vary between $64.13. These can average between $40.00 to $90.00.

• A summer dress from a store like H&M, Zara etc will work out at $42.95. This can vary between $30.00 to $60.00.

• A “Mid Range” pair of Nike sneakers or trainers $97.06. These can range between $30.00 to $60.00 in price.

• A good pair of business shoes for men will on average cost you $128.31. These shoes can vary between $85.00 and $185.00.

If you do plan to reallocate to Toronto these are a sample of current apartment and house rpices across the Toronto metropolitan area.

Monthly Rental in Toronto in Canadian dollars:

One bedroom apartment in the center of the city would cost you on average will be $1632.50. These prices can range from $1,200.00 to $2000.00.

One bedroom apartment outside the city center would be in the region of $1,224.57. This can vary between $1,000.00 and $1,500.00.

A three bed apartment in the center of Toronto, can cost you $7634.38. This ranges from $2,200.00 to

$3,500.00.

A three bed apartment outside the center of Toronto, will be $2,863.21. These can be between $1,500.00 to $2,600.00

Buying Apartments

These prices are based on the current average price per square meter in Canadian Dollars.

• Central Toronto this will average $7,634.38. This can vary between $5,381.96 and $9,149.32.

• Outside the center of Toronto the price will be $5,578.36. These prices can range between $4,305.56 and $7,000.00.

Toronto Night Life

This is a brief guide to those of you who may be just visiting or passing through Toronto and want to see some live music and have a good time. There are famous venues such as the Horseshoe Tavern and the Phoenix, will you can see established and up and coming rock acts. There is Lula Land for Latin The Reservoir lounge in central Toronto is famous for jazz, blues and , R&B. Lees Palace and Dakota Tavern for hard rockers and metal heads. Plus the Coda for house and club music and the Mod Club for retro 60’s music.

Just watch the prices. A cocktail may set you back $12.00 US. A figure of $324.00 US a month seems likely. This will all depend on how much a club costs, food and of course drinks at the bar. If you intend to enjoy your self, probably make sure you have a budget to cover this. This is very difficult to estimate, but anything from $300.00 to $1000,00 US may be needed. Of course with care you could do a lot on a lot less.

Conclusion: getting to Toronto.

There are a whole number of different scenarios. Are you a young professional with a family plus a job offer in Toronto? You could be a back packer or student on a gap year. You may aim to work in Toronto on a work visa.

It would be best to look carefully at those companies that can help you with this. There are a number of tour companies than can help you with a package holiday. A longer stay will need careful work on sorting out visas. Canada has a very logical, straight forward and fair system. With a good company behind you, this should not be much of a problem.

Cheap return flights seem to be now in the region of $900 plus Australian dollar.

A quick note on exchange rates.

The Canadian dollar has mainly been used here. The Australian to Canadian dollar rate at present is convenient very close The Canadian dollar to the US dollar is .80 at the moment. These three currencies do need to be checked pretty regularly. Over all movement has not be great between them. However, any major political or economic crises will impact on these rates pretty quickly.