Which place is cheaper, Toronto or Banff?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Banff or Toronto?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Banff or Toronto? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Banff or Toronto?
Banff
Nestled in the pristine and gorgeous mountains of the Alberta Rockies is the popular town of Banff. This town sits right in Canada's Banff National Park and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.
While the surrounding nature may give the impression of a quiet, little town, Banff is typically crowded with tourists. The beauty of this area is irresistible for travelers from all over the world. This may not be the place for solitude or even an authentic, country experience, you'll still find an unforgettable vacation.
Toronto
The capital of Ontario and the most populated city in Canada, Toronto is a very popular travel destination for any number of reasons. It's positioned along the coast of Lake Ontario and has a population of more than 2.6 million with 6.2 million in the Greater Toronto Area. It's a very international and diverse city, with a very rich cultural history. More than half of the city's population was not born in Canada, and there are more than eighty different ethnic neighborhoods sprinkled throughout the city. The city is a center for music, theater, film, and television. It has countless museums, festivals, and sights that attract more than 25 million tourists every year.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada, The Best Camping Tours in Canada, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Canada, and The Best Northern Lights Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBanff $84Toronto $203
The average daily cost (per person) in Banff is $84, while the average daily cost in Toronto is $203. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Banff and Toronto in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBanff $38Toronto $86
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBanff $76Toronto $172
Compare Hotels in Banff and Toronto
Looking for a hotel in Banff or Toronto? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Banff Hotel Prices and Toronto Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Banff $5.18Toronto $32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Banff
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Banff:
- Private Transfer - Between YYC Calgary Airport and Banff: $234
- Private Airport Transfer to Banff: $289
- From Private One-Way Transfer to Calgary: $365
- From 1-Way Private Transfer to Calgary Airport (YYC): $511
- Private Banff National Park Tour with Hotel Transfers: $876
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Toronto
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Toronto are as follows:
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Airport Shuttle$26
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Train: 2 Day Passes$16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Toronto
Also for Toronto, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Convenient bus transfer between Hamilton Airport and Toronto: $3.65
- Express Train Transfer to/from Pearson Airport: $9.03
- One Way: from/to Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) - Private Transfer: $38
- Private Airport Transfer Pearson Airport to or from Toronto: $41
- Private Departure Transfer-Toronto to Pearson Airport(YYZ) or YTZ: $41
- Private Transfer Toronto Pearson Airport To Toronto Hotels: $42
- Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ) to Toronto hotel/address -Arrival Private Transfer: $63
- Private Transfer: Toronto Pearson Airport or Mississauga City Black Car Service: $64
- Departure Private Transfer Toronto City to Toronto Airport YYZ by SUV or Minibus: $66
- Private Arrival Transfer - YYZ Airport to Toronto Downton Hotel & Accommodations: $73
- Niagara Falls Guided 9 Hour Day Trip with Round-trip Transfer: $74
- Private Transfer: Toronto Pearson Airport or Oakville City Ontario: $74
Is it cheaper to fly into Banff or Toronto?
Prices for flights to both Toronto and Banff change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayBanff $29Toronto $65
Typical Food Prices in Banff
Some typical examples of dining costs in Banff are as follows:
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Tea House Lunch for Two$33
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Hostel Breakfast$27
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McDonalds$4.63
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Banff
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Banff.
- Banff Food Tour: Eat the Castle: $153
Typical Food Prices in Toronto
For Toronto, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch at St. Lawrence Market for Two$23
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Dinner at Mill Street Brewery (for 2)$56
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Toronto
For Toronto, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Must Do Toronto Food Tour: $66
- Toronto Food Tour: Taste the World in Kensington Market: $66
- 3–Hour Secret Food Tour: $72
- Toronto Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $74
- Scenic Harbor Cruise with Lunch, Brunch, or Dinner: $76
- Toronto's Fusion Food Tour: $80
- Kensington Market -Toronto's Neighborhood International Food Tour: $80
- Toronto's Fusion Food Tour: $80
- Father's Day Premier Cruise with Brunch or Dinner: $90
- Mother's Day Premier Cruise with Brunch or Dinner: $90
- Toronto Premier Dinner Cruise on Odyssey in Toronto Harbour: $109
- Toronto Food Tour with Local Foodie, Personalized & Private: $151
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Banff $12Toronto $31
Typical Entertainment Prices in Banff
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Banff are as follows:
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Hot Springs$5.31
Tours and Activities in Banff
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Banff are as follows:
- Banff National Park Big Canoe Tour: $56
- Skybridge Adventure Golden BC from Canmore & Banff: $165
- 2 Hour Banff Horseback Riding Adventure: $144
- 4 Days Tour to Banff & Jasper National Park with Hotels: $2,595
- 4 Days Tour to Banff & Jasper National Park without Hotels: $1,462
- BANFF EVENING eBIKE WILDLIFE TOUR: $74
- Banff : Day Tour : Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and Peyto Lake: $186
- Banff Highlights & Wildlife | Award-Winning Small Group Adventure: $74
- Banff National Park Self-Guided Driving Tour: $17
- Banff National Park Tour with Lake Louise and Moraine Lake: $84
- Banff National Park: Big Canoe River Explorer Tour: $53
- Banff National Park: Self-Guided Scenic Driving Tour: $13
Typical Entertainment Prices in Toronto
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Toronto's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Art Gallery of Ontario for Two$15
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CN Tower at night for Two$36
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Harbour Dinner Cruise$26
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Bata Shoe Museum (2)$7.26
Tours and Activities in Toronto
For Toronto, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Explore Niagara Falls with bus ticket from/to Toronto: $3.65
- Downtown City Landmarks Self-Guided Audio Tour: $4.28
- Graffiti in Toronto Walking Tour: $4.46
- Downtown Toronto Walking Tour: $4.46
- City Highlights Walking Tour: $5.12
- Kensington Market: Downtown Toronto Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Toronto's Waterfront: Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $6.21
- Between Huntsville and Smartphone Audio Tour: $6.21
- Explore Canada's Metropolis with Walking Tours Through Toronto: $6.68
- Best of Toronto and Waterfront Self-Guided Tour: $8.02
- Bata Shoe Museum Entrance Ticket: $10
- Uncover Quebec's Legacy: In-App Audio Tour: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBanff $9.34Toronto $22
Sample the Local Flavors in Toronto
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Toronto:
- Distillery District Outdoor Escape Game: $8.01
- Distillery District Historic Walking Tour: $17
- Corktown and Distillery District Tour: $27
- Short Distillery District Segway Tour: $36
- Toronto Distillery District self-guided walking tour & hunt: $38
- Pub Crawl Toronto: $38
- Pub Crawl Toronto: $39
- Distillery District Breakfast Walking Tour: $40
- Craft Brewery Tour: $75
- From Niagara Wine Tours: $111
- Canadian Wine Tasting Experience: $128
- Toronto to Niagara Wine Tour : $133
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Banff and Toronto, we can see that Toronto is more expensive. And not only is Banff much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Banff would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Banff and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Toronto would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Toronto than you might in Banff.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Banff Expensive? and Is Toronto Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Banff or Toronto?
Toronto has a larger population, and is about 610 times larger than the population of Banff. When comparing the sizes of Banff and Toronto, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.