2026 Estimate · Moderate Lifestyle · Public Education · 1 Child · Birth to Age 18
Raising one child from birth to age 18 costs about $230,000 USD in Sydney versus $240,000 USD in Toronto — a difference of $10,000 USD (4%). Sydney is the more affordable of the two (2026 moderate-lifestyle, public-education estimate).
Sydney is about 4% cheaper than Toronto for raising one child to age 18 ($230,000 vs $240,000 USD).
Cost Overview
$230,000
Sydney Total
$240,000
Toronto Total
$75,000
Sydney University
$80,000
Toronto University
Category-by-Category Comparison (Birth to Age 18)
Category
Sydney
Toronto
Cheaper
Housing & Space
$59,800 · 26%
$62,400 · 26%
Sydney ($2,600)
Food & Nutrition
$36,800 · 16%
$38,400 · 16%
Sydney ($1,600)
Education & Childcare
$27,600 · 12%
$28,800 · 12%
Sydney ($1,200)
Healthcare & Insurance
$16,100 · 7%
$16,800 · 7%
Sydney ($700)
Clothing & Daily Goods
$20,700 · 9%
$21,600 · 9%
Sydney ($900)
Travel & Entertainment
$23,000 · 10%
$24,000 · 10%
Sydney ($1,000)
Prenatal & Infant Setup
$11,500 · 5%
$12,000 · 5%
Sydney ($500)
Festivals & Social Etiquette
$34,500 · 15%
$36,000 · 15%
Sydney ($1,500)
Total (0–18)
$230,000
$240,000
Sydney ($10,000)
Housing & Space is the widest gap: $59,800 in Sydney vs $62,400 in Toronto (a $2,600 difference).
Cost With Two Children
Scenario
Sydney
Toronto
Cheaper
2 Children (cumulative)
$391,000
$408,000
Sydney
Local Subsidies & Policies
Sydney, Australia
Child Care Subsidy: means-tested, covers up to 90% of childcare fees for low- and middle-income families (Australia has no universal cash 'baby bonus' since 2014).
Family Tax Benefit (Parts A & B): income-tested fortnightly payments to help with the cost of raising children.
Parental Leave Pay: up to 20 weeks paid leave at the national minimum wage for eligible working parents (2025–26).
Medicare: free or low-cost public hospital and GP care for all children.
Toronto, Canada
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is cheaper to raise a child — Sydney or Toronto?
Sydney is cheaper. Raising one child from birth to age 18 costs about $230,000 USD in Sydney versus $240,000 USD in Toronto — a $10,000 USD (4%) difference under a moderate lifestyle with public education (2026 estimate).
What is the biggest cost difference between Sydney and Toronto?
Housing & Space is the widest gap: $59,800 in Sydney vs $62,400 in Toronto (a $2,600 difference).
How much does university cost in Sydney vs Toronto?
A 4-year undergraduate degree costs about $75,000 USD in Sydney versus $80,000 USD in Toronto. University costs are separate from the 0–18 estimate and vary by public vs private institution.
Do Sydney or Toronto offer stronger child-raising subsidies?
Sydney lists 4 notable subsidy or policy program(s); Toronto lists 4. The specific programs differ by country — see the local policy lists below and the individual city guides for details.
Methodology: Figures use a city base cost, a regional cost-structure archetype, a private-school premium, and a multi-child discount. See the Methodology page. Data Sources: Figures are modeled estimates based on publicly available cost-of-living data. See our Sources & References page for the full list of reference frameworks. Last Updated: Disclaimer: These are 2026 structural estimates for planning only — not real quotes or financial advice. Actual costs vary by circumstance.