Cost of living comparison
Chicago is 18.4% more expensive than Toronto.
If you lived in Chicago instead of Toronto, you would:
pay 22.6% more for restaurants
Toronto
|
Chicago
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$17.05
CA$23.33
|
$22.00
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.59
CA$13.12
|
$10.00
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.00
CA$2.73
|
$2.53
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.60
CA$2.19
|
$2.09
|
|
pay 13.0% more for groceries
Toronto
|
Chicago
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.55
CA$3.50
|
$3.27
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.75
CA$7.86
|
$7.47
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$10.26
CA$14.04
|
$3.46
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.25
CA$4.44
|
$4.10
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.37
CA$7.35
|
$5.61
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$1.66
CA$2.27
|
$2.54
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.58
CA$0.79
|
$0.76
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.57
CA$2.15
|
$2.04
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.71
CA$2.34
|
$2.04
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.20
CA$1.64
|
$1.20
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$1.23
CA$1.68
|
$1.06
|
|
pay 5.6% more for transportation
Toronto
|
Chicago
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.49
CA$6.14
|
$4.33
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$115.05
CA$157.40
|
$77.50
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$21,387.22
CA$29,260.92
|
$23,200.00
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$13.58
CA$18.58
|
$20.35
|
|
pay 10.0% more for housing
Toronto
|
Chicago
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$56.44
CA$77.21
|
$66.36
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,805.31
CA$2,469.94
|
$2,007.27
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,537.93
CA$2,104.12
|
$1,417.93
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$107.54
CA$147.13
|
$127.84
|
|
pay 48.7% more for childcare
Toronto
|
Chicago
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,120.86
CA$1,533.50
|
$1,784.74
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$18,675.89
CA$25,551.42
|
$25,786.67
|
|
pay 25.7% more for entertainment and sports
Toronto
|
Chicago
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.90
CA$8.07
|
$6.50
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.73
CA$5.10
|
$5.13
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$12.87
CA$17.61
|
$15.00
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$47.70
CA$65.26
|
$63.33
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$11.43
CA$15.64
|
$15.00
|
|
pay 3.4% more for clothing
Toronto
|
Chicago
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$58.32
CA$79.79
|
$59.55
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$37.25
CA$50.97
|
$39.58
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$90.77
CA$124.19
|
$90.92
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$106.66
CA$145.93
|
$111.88
|
|
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