Toronto wins, and it is not close.
| Cost | London | Toronto | | Shared room | 850 to 1,450 GBP/month | 1,000 to 1,400 CAD/month | | Monthly total (planning) | 2,000 to 2,200 GBP | 1,800 to 2,400 CAD | | Student transit pass | 18+ Oyster, zone-based | TTC 128.15 CAD/month | | Max part-time earnings | ~1,000 GBP/month net (20 hrs at 12.71 GBP) | ~1,600 CAD/month (20 hrs at ~17 CAD) |
London rent alone can exceed everything a student is legally allowed to earn. Toronto hurts too, but wages stretch further and shared rooms under 1,200 CAD exist near most campuses. Sources: Numbeo Cost of Living Pick London for the universities and the career upside. Pick Toronto if the budget has to survive contact with reality.