Which place is cheaper, Toronto or Edinburgh?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh 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: Edinburgh or Toronto?
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the moderately sized capital of Scotland. It is a medieval city that has managed to perfect the combination of Georgian architecture and medieval relics with a cosmopolitan population and avant-garde atmosphere. The city's population is quite young, in large part because of the University of Edinburgh. This youthful vibe gives this city a lot of vitality. There's a thriving nightlife, many restaurants, theatres, galleries and museums.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Edinburgh, The Best 10-Day Tours from London, The Best Northern Lights Tours in Canada, and The Best Luxury Tours to Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEdinburgh £142Toronto £164
The average daily cost (per person) in Edinburgh is £142, while the average daily cost in Toronto is £164. 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 Edinburgh and Toronto in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEdinburgh £74Toronto £69
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEdinburgh £148Toronto £138
Compare Hotels in Edinburgh and Toronto
Looking for a hotel in Edinburgh 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: Edinburgh Hotel Prices and Toronto Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Edinburgh £17Toronto £26
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Edinburgh
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Edinburgh:
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Local Bus£3.60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Edinburgh
Also for Edinburgh, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Royal Highland Braemar Gathering, transfer from Edinburgh: $56
- Private Transfer from South Queensferry Port to Glasgow Hotels: $50
- Private Transfer from South Queensferry Port to Edinburgh hotels: $28
- Private Transfer from South Queensferry Port to Edinburgh Airport: $28
- Private Transfer from Glasgow city or GLA Airport to Edinburgh by Business Car: $157
- Private Transfer from Edinburgh to Gleneagles Hotel : $280
- Private Transfer from Edinburgh Hotels to Newhaven Cruise Port: $28
- Private Transfer from Edinburgh Airport to South Queensferry Port: $28
- Private Transfer - South Queensferry Port to Glasgow Airport(GLA): $46
- Private Tour with transfer from Newhaven Cruise Port to Glasgow.: $298
- Private One-Way Transfer from Edinburgh to Edinburgh Airport: $41
- Private Luxury Transfer Edinburgh (One Way - 7 Passengers): $257
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Toronto
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Toronto are as follows:
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Airport Shuttle£21
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Train: 2 Day Passes£13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Toronto
Also for Toronto, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer in Private Minivan from Toronto City to Toronto Pearson Airport: $71
- Transfer Toronto,Canada (Downtown) to Niagara on the Lake,Canada: $179
- Transfer Toronto,Canada (Downtown) to Niagara Falls, Canada: $178
- Transfer Toronto Pearson International Airport YYZ to Niagara-on-the-Lake,Canada: $161
- Transfer Toronto Pearson International Airport YYZ to Niagara Falls, Canada: $160
- Transfer Private Vehicle from Toronto Pearson Airport to Niagara Falls (Ontario): $145
- Transfer Private Minivan from Toronto Pearson Airport to Niagara Falls (Ontario): $159
- Shuttle Transfer Between Downtown and Niagara Falls: $111
- Private Transfer to Niagara Falls: $158
- Private Transfer for 1-10 Passengers to Downtown: $176
- Niagara Falls Day Trip with Wine Tasting & Transfer: $75
- Express Train Transfer to/from Pearson Airport: $9.03
Is it cheaper to fly into Edinburgh or Toronto?
Prices for flights to both Toronto and Edinburgh 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 dayEdinburgh £39Toronto £53
Typical Food Prices in Edinburgh
For Edinburgh, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Breakfast£8.50
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Dinner at Filling Station£10
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Lunch for Two£15
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Sandwich£1.85
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Cheese & bread£7.23
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Thai Restaurant Dinner (for 2)£25
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2 Coffees and Scones£5.80
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Turkish Delight£1.40
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Soup at the Pub£5.90
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Edinburgh
For Edinburgh, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hard Rock Cafe with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $31
- Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $33
- Scottish Dinner and Folk Music Experience: $88
- Edinburgh Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $90
- Edinburgh Holiday Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $90
- Edinburgh Food Tour: $100
- 'Scotland meets Sardinia' - 8-course Dinner in Leith, Edinburgh: $110
- 3-Hour Guided Secret Food Tour: $116
- Edinburgh Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $121
- The 10 Tastings of Edinburgh With Locals: Private Food Tour: $162
- Edinburgh Food Tour with a Local Foodie Custom & Private: $188
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£19
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Dinner at Mill Street Brewery (for 2)£45
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.Edinburgh £20Toronto £25
Typical Entertainment Prices in Edinburgh
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Edinburgh's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Show Tickets£32
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Movie Tickets for Two£12
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Donation for Storytellers£6.00
Tours and Activities in Edinburgh
For Edinburgh, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Edinburgh's Landscapes Tours with a Local Guide: Private & Personalized: $153
- 1-Day Castles, West Highlands and Loch Lomond Tour from Edinburgh: $79
- 1.5 hour Firth of Forth Sightseeing cruise: $23
- 2-Day Highlands and Loch Ness Tour from Edinburgh: $261
- 2-Day Loch Lomond, West Highlands, Glencoe & Oban Tour: $183
- 3 Hours Edinburgh City Highlights Private Walking Tour: $273
- 3-Day Isle of Skye Inverness Highlands and Glenfinnan Viaduct Tour from Edinburgh: $234
- 3-Hour Private Edinburgh Castle Tour: $275
- Afternoon Old Town and Underground Ghost Tour 1:15, 3:15, 5:15: $19
- Alnwick Castle and Scottish Borders Tour from Edinburgh: $72
- Alnwick Castle, Northumberland & Scottish Borders 1-Day Tour: $74
- Alnwick Castle, Northumberland and Borders Tour with Admission: $103
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£12
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CN Tower at night for Two£29
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Harbour Dinner Cruise£21
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Bata Shoe Museum (2)£5.85
Tours and Activities in Toronto
For Toronto, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Hour Private Photoshoot Experience in Toronto: $74
- 1-Hour Private Guided Photography Tour in Toronto: $186
- 1-Hour Toronto Harbour Tour with Live Narration: $25
- 14-Minute Helicopter Tour Over Toronto: $200
- 2 Hour Toronto City Tour: $48
- 2 Hour Toronto City Tour with Optional Boat: $39
- 3-day Eastern Canada Tour from Toronto: $259
- 6 Hours Day Tour in Toronto to Niagara Falls: $109
- 60-Minute Toronto Sightseeing Harbour Tour: $28
- 7-Minute Helicopter Tour over Toronto: $111
- Admission Ticket: Explore Canada in Miniature Scale: $34
- Algonquin Park Hiking: Adventure Tour from Toronto: $139
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEdinburgh £15Toronto £18
Typical Alcohol Prices in Edinburgh
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Edinburgh from other travelers:
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Beer & Wine£14
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Half Pint at Tollbooth Tavern£1.65
Sample the Local Flavors in Edinburgh
Also in Edinburgh, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl with Free Shots & Discounts: $11
- Edinburgh Bar Crawl: 5+ Venues, Free Shots, Free Club Entry: $19
- Pub Crawl in Edinburgh: $19
- Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour with "Real-Actors": $25
- East Lothian: Glenkinchie Whisky Distillery Tour & Tasting: $26
- Guided Gin Tasting at 56 North Distillery: $28
- Pub Crawl 7 Bars with 6 Shots: $31
- Whisky Tasting and Tales at Summerhall Distillery: $31
- Lind & Lime Gin Distillery Tour & Tasting: $31
- Pickering's Gin Jolly Distillery Tasting Tour: $31
- Visit a Working South Loch Gin Distillery: $32
- The Original Edinburgh Pub Crawl: $32
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 comparing the travel costs between Edinburgh and Toronto, we can see that Toronto is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Edinburgh is in Europe and Toronto is in North America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Edinburgh Expensive? and Is Toronto Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Edinburgh or Toronto?
Toronto has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Edinburgh. When comparing the sizes of Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh or Toronto?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Edinburgh or Toronto in the Summer?
Both Toronto and Edinburgh are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Edinburgh because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Edinburgh is generally cooler than Toronto. Daily temperatures in Edinburgh average around 14°C (58°F), and Toronto fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
It's quite sunny in Toronto. Edinburgh usually receives less sunshine than Toronto during summer. Edinburgh gets 163 hours of sunny skies, while Toronto receives 281 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Edinburgh usually receives less rain than Toronto. Edinburgh gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Toronto receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyEdinburgh 14°C (58°F)Toronto 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Edinburgh or Toronto in the Autumn?
Both Toronto and Edinburgh during the autumn are popular places to visit. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Edinburgh this time of year.
Edinburgh is cooler than Toronto in the autumn. The daily temperature in Edinburgh averages around 10°C (49°F) in October, and Toronto fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
In the autumn, Edinburgh often gets less sunshine than Toronto. Edinburgh gets 90 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Toronto receives 153 hours of full sun.
Edinburgh usually gets more rain in October than Toronto. Edinburgh gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Toronto receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberEdinburgh 10°C (49°F)Toronto 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Edinburgh or Toronto in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Edinburgh and Toronto. Many travelers come to Edinburgh for the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
Toronto can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Edinburgh. In the winter, Edinburgh is much warmer than Toronto. Typically, the winter temperatures in Edinburgh in January average around 3°C (38°F), and Toronto averages at about -4°C (25°F).
Edinburgh usually receives less sunshine than Toronto during winter. Edinburgh gets 48 hours of sunny skies, while Toronto receives 87 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Edinburgh usually receives more rain than Toronto. Edinburgh gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Toronto receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryEdinburgh 3°C (38°F)Toronto -4°C (25°F)
Should I visit Edinburgh or Toronto in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Edinburgh as well as Toronto. Many visitors come to Edinburgh in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In April, Edinburgh is generally around the same temperature as Toronto. Daily temperatures in Edinburgh average around 7°C (45°F), and Toronto fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).
In the spring, Edinburgh often gets less sunshine than Toronto. Edinburgh gets 132 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Toronto receives 179 hours of full sun.
Edinburgh usually gets less rain in April than Toronto. Edinburgh gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Toronto receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilEdinburgh 7°C (45°F)Toronto 7°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Toronto and Edinburgh
| Edinburgh | Toronto | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (38°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | -4°C (25°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (38°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | -4°C (26°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Mar | 5°C (41°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Apr | 7°C (45°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| May | 10°C (49°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jun | 13°C (55°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jul | 14°C (58°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Aug | 14°C (58°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Oct | 10°C (49°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 5°C (42°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (39°F) | 64 mm (2.5 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.