112 cities compared · 2026

🇨🇦 Canada vs 🇺🇸 United States

United States is 23.3% pricier, but purchasing power is 14.8% stronger. You pay more but earn proportionally more.

+23.3%

Cost of Living

+41.9%

Rent

+15.4%

Groceries

+25.1%

Restaurants

+14.8%

Purchasing Power

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

Every Category, Side by Side

Averaged across 112 cities. All indices relative to NYC = 100.

Category	🇨🇦 Canada	🇺🇸 United States	Diff
Cost of Living	46.8	57.7	+23.3%
Rent	29.1	41.3	+41.9%
Groceries	69.3	80	+15.4%
Restaurants	65.4	81.8	+25.1%
Purchasing Power	125.6	144.2	+14.8%

What You Actually Keep After Taxes

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

Gross	🇨🇦 Net in Canada	🇺🇸 Net in United States	Diff
CAD 40,000 ≈ $28,000	CAD 33,332	$23,033	-CAD 515
CAD 60,000 ≈ $42,000	CAD 47,340	$32,975	-CAD 357
CAD 80,000 ≈ $56,000	CAD 60,303	$42,905	+CAD 827
CAD 100,000 ≈ $70,000	CAD 74,206	$52,478	+CAD 564

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

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

🇨🇦

Canada

City	CoL	Rent	PP
Toronto	54.6	35.9	141.3
Vancouver	55.3	40.2	136.6
Montreal	43.1	27.5	126.7
Ottawa	50.8	31.3	145.5
Burnaby	53.3	35.6	112.1

🇺🇸

United States

City	CoL	Rent	PP
New York	100	100	100
San Francisco	84.1	75.9	153
Los Angeles	75.5	67.7	98.2
Chicago	67.7	52.6	141.4
San Jose	86.2	67.1	149.6

City-to-City Comparisons

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is United States more expensive than Canada?

United States is 23.3% more expensive than Canada overall. Rent is 41.9% higher, and groceries are 15.4% more expensive. These figures are averages across 82 cities in United States and 30 cities in Canada.

Which country has better purchasing power, Canada or United States?

Canada has an average purchasing power index of 125.6 while United States has 144.2 (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 29.1 vs 41.3 in United States (NYC = 100). Rent in United States is 41.9% higher than in Canada.

How many cities are compared between Canada and United States?

Our comparison covers 30 cities in Canada and 82 cities in United States, with data on cost of living, rent, groceries, restaurants, and purchasing power.