Which place is cheaper, Toronto or Cologne?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cologne or Toronto?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cologne 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: Cologne or Toronto?
Cologne
Spanning the Rhine River in western Germany, the city of Cologne dates back 2,000 years, once existing as the largest city of the Holy Roman Empire in medieval times. Today, it is the region's cultural hub - a center of museums, galleries, and towering Gothic cathedrals.
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 Luxury Tours to Germany, The Best Budget Tours to Germany, The Best Northern Lights Tours in Canada, and The Best Luxury Tours to Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCologne €161Toronto €190
The average daily cost (per person) in Cologne is €161, while the average daily cost in Toronto is €190. 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 Cologne and Toronto in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCologne €91Toronto €80
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCologne €182Toronto €160
Compare Hotels in Cologne and Toronto
Looking for a hotel in Cologne 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: Cologne Hotel Prices and Toronto Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cologne €19Toronto €30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cologne
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cologne:
- Transfer from Cologne Airport CGN to Cologne City by Luxury Car: $83
- Superior Private Transfer from Cologne City to Dortmund City: $64
- Cologne hotels to Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) - Departure Private Transfer: $49
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Cologne hotels - Round-trip Private Transfer : $98
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Bonn hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $110
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Bonn hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $55
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Toronto
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Toronto are as follows:
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Airport Shuttle€25
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Train: 2 Day Passes€15
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 Van: $157
- Arrival Private Transfer: Toronto Airport YYZ to Niagara Falls in Business Car: $293
- 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 SUV or Minibus: $66
- Departure Private Transfer: Toronto to Pearson Airport YYZ in Luxury Car: $152
- Departure Private Transfer: Toronto to Pearson Airport YYZ in Luxury Van: $133
- Hamilton to Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ) - Departure Private Transfer: $75
- Niagara Falls Guided 9 Hour Day Trip with Round-trip Transfer: $74
- One Way: from/to Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) - Private Transfer: $38
Is it cheaper to fly into Cologne or Toronto?
Prices for flights to both Toronto and Cologne 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 dayCologne €50Toronto €61
Typical Food Prices in Cologne
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cologne:
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Dinner€14
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Donner Kebab€4.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cologne
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cologne.
- Hard Rock Café with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $27
- Hard Rock Cafe Cologne With Set Lunch or Dinner: $29
- Köln Südstadt kulinarisch – Die Food Tour: $48
- 3-Hour Südstadt Food Tour: $484
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€22
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Dinner at Mill Street Brewery (for 2)€52
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: $73
- 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: $93
- Toronto Premier Dinner Cruise on Odyssey in Toronto Harbour: $109
- Toronto Food Tour with Local Foodie, Personalized & Private: $152
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cologne €20Toronto €29
Tours and Activities in Cologne
Here are a few actual costs in Cologne for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 120min - Cologne City Tour: $158
- 3-Hour Cologne Street Art Bike Tour in Small Group with Guide: $44
- 3-Hour Murder Mystery Interactive City Walking Tour in Köln: $75
- 5 Hours Cologne to Aachen Train Tour in Germany: $63
- Aachen City Hall tour (public): $20
- Aachen Private Walking Tour With A Professional Guide: $231
- Aachen Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- Aachen Scavenger Hunt and Self Guided Walking Tour on your Phone: $7.63
- Aachen old town tour - GERMAN (public): $13
- Amusing Stories of Cologne Walking Tour: $13
- Ancient Echoes: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Roman Cologne: $11
- Awesome Sites of Cologne – Private Family Walking Tour: $397
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€14
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CN Tower at night for Two€33
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Harbour Dinner Cruise€24
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Bata Shoe Museum (2)€6.79
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
- Downtown Toronto Walking Tour: $4.46
- Graffiti in Toronto Walking Tour: $4.46
- City Highlights Walking Tour: $5.12
- Kensington Market: Downtown Toronto Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Between Huntsville and Smartphone Audio Tour: $6.21
- Toronto's Waterfront: Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $6.21
- Explore Canada's Metropolis with Walking Tours Through Toronto: $6.68
- Best of Toronto and Waterfront Self-Guided Tour: $8.08
- Bata Shoe Museum Entrance Ticket: $10
- Uncover Quebec's Legacy: In-App Audio Tour: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCologne €23Toronto €21
Sample the Local Flavors in Cologne
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cologne:
- Public brewery tour in German in Cologne: $18
- Old Town Walking Tour with Brewery and Kölsch Beer: $18
- Guided tour of the old town with a visit to the brewery in Cologne: $19
- Old Town Walking Tour inkl Brewery Visit: $24
- Entertaining Brewery Tour: Feel Good Package including local beer: $27
- South Cologne Walking Tour with brewery visit: $27
- Pub Crawl Cologne Including Admission Fee for Bars and Shots: $27
- Brewery Tour with 3 Kölsch Beer Tastings: $30
- Brewery Tour with Beer Tasting and Halven Hahn: $31
- The Legendary Kölsch Brewery Tour: $32
- The Legendary Kölsch Brewery Tour: $33
- Cologne-Nippes: Gourmet wine tasting with cheese platter: $64
Sample the Local Flavors in Toronto
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Toronto:
- Distillery District Outdoor Escape Game: $8.07
- Distillery District Historic Walking Tour: $17
- Corktown and Distillery District Tour: $27
- Short Distillery District Segway 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
- Distillery District Breakfast Walking Tour: $41
- Craft Brewery Tour: $88
- Canadian Wine Tasting Experience: $128
- From Niagara Wine Tours: $131
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cologne and Toronto, we can see that Toronto is more expensive. And not only is Cologne much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cologne is in Europe 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 Cologne would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cologne 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 Cologne.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cologne Expensive? and Is Toronto Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cologne or Toronto?
Toronto has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Cologne. When comparing the sizes of Cologne 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 Cologne 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 Cologne or Toronto in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Cologne as well as Toronto. Many visitors come to Cologne in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Cologne is cooler than Toronto. Typically, the summer temperatures in Cologne in July average around 19°C (66°F), and Toronto averages at about 21°C (70°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Toronto. In the summer, Cologne often gets less sunshine than Toronto. Cologne gets 184 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Toronto receives 281 hours of full sun.
Cologne usually gets more rain in July than Toronto. Cologne gets 80 mm (3.1 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 JulyCologne 19°C (66°F)Toronto 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Cologne or Toronto in the Autumn?
Both Toronto and Cologne are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Cologne for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In October, Cologne is generally a little warmer than Toronto. Daily temperatures in Cologne average around 12°C (54°F), and Toronto fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
Cologne usually receives less sunshine than Toronto during autumn. Cologne gets 104 hours of sunny skies, while Toronto receives 153 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Cologne usually receives less rain than Toronto. Cologne gets 54 mm (2.1 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 OctoberCologne 12°C (54°F)Toronto 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Cologne or Toronto in the Winter?
Both Toronto and Cologne during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Cologne because of the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Toronto in the winter. The weather in Cologne can be very cold. Cologne is much warmer than Toronto in the winter. The daily temperature in Cologne averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and Toronto fluctuates around -4°C (25°F).
In the winter, Cologne often gets less sunshine than Toronto. Cologne gets 43 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Toronto receives 87 hours of full sun.
Cologne usually gets more rain in January than Toronto. Cologne gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Toronto receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCologne 3°C (37°F)Toronto -4°C (25°F)
Should I visit Cologne or Toronto in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Cologne and Toronto. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Cologne this time of year.
In the spring, Cologne is a little warmer than Toronto. Typically, the spring temperatures in Cologne in April average around 10°C (50°F), and Toronto averages at about 7°C (44°F).
Cologne usually receives less sunshine than Toronto during spring. Cologne gets 152 hours of sunny skies, while Toronto receives 179 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Cologne usually receives less rain than Toronto. Cologne gets 55 mm (2.2 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 AprilCologne 10°C (50°F)Toronto 7°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Toronto and Cologne
| Cologne | Toronto | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | -4°C (25°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (39°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | -4°C (26°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Mar | 7°C (44°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Apr | 10°C (50°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| May | 14°C (58°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (63°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Aug | 19°C (66°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Sep | 16°C (61°F) | 62 mm (2.5 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Oct | 12°C (54°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (39°F) | 71 mm (2.8 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.