Sydney vs Toronto: Cost of Living & Salary Comparison
Sydney and Toronto are both popular destinations for professionals. Here's a data-driven comparison of what it actually costs to live and work in each city.
Sydney
Toronto
Detailed Cost Comparison
| Category | Sydney | Toronto | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of Living Index | 80 | 75 | +7% (lower is better) |
| Median Salary | $62,000 | $58,000 | |
| Rent (1BR) | $2,200 | $2,100 | (/month) |
| Rent (2BR) | $3,100 | $2,900 | (/month) |
| Groceries Index | 85 | 78 | +9% (NYC=100) |
| Transport Monthly | $140 | $130 | |
| Effective Tax Rate | 30.5% | 29% | (at median income) |
| Purchasing Power | 84 | 82 | +2% (higher is better) |
Salary Comparison by Role
| Role | Sydney | Toronto | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | $95,000 | $90,000 | +6% |
| Product Manager | $95,000 | $90,000 | +6% |
| Data Scientist | $92,000 | $88,000 | +5% |
| DevOps Engineer | $98,000 | $92,000 | +7% |
| Frontend Developer | $82,000 | $78,000 | +5% |
| Engineering Manager | $130,000 | $125,000 | +4% |
Sydney Offers Better Purchasing Power
While Sydney may have higher costs, its purchasing power index of 84 vs 82 means your money generally goes further. Higher median salaries ($62,000 vs $58,000) help offset costs.
Common Questions
Based on cost of living indices, Sydney (80) is more expensive compared to Toronto (75), where NYC = 100.
To maintain the same standard of living, you would need approximately $93,750 in Toronto to match $100,000 in Sydney.
Sydney has a tech hub score of 7/10 while Toronto scores 7/10. Sydney generally offers more tech opportunities.
Based on purchasing power, Sydney offers better value. This accounts for both salary levels and cost of living.
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Last updated: 2026-02-19 | Data sources: Numbeo, OECD, Glassdoor, and local government statistics.