Which place is cheaper, Toronto or Beijing?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Beijing or Toronto?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Beijing and Toronto can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Beijing or Toronto?
Beijing
Beijing is the capital of China and, with 21.5 million people, it is the second most populated city in the world after Shanghai. It is a city that keeps pockets of its history hidden in old neighborhoods or back alleys, despite the constant change and modernization that goes on around it. As the capital city of China, there is plenty of history and culture. You can still get yourself lost in one of the last remaining hutongs, which are old neighborhoods that remain untouched by the city's modernization. The alleys that weave between the old homes are lined with drying clothes, corner markets, and people going about their daily lives the way they have for centuries. Surrounding these hutongs you'll find modern buildings and a booming economy, all threatening to destroying these last bits of Beijing's history. Beijing offers a glimpse into a microcosm that represents the entire country of China. Make sure you give yourself enough time in China to truly experience Beijing. You can pass a lot of time soaking up life in the city, which remains as diverse as the country it resides within.
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 2-Week Tours from Beijing, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best Northern Lights Tours in Canada, and The Best Luxury Tours to Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBeijing $77Toronto $205
The average daily cost (per person) in Beijing is $77, while the average daily cost in Toronto is $205. 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 Beijing and Toronto in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBeijing $39Toronto $86
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBeijing $78Toronto $172
Compare Hotels in Beijing and Toronto
Looking for a hotel in Beijing 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: Toronto Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Beijing $7.63Toronto $32
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Beijing
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Beijing:
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Taxi$4.71
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Train from Airport for Two$6.90
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Taxi to Hotel$8.28
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2 Metro Passes$2.21
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Metro$0.55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beijing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Beijing:
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Beijing HTL-APT (PEK): $62
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Beijing APT-HTL (PEK): $62
- Transfers to Jinshanling Great Wall with professional driver: $95
- Tianjin International Cruise Port to Beijing Capital Airport by private transfer: $148
- Tianjin International Cruise Port Transfer from Beijing: $130
- Tianjin Cruise Port to Beijing Daxing Airport by Private Transfer: $148
- Tianjin Cruise Port Private Transfer to Beijing International Airport: $153
- Tianjin Binhai Airport to Beijing - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $158
- Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City Private Tour With Airport Transfer: $205
- The Great Wall Jinshanling PRIVATE TRANSFER From Beijing : $105
- Shijingshan Amusement Park with FlyOver China Experience by Private Transfer: $78
- Shared Shuttle Bus Transfer Between Tianjin Cruise Port And Downtown Beijing : $59
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Toronto
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Toronto are as follows:
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Airport Shuttle$27
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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:
- Arrival Private Transfer: Pearson Airport YYZ to Toronto in Luxury Car: $152
- Arrival Private Transfer: Pearson Airport YYZ to Toronto in Luxury Van: $157
- Arrival Private Transfer: Toronto Airport YYZ to Niagara Falls in Business Car: $293
- Arrival Private Transfer: Toronto Airport YYZ to Niagara Falls in Luxury SUV: $196
- Arrival Private Transfer: Toronto YYZ Airport to Toronto City by Business Car: $71
- Arrival Private Transfer: Toronto YYZ Airport to Toronto City by SUV or Minibus: $76
- Arrival Transfer: Pearson Airport YYZ to Toronto in Luxury SUV: $174
- Arrival Transfer: Pearson Airport YYZ to Toronto in Sedan Car: $152
- Convenient bus transfer between Hamilton Airport and Toronto: $3.65
- Departure Private Transfer Toronto City to Toronto Airport YYZ by Business Car: $59
- Departure Private Transfer Toronto City to Toronto Airport YYZ by SUV or Minibus: $66
- Departure Private Transfer: Toronto to Pearson Airport YYZ in Luxury Car: $152
Is it cheaper to fly into Beijing or Toronto?
Prices for flights to both Toronto and Beijing 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 dayBeijing $21Toronto $66
Typical Food Prices in Beijing
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Beijing:
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Popcorn$0.83
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Hot Pot Dinner$6.90
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Dumpling Breakfast for Two$2.76
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Watermelon$1.93
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Peking Duck Dinner for 2$16
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Two Popsicles$0.83
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beijing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Beijing.
- Online Cooking Class Orange Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
- Deal 20% off Beijing Nango HotSpring Water World with Dinner: $38
- Temple of Heaven Private Tour w/Option Show &Dinner: $60
- Mogolian Hot Pot Dinner with no limit soft drink and local beer .: $70
- discovery more Beijing back street evening food tour with locals : $79
- Acrobatic Show with Peking Duck Dinner Private Tour: $80
- Discovery more local Beijing evening food Tour: $89
- Beijing Evening Guided Tour: Roast Duck Dinner and Acrobatic Show: $102
- Authentic Local Food Tour in Center Beijing: $108
- Beijing’s Delights Dong Si Hutong Half Day Private Food Tour: $110
- Private Beijing Food Tour in Traditional Hutongs: $119
- Old Beijing Lamb Ribs Hot Pot Hutong Food Tour : $125
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:
- E-Scooter Food Tour Toronto: $45
- Toronto Food Tour: Taste the World in Kensington Market: $66
- Must Do Toronto Food Tour: $66
- 3–Hour Secret Food Tour: $73
- Toronto Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $74
- Scenic Harbor Cruise with Lunch, Brunch, or Dinner: $76
- Kensington Market -Toronto's Neighborhood International Food Tour: $80
- Toronto's Fusion 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: $93
- Toronto Premier Dinner Cruise on Odyssey in Toronto Harbour: $109
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Beijing $24Toronto $31
Typical Entertainment Prices in Beijing
Here are a few typical costs in Beijing for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entry to Summer Palace for Two$8.28
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Two Opera Tickets$59
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Temple of Heaven Park Entrance (for 2)$9.66
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Forbidden City (for 2)$17
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Forbidden City Tickets$17
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Audio Guides at Forbidden City$11
Tours and Activities in Beijing
Here are a few actual costs in Beijing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1-Day Mutianyu Great Wall and Beijing Airport Drop off Tour: $235
- 4 hours Deep Forbidden City Private Tour by Knowledgeable Guide.: $80
- 4-Hour Beijing Layover Tour to Hutong from Daxing Airport: $145
- All Inclusive Private Summer Palace, Mutianyu Great Wall Day Tour: $204
- All Inclusive Private Tour: Juyongguan Greatwall, Sacred Road, MingTombs : $176
- Beijing 2 Summer Palace Private Garden Tour: $140
- Beijing Layover Tour: Mutianyu Great Wall with English Driver : $100
- Beijing Private Tour of Ming Tombs, Summer Palace, Bird's Nest and Water Cube: $297
- China Art Museum and 798 Art Zone Private Tour: $137
- Classic One Day Beijing Tour: $240
- Forbidden City Tour : $110
- Mutianyu Great Wall And Ming Tomb Private One Day Tour: $205
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)$7.32
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: $4.31
- Toronto Beneath The Surface Walking Tour: $4.47
- Downtown Toronto Walking Tour: $4.47
- Graffiti in Toronto Walking Tour: $4.47
- City Highlights Walking Tour: $5.12
- Queen Street West: An audio tour exploring Toronto's coolest street: $5.20
- Kensington Market: Downtown Toronto Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Kensington Market, Chinatown and the Art Gallery of Ontario: A Self-Guided Tour: $5.99
- Between Huntsville and Smartphone Audio Tour: $6.21
- Toronto's Waterfront: Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $6.21
- Toronto's Waterfront: a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $6.32
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBeijing $12Toronto $22
Sample the Local Flavors in Beijing
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Beijing:
- Evening Food Private Tour with Brewery Taproom Hopping at Slow Boat in Beijing: $110
- Private Tour-Drum Tower, Hutong Food Taste and Local Brewery Beer: $120
- 5-Hour Private Changyu Chateau Wine Tasting Tour from Beijing: $178
Sample the Local Flavors in Toronto
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Toronto:
- Distillery District Outdoor Escape Game: $8.07
- Finest Whisky Exploration Game in Toronto Distillery District: $8.20
- Distillery District Historic Walking Tour: $17
- Spirits of the Distillery District Ghost Tour: $21
- Corktown and Distillery District Tour: $27
- Short Distillery District Segway Tour: $36
- 30-Minute Distillery District Segway Tour in Toronto: $36
- Distillery District Breakfast Tour: $36
- Toronto : Distillery & Old Town Walking Tour With A Guide: $38
- Toronto Distillery District self-guided walking tour & hunt: $38
- Pub Crawl Toronto: $38
- Pub Crawl Toronto: $39
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Beijing and Toronto, we can see that Toronto is more expensive. And not only is Beijing much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Beijing is in Asia and Toronto is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Beijing would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Beijing 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 Beijing.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Beijing Expensive? and Is Toronto Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Beijing or Toronto?
Beijing has a larger population, and is about 62% larger than the population of Toronto. When comparing the sizes of Beijing 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.
When is the best time to visit Beijing or Toronto?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Beijing or Toronto in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Beijing as well as Toronto. The summer months attract visitors to Beijing because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Beijing is a little warmer than Toronto. Typically, the summer temperatures in Beijing in July average around 27°C (80°F), and Toronto averages at about 21°C (70°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Toronto. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Beijing this time of the year. In the summer, Beijing often gets less sunshine than Toronto. Beijing gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Toronto receives 281 hours of full sun.
Beijing receives a lot of rain in the summer. Beijing usually gets more rain in July than Toronto. Beijing gets 176 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Toronto receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBeijing 27°C (80°F)Toronto 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Beijing or Toronto in the Autumn?
Both Toronto and Beijing are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Beijing this time of year.
In October, Beijing is generally a little warmer than Toronto. Daily temperatures in Beijing average around 14°C (56°F), and Toronto fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Beijing. Beijing usually receives more sunshine than Toronto during autumn. Beijing gets 227 hours of sunny skies, while Toronto receives 153 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Beijing usually receives less rain than Toronto. Beijing gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Toronto receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBeijing 14°C (56°F)Toronto 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Beijing or Toronto in the Winter?
Both Toronto and Beijing during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Beijing for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Toronto can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Beijing. Beijing is a little warmer than Toronto in the winter. The daily temperature in Beijing averages around -4°C (26°F) in January, and Toronto fluctuates around -4°C (25°F).
It's quite sunny in Beijing. In the winter, Beijing often gets more sunshine than Toronto. Beijing gets 201 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Toronto receives 87 hours of full sun.
Beijing usually gets less rain in January than Toronto. Beijing gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Toronto receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBeijing -4°C (26°F)Toronto -4°C (25°F)
Should I visit Beijing or Toronto in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Beijing and Toronto. Many visitors come to Beijing in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Beijing is much warmer than Toronto. Typically, the spring temperatures in Beijing in April average around 14°C (57°F), and Toronto averages at about 7°C (44°F).
In Beijing, it's very sunny this time of the year. Beijing usually receives more sunshine than Toronto during spring. Beijing gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while Toronto receives 179 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Beijing usually receives less rain than Toronto. Beijing gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Toronto receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBeijing 14°C (57°F)Toronto 7°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Toronto and Beijing
| Beijing | Toronto | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -4°C (26°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | -4°C (25°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | -1°C (30°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | -4°C (26°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (42°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (57°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| May | 20°C (68°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (76°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (80°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (78°F) | 182 mm (7.2 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (69°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (56°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 5°C (41°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Dec | -1°C (29°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | -1°C (30°F) | 75 mm (2.9 in) |
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.