Cost of Raising a Child in Toronto

Birth to age 18, moderate lifestyle — what parents in Toronto actually spend, by category.

Published 2026-09-07 · Global KidCost Calculator

Toronto's parenting costs are led by housing and childcare, but Canada's $10-a-day child care rollout (CWELCC) and the tax-free Canada Child Benefit have cut the bill substantially.

Total to raise one child, birth to 18, on a moderate budget with public school: $240,000 USD ( (C$326,400 CAD)).

Where the money goes: 8 categories

Category	Birth–18 cost (USD)	Share
Housing & Space	$62,400	26%
Food & Nutrition	$38,400	16%
Festivals & Social Etiquette	$36,000	15%
Education & Childcare	$28,800	12%
Travel & Entertainment	$24,000	10%
Clothing & Daily Goods	$21,600	9%
Healthcare & Insurance	$16,800	7%
Prenatal & Infant Setup	$12,000	5%

Housing is typically the largest single line item, followed by education and local services. Your real mix depends on neighborhood and lifestyle.

Public vs private school

Choosing private or international schooling in Toronto raises the moderate birth-to-18 cost by about +50% (to roughly $360,000 USD). See the full public-vs-private breakdown across 10 cities.

Multi-child savings

Two children in Toronto cost about $408,000 USD (roughly a 15% per-child saving versus one), and three about $552,000 USD. Shared housing and hand-me-downs do the heavy lifting.

Local support & subsidies

Canada Child Benefit (CCB): tax-free monthly payment up to ~C$7,787/year for the first child under 6 (indexed to inflation, income-tested).
Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC): reducing licensed childcare fees toward an average of C$10/day.
Ontario Child Care Fee Subsidy: additional provincial help for lower-income families.
OHIP: free doctor and hospital visits for children under Ontario's public health insurance.

How this compares

See the full Toronto data page for every lifestyle and education option.
Compare Toronto side-by-side with another city on our comparison pages.
Read the methodology behind these estimates.

Want your own number? Open the calculator and adjust city, family size, and lifestyle.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to raise a child in Toronto?

On a moderate budget with public schooling, about $240,000 USD from birth to age 18 ( (C$326,400 CAD)). Premium lifestyles and private schooling cost more.

What is the biggest cost category in Toronto?

Housing is usually the largest single line item, followed by education and local services such as healthcare and childcare. The exact share varies by neighborhood.

Is private school worth it in Toronto?

Private or international schooling adds about +50% to the birth-to-18 cost. Whether that premium is worth it depends on local public-school quality, which varies by area — the data only shows the price gap.

Do these figures include government subsidies?

They are gross modeling estimates and do not net out tax credits or family allowances. See the subsidies listed above and our Sources page for the reference frameworks.

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Methodology: See the Methodology page.
Data Sources: Modeled on publicly available cost-of-living data — see our Sources & References page.
Last Updated: 2026-09-07
Disclaimer: 2026 structural estimates for planning only — not real quotes or financial advice.