Which place is cheaper, Toronto or Riga?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Riga or Toronto?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Riga 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: Riga or Toronto?
Riga
Riga is the vibrant capital city of Latvia. It continues to gain popularity as a tourist destination in part because it is the base for the airline Air Baltic. This affordable airline offers discount flights around Europe and most of these flights pass through Riga with a forced overnight layover. This encourages travelers to visit this fascinating city for at least a night or two.
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 Northern Lights Tours in Canada, and The Best Luxury Tours to Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRiga €104Toronto €190
The average daily cost (per person) in Riga is €104, 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 Riga and Toronto in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRiga €53Toronto €80
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRiga €106Toronto €160
Compare Hotels in Riga and Toronto
Looking for a hotel in Riga 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: Riga Hotel Prices and Toronto Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Riga €15Toronto €30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Riga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Riga:
- Transfer from Riga International Airport to Downtown: $269
- Riga Private Mercedes Benz Airport Transfer: $139
- Riga Private Mercedes Benz Airport Transfer: $108
- Riga Gun Experience: Roundtrip Transfer and 4 Firearms: $132
- Riga City to Riga Airport - Private Transfer: $53
- Riga Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Klaipeda: $39
- Riga Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Klaipeda: $39
- Riga Airport to Riga City - Private Transfer: $53
- Riga Airport to Hotel Transfer: $27
- Riga Airport to City Center Private Transfers: $59
- Riga Airport Transfer: $33
- Riga - Tallin: Transfer and Tour through beautiful landmarks: $490
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:
- 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 Riga or Toronto?
Prices for flights to both Toronto and Riga 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 dayRiga €33Toronto €61
Typical Food Prices in Riga
Some typical examples of dining costs in Riga are as follows:
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Fast Food Lunch€5.77
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Riga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Riga.
- Central Market Latvian Food Tour: $42
- Unique Food Tour: $52
- Medieval Guided Tour & Three-Course Dinner Experience: $97
- Riga Medieval Dinner: $114
- Private Cooking Master Class In The Latvian Family : $131
- Taste Market Tour & Cooking Masterclass: $139
- Cooking Experience with Chef: Learn & Dine: $140
- Latvian Food: Cooking Masterclass with a Chef: $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€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.Riga €21Toronto €29
Tours and Activities in Riga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Riga are as follows:
- The best of Bauska walking tour: $75
- 1 Day Riga Sightseeing Red Bus Grand Tour: $27
- 2 Day Gastronomy Tour In Latgale : $241
- 2.5-Hour Riga Cruiser Bike Tour: $41
- 5 Hour Shared Tour to Hill of Crosses from Riga: $82
- ATV Quad Off Road or City Tour in Riga: $142
- Art Nouveau Walking Tour in Riga: $65
- Baltic Treasures Tour: Hill of Crosses, Rundale & Bauska: $153
- Beer Bike Experience : $36
- Best of Riga Walking Tour: $182
- Best of Riga Walking Tour - Highlights and Hidden Gems: $66
- City:canal:tour: $22
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 dayRiga €20Toronto €21
Sample the Local Flavors in Riga
Also in Riga, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Old town pub & bar crawl, hidden gems, and local party: $25
- Pub Crawl in Riga: $33
- Riga Evening Adventure: Pub Crawl & Games Night: $37
- Riga's Old Town Beer Bike Tour & Guided Pub Crawl: $38
- Riga Happy Hour Pub Crawl: $54
- Riga Beer Killer Bar Crawl: $55
- Latvian Wine Tasting & Monk Show: $75
- Old Town Sightseeing & Latvian Wine Tasting with Show: $97
- Riga Wine Tasting Session: $103
- Riga Pub Crawl & Party Bus Tour: $526
- Yacht Tour with Medieval Banquet and Wine Tasting: $3,341
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 Riga and Toronto, we can see that Toronto is more expensive. And not only is Riga much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Riga 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 Riga would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Riga 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 Riga.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Riga Expensive? and Is Toronto Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Riga or Toronto?
Toronto has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Riga. When comparing the sizes of Riga 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 Riga 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 Riga or Toronto in the Summer?
Both Toronto and Riga during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Riga in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Riga is generally cooler than Toronto. Daily temperatures in Riga average around 17°C (63°F), and Toronto fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
Riga usually gets more rain in July than Toronto. Riga gets 79 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 JulyRiga 17°C (63°F)Toronto 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Riga or Toronto in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Riga and Toronto. Most visitors come to Riga for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
Riga is cooler than Toronto in the autumn. The daily temperature in Riga averages around 7°C (45°F) in October, and Toronto fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
In October, Riga usually receives around the same amount of rain as Toronto. Riga gets 60 mm (2.4 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 OctoberRiga 7°C (45°F)Toronto 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Riga or Toronto in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Riga as well as Toronto. The winter months attract visitors to Riga because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Toronto in the winter. The weather in Riga can be very cold. In the winter, Riga is cooler than Toronto. Typically, the winter temperatures in Riga in January average around -5°C (23°F), and Toronto averages at about -4°C (25°F).
Riga usually gets less rain in January than Toronto. Riga gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Toronto receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryRiga -5°C (23°F)Toronto -4°C (25°F)
Should I visit Riga or Toronto in the Spring?
Both Toronto and Riga are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Riga this time of year.
In April, Riga is generally cooler than Toronto. Daily temperatures in Riga average around 5°C (42°F), and Toronto fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).
In April, Riga usually receives less rain than Toronto. Riga gets 39 mm (1.5 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 AprilRiga 5°C (42°F)Toronto 7°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Toronto and Riga
| Riga | Toronto | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -5°C (23°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | -4°C (25°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | -4°C (24°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | -4°C (26°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Mar | -0°C (31°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Apr | 5°C (42°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| May | 12°C (53°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (63°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (62°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Oct | 7°C (45°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 2°C (36°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Dec | -2°C (28°F) | 49 mm (1.9 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.