Rent = $1100/mo. (med. sized 1 bdrm.,old building, High Park)
Bundled phone, internet, digital cable = $170/mo.
Power = $75 bi-monthly
Food = $250/mo.
Health care:
government medicare = free (emergency care, hospitals, doctor visits...)
supplemental health care = $80/mo. (prescriptions...)
full health benefits standard for companies
Education = n/a
Public transit = $121 (adult month pass)


Can find reasonable rent in High Park, medium sized 1 bdrm for $1100, newer building $1300. Easy access to public transit including subway, streetcar, bus. The subway is quite reliable compared to other cities I have lived in such as Calgary and London, England. Can actually find $1300 1 bdrm downtown in a new condo building but it will be a lot smaller, and in a high rise, but no transportation costs. A bit of everything in the neighbourhood, all of the conveniences, huge park.

I find internet, phone, cell phone and cable to be very expensive here compared to Calgary, Halifax and England. I have a standard packages and they are the most I have ever paid. Not a lot of competition, Bell not much better, locked in contracts. Canada is known for being ripped off when it comes to these things.
Food prices have increased a lot, however, there is a lot of fresh fruit and veg at corner store stands for nearly 6 months of the year which helps, but winter costs will be higher. A lot of outdoor food/farmers markets throughout the city. You can find anything you want in this city from ethnic grocery stores and restaurants to specialty gourmet stores etc....EXCELLENT. Fabulous restaurants, from inexpensive to 5 star, can find what you want in terms of price. Overall quality very good I think.

Medicare free in Ontario with the provincial health card. I was unemployed for a time and still had emergency medical and free doctors visits. I just had to pay for prescriptions if required, not bad at all. Full health benefits are standard practise for companies.

Employment is diverse and abundant. Right now Toronto has the fastest growing economy of any Canadian city. Strong on financial, business, health, IT, arts and culture. Salaries for professional positions requiring university education are good.

Recreation abounds. There is so much to do it is difficult to keep up, from professional sports, arts, cultural festivals. Most cultural festivals are free, revenue is from concessions. Professional sports more expensive than other Canadian cities, twice the cost. Galleries and Museums are not free. Lot's of recreational facilities, reasonable cost.

Though Toronto is Canada's most expensive city it has a lot to offer. It has it all. Arts, sports, multi-cultural, recreation, good for professionals, families and singles. I have lived in other cities that were smaller and had lower cost of living, but was bored senseless!!