I’ve had some questions lately about the cost of living for a family of four in either Toronto or Montreal. That’s a question not easily answered.
How much it would cost a family to live in Toronto depends on the standard of living you want. Some people new to the city are willing to share accommodations with other families or live in a smaller space, such as a basement apartment. Others may want a house large enough for each family member to have their own bedroom.
Another cost factor depends on where in Toronto you live. There are less expensive areas, sometimes because they aren’t as desirable to live. That could be because of more crime, more crowded neighbourhoods, or less access to transportation and stores. Usually, the closer you live to the subway system, the more expensive housing is.
As you can see, the answer depends on a lot of things. Here is a rough guideline for a family of four people:
- a two bedroom basement apartment rents anywhere from $700 up, depending on the area.
- a two bedroom in an apartment building usually at least $900 and many well over $1,000, especially downtown.
- a small townhouse, $1,200 or more, plus utilities
- and a small house, $1,200 and up per month plus utilities. Rents climb over the $2,000 mark in some areas, especially if the home is well built or has additional features.
Electricity and heat are often charged extra for, so if they are, make sure you aren’t renting a place with baseboard heaters (much more expensive).
Montreal rents are a little cheaper than those in Toronto and food is about the same.
Food isn’t too costly unless you buy a lot of imported food. Ontario’s minimum wage right now is $9.50 an hour, which is good. Our taxes are quite high, although we do have medical care available. Costs will also depend on whether you drive or take public transit and how often your family shops or spends money on recreation.
So as you can see, how much it would cost to live depends on a number of things. The poverty line in Ontario for a family of four is $34,000, so I guess that means the government thinks you need that much to live here. Personally, I think many people are able to live on less than that. It just means doing without some of the things others may consider important.
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