Eating on campus at the University of Toronto doesn’t have to drain your budget. Between the residence dining commons, the food halls on St. George, and a few free programs run by the Students’ Union, you can eat well for under $15 most days. This guide breaks down the cheapest options on the St. George campus, what they actually cost, and where to get a free meal when money is tight.
The cheapest spots on campus, at a glance
Most of the budget-friendly food on the St. George campus lives in two places: the all-you-care-to-eat residence dining commons and the food halls run by U of T Food Services. Both sit close to the main lecture buildings, so you’re never far from a cheap meal between classes.
| Spot | Location | What you’ll pay | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dining commons breakfast | Chestnut / New College / CampusOne | Around $10.39 | All-you-can-eat |
| Dining commons lunch | Chestnut / New College / CampusOne | Around $13.49 | All-you-can-eat |
| Dining commons dinner | Chestnut / New College / CampusOne | Around $15.59 | All-you-can-eat |
| MSB Food Hall | 1 King’s College Circle | Varies | Quick, hot meals |
| Robarts Food Hall | 130 St. George St. | Varies | Lunch near the library |
| Sid’s Food Hall | 100 St. George St. | Varies | Grab-and-go |
Prices shift, so treat these as a rough guide. The point is that a filling meal on campus rarely needs to cost more than $15, and the all-you-care-to-eat dining commons give you the most food for your dollar.
The residence dining commons
U of T Food Services runs four all-you-care-to-eat dining commons on the St. George campus: Chestnut, New College, CampusOne, and Oak House. They are the biggest meal option on campus. If you live in residence, a meal plan is usually part of your contract, and it’s the most cost-effective way to eat if you use it regularly.
For everyone else, the door rate is the way in. The dining commons are open to all members of the U of T community without a meal plan, and you just pay the meal period door rate. Based on U of T Food Services’ posted rates, expect to pay around:
- Breakfast: $10.39
- Lunch: $13.49
- Dinner: $15.59
Weekend brunch runs about $13.49 and weekend dinner about $15.59. At those prices, the dining commons are the best value on campus if you have a big appetite, because you can eat as much as you want in one sitting. For a quick cheap meal, the food halls are the better call.
You get a 5% discount when you pay with TBucks at Chestnut, New College, Oak House, and CampusOne dining commons, plus select retail locations. TBucks is the campus currency you load onto your TCard.
The food halls and retail spots
U of T Food Services runs three food halls on the St. George campus, each with a rotating lineup of vendors:
- MSB Food Hall at 1 King’s College Circle (Medical Sciences Building)
- Robarts Food Hall at 130 St. George St. (beside Robarts Library)
- Sid’s Food Hall at 100 St. George St. (Sidney Smith Hall)
These are where you’ll find the grab-and-go staples: coffee, baked goods, bubble tea, and hot meals. Sid’s Food Hall menu items are only available through the self-serve kiosk or the U of T Mobile Order app, so order ahead to skip the line.
Around campus you’ll also find Starbucks at Robarts, Second Cup at Rotman, Kung Fu Tea at Sid Smith, and Chicha San Chen at MSB. These are handy for a cheap coffee or snack between classes, though the food halls are the better bet for a full meal.
The residence meal plans
If you live in a residence with a dining commons, a meal plan is mandatory and included in your residence fees. Chestnut’s 2026-27 plans give you a sense of the range:
- Unlimited Access: $7,800 for the year, with unlimited entry swipes plus $700 in Dining Dollars
- Access 14: $7,250 for the year, with 14 entry swipes per week plus $600 in Dining Dollars
Meal plans are tax-exempt, which is a real saving. If you don’t live in residence, you can still buy a commuter meal plan. The Declining Balance plans load Dining Dollars onto your TCard for use at retail locations and the dining commons:
- Starter (monthly): $800, with $750 in Dining Dollars
- Standard (semester): $3,050, with $2,975 in Dining Dollars
- All-in (full year): $6,100, with $6,000 in Dining Dollars
Commuter plans are tax-exempt and refundable at year end, subject to a $50 administration fee. If you eat on campus most days, a commuter plan can beat paying the door rate every time.
Free and nearly-free food on campus
The University of Toronto has real support in place if your food budget is tight. You don’t need to go hungry to make ends meet.
The UTSU Food Bank is the big one. It’s been running since 2001 and is free, year-round, and open to all University of Toronto students in need of food. It supports single students and students with families. You’ll find it in Room 136 of the Student Commons at 230 College St. (Huron St. entrance). It runs Fridays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. by appointment. Bring a valid TCard or a copy of your current timetable, plus reusable bags for carrying food. You’ll need to sign up for a Daily Bread Client ID number to access it, and appointments open up every Wednesday before the service at 9:30 a.m.
UTSU Lunch Lift provides prepared frozen food to U of T students in need. It’s a free program run by the Students’ Union, and it’s there to help when you need a ready meal.
The UTSU Community Fridge sits on the fifth floor of the Student Commons at 230 College St. Food is available on a first-come, first-served basis, so you can grab something without an appointment.
The UTSU Food Bank is a student-run service, and it’s there to help. If you’re choosing between paying bills and eating, use it. That’s exactly what it’s for.
How to spend less on campus food
A few habits stretch your food budget further than any single menu item:
- Bring your own. Packing a lunch is almost always cheaper than buying one. A thermos of coffee and a sandwich cost a fraction of what you’d pay on campus.
- Use the dining commons for big appetites. At $13.49 for lunch, the all-you-care-to-eat dining commons are the best value on campus if you eat a lot in one sitting.
- Pay with TBucks. You get a 5% discount at the dining commons and select retail locations when you use TBucks instead of a card.
- Use the food halls for quick meals. MSB, Robarts, and Sid’s are cheaper than a sit-down restaurant and faster between classes.
- Check the UTSU Food Bank before you pay full price for groceries. The Food Bank, Lunch Lift, and community fridge are all free.
The bottom line
The cheapest reliable meals at U of T are the dining commons door rate (around $10.39 for breakfast and $13.49 for lunch), the food halls on St. George, and the free programs run by the UTSU. If money is tight, the UTSU Food Bank, Lunch Lift, and community fridge are there for you. Eating on campus cheaply is less about finding one magic spot and more about knowing which options give you the most for your dollar.
For more on stretching your money as a student, see our guides to budgeting on a student income and student housing at U of T.
This guide is general information for Canadian students, not personalized financial advice. Program rules and dollar amounts change, so confirm the details with the official government source before acting on them.
