103 cities compared · 2026

🇨🇦 Canada vs 🇺🇸 United States

United States is 20.7% pricier, but purchasing power is 17.6% stronger. You pay more but earn proportionally more.

+20.7%
Cost of Living
+45.8%
Rent
+17.3%
Groceries
+25.2%
Restaurants
+17.6%
Purchasing Power

Compared to Canada. Green = cheaper or better in United States. All indices relative to NYC = 100.

Every Category, Side by Side

Canada vs United States

Averaged across 103 cities. All indices relative to NYC = 100.

Category 🇨🇦 🇺🇸 Diff
Cost of Living 62.3 75.2 +20.7%
Rent 29.9 43.6 +45.8%
Groceries 71.5 83.9 +17.3%
Restaurants 61.8 77.4 +25.2%
Purchasing Power 115.7 136.1 +17.6%

What You Actually Keep After Taxes

Toronto vs New York

Same gross salary, different tax systems. Annual take-home pay in Toronto vs New York.

Gross 🇨🇦 Net in Canada 🇺🇸 Net in United States Diff
€40,000 €32,525 €32,557 +€32
€60,000 €47,223 €47,447 +€224
€80,000 €61,331 €60,987 -€344
€100,000 €75,260 €73,820 -€1,440

Single person, no children. Tax rates for Toronto and New York (2026). Try the full calculator

Tax Calculators

See detailed income tax brackets and net salary calculations for Canada and United States.

🇨🇦
Canada Tax Calculator
Income tax rates, brackets & net salary
 🇺🇸
United States Tax Calculator
Income tax rates, brackets & net salary

These are averages. What about your salary?

Enter your exact numbers and see your real take-home pay in both countries.

Calculate Your Take-Home Pay

Top Cities in Each Country

Canada & United States

National averages hide a lot. These are the cities most people actually move to.

🇨🇦

Canada

City CoL Rent PP
Toronto 66.4 37.7 116.4
Vancouver 68.9 45.2 110.5
Montreal 59 28.8 118.9
Ottawa 63.3 32.8 133.3
Victoria 69.3 37.7 100
🇺🇸

United States

City CoL Rent PP
New York 100 100 100
San Francisco 95.1 82.9 154
Los Angeles 86 67.2 105.4
Chicago 77.1 55 135.8
Honolulu 107.7 64.6 86

City-to-City Comparisons

Canada ↔ United States

See exact take-home pay for specific cities between Canada and United States.

Toronto → New York
Toronto → San Francisco
Toronto → Los Angeles
Vancouver → New York
Vancouver → San Francisco
Vancouver → Los Angeles

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is United States more expensive than Canada?
United States is 20.7% more expensive than Canada overall. Rent is 45.8% higher, and groceries are 17.3% more expensive. These figures are averages across 75 cities in United States and 28 cities in Canada.
Which country has better purchasing power, Canada or United States?
Canada has an average purchasing power index of 115.7 while United States has 136.1 (NYC = 100). United States offers better purchasing power, meaning your salary goes further relative to local prices.
Is rent cheaper in Canada or United States?
Average rent in Canada has an index of 29.9 vs 43.6 in United States (NYC = 100). Rent in United States is 45.8% higher than in Canada.
How many cities are compared between Canada and United States?
Our comparison covers 28 cities in Canada and 75 cities in United States, with data on cost of living, rent, groceries, restaurants, and purchasing power.

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