City Comparison

Bellevue vs Toronto

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Bellevue

Washington
158
Very Expensive
$1.3M
Median Home
$2,525/mo
Median Rent
$169,200
Median Income

Toronto

Canada
93
Below Average
$615,000
Median Home
$1,825/mo
Median Rent
$55,000
Median Income

The Verdict

69.9%

Toronto is 69.9% less expensive than Bellevue overall. A household earning $75,000 in Bellevue would need approximately $44,146 in Toronto to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
249
Bellevue
132
Toronto
Groceries
111
Bellevue
88
Toronto
Utilities
100
Bellevue
85
Toronto
Transportation
134
Bellevue
98
Toronto
Healthcare
120
Bellevue
72
Toronto

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Bellevue has the same purchasing power as $44,146 in Toronto.

Conversely, $75,000 in Toronto equals $127,419 in Bellevue.

Living in Bellevue vs Toronto

Housing Costs

Bellevue's housing index of 249 is higher Toronto's 132, translating to median home prices of $1.3M vs $615,000. The $686,000 difference in home prices means roughly $44,592 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,525/mo in Bellevue compared to $1,825/mo in Toronto, a monthly difference of $700.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 111 in Bellevue and 88 in Toronto. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $527/month in Bellevue vs $418/month in Toronto. Toronto offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $1308/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 100 in Bellevue and 85 in Toronto. Monthly utility bills average approximately $400 in Bellevue vs $340 in Toronto. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 120 in Bellevue and 72 in Toronto. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 48-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $169,200 in Bellevue and $55,000 in Toronto. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $107,089 and $59,140 respectively. Bellevue residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $3,948/month to housing in Bellevue vs $1,283/month in Toronto. In Bellevue, median rent of $2,525/mo fits within this budget. In Toronto, median rent of $1,825/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 117 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Toronto is 69.9% more affordable overall with an index of 93 vs 158.
A $75,000 salary in Bellevue has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $44,146 in Toronto, based on the cost of living difference.
Bellevue's housing index is 249 with median homes at $1.3M, while Toronto's is 132 with median homes at $615,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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