Which place is cheaper, Toronto or Shanghai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Shanghai or Toronto?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Shanghai and Toronto. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Shanghai or Toronto?
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest and most modern city in China. With a population of over 23 million, it is the economic and financial hub of the country. It also continues to be one of the fastest growing cities in China with regular changes to the city's layout and skyline. It is not uncommon for buildings to be torn down, rebuilt and then torn down and rebuilt again. The city also has skyscrapers that rank among the tallest in the world. It has an ever changing downtown and street scape. In Shanghai, the general mantra remains "out with the old, in with the new".
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 dayShanghai $115Toronto $205
The average daily cost (per person) in Shanghai is $115, 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 Shanghai and Toronto in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personShanghai $81Toronto $86
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomShanghai $162Toronto $172
Compare Hotels in Shanghai and Toronto
Looking for a hotel in Shanghai 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.Shanghai $3.87Toronto $32
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Shanghai
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Shanghai:
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Taxi Ride$3.59
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Two Subway Tickets$0.83
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shanghai
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Shanghai:
- private transfer from Wusongkou CruisePort to Disneyland and back: $64
- Zhouzhuang and Tongli Water Town Private Transfer Service from Shanghai : $103
- Yiwu Railway Station Private Arrival Transfer to City Area: $18
- Yiwu City Private Transfer to Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport : $74
- Yiwu Airport Private Departure Transfer from City Area : $20
- Yiwu Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Area : $20
- Xitang Water Town Self-Guided Tour from Shanghai with Private Transfer: $100
- Wusongkou Cruise Terminal to Pudong Airport Chauffeur Service, Port Transfer: $95
- Wusongkou Cruise Terminal Share Transfer Service, Baoshan Port Pick up Service: $29
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Shanghai APT-HTL (PVG,SHA): $51
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in ShangHai HTL-APT (PVG,SHA): $51
- Transfer From City to Shanghai Pudong Airport （English Driver）: $68
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:
- 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 Shanghai or Toronto?
Prices for flights to both Toronto and Shanghai 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 dayShanghai $21Toronto $66
Typical Food Prices in Shanghai
Some typical examples of dining costs in Shanghai are as follows:
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Dumpling Breakfast$1.38
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Desserts in Jinmao Building Observatory$20
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Ajisen Lunch for Two$7.18
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Cantelope$1.66
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Dumplings and Soup$2.07
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Duck Dinner$4.14
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Pastries$2.90
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Barbeque Dinner$8.83
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Shanghai
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Shanghai.
- Online Cooking Class General Tso's Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
- Online Cooking Class Sesame Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
- Online Cooking Class Fried Rice by Sunflower Li : $20
- 3-Hour Biking and Local Food Tour: $70
- Authentic Local Food Tour in Central Shanghai: $79
- Late night food tour in Shanghai's French Concession: $85
- Shanghai Evening Food Tour/Shanghai tour gastronomico nocturno : $85
- Late Night Food Tour in the Shanghai's French Concession: $89
- Chinese Cooking Class and Wet Market Visit: $90
- Shanghai's Koreatown Food Tour: $91
- 4-Hour Food Tour in Qibao Water Town from Shanghai by Subway: $95
- 3-Hour Flexible Private Shanghai Night Tour with Local Dinner Option: $100
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: $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.Shanghai $8.42Toronto $31
Typical Entertainment Prices in Shanghai
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Shanghai are as follows:
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30 Minute River Cruise for Two$28
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Zoo for Two$14
Tours and Activities in Shanghai
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Shanghai are as follows:
- Private Shanghai Flexible City Highlight Tour with Night Cruise: $221
- Private Shanghai Full Day City Tour with Old and New Highlights: $108
- Shanghai Layover Tour to Xinchang Water Town with City Highlights Option : $135
- Yiwu International Trade City Private Day Tour from Shanghai by Bullet Train: $183
- Yuyuan Garden and Shanghai Museum Private Shanghai Day Tour: $175
- Zhouzhuang Water Town Self-Guided Day Tour from Shanghai: $88
- water village of shagnhai tour: $248
- 1 Day Shanghai Airport Layover Private Tour for City Highlights: $202
- 1 Day Shanghai Highlight Small Group Tour: $124
- 1 Day Shanghai Private Tour: $180
- 1 Days Shanghai Quality Group Tour: $110
- 1 day Shanghai City Mini Group tour: $92
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
- 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 dayShanghai $7.35Toronto $22
Sample the Local Flavors in Shanghai
Also in Shanghai, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Shanghai Pub Crawl - Bar-hopping/Night life tour: $27
- Shanghai Luxury Bar Crawl in 5-star Hotel or Boutique Hotel: $255
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 Shanghai and Toronto, we can see that Toronto is more expensive. And not only is Shanghai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Shanghai 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 Shanghai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Shanghai 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 Shanghai.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Shanghai Expensive? and Is Toronto Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Shanghai or Toronto?
Shanghai has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Toronto. When comparing the sizes of Shanghai 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 Shanghai 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 Shanghai or Toronto in the Summer?
Both Toronto and Shanghai during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Shanghai for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In July, Shanghai is generally a little warmer than Toronto. Daily temperatures in Shanghai average around 28°C (83°F), and Toronto fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
In Toronto, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Shanghai. In the summer, Shanghai often gets less sunshine than Toronto. Shanghai gets 232 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Toronto receives 281 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Shanghai. Shanghai usually gets more rain in July than Toronto. Shanghai gets 128 mm (5 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 JulyShanghai 28°C (83°F)Toronto 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Shanghai or Toronto in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Shanghai and Toronto. The autumn months attract visitors to Shanghai because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Shanghai is much warmer than Toronto in the autumn. The daily temperature in Shanghai averages around 19°C (65°F) in October, and Toronto fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
Shanghai usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Toronto during autumn. Shanghai gets 162 hours of sunny skies, while Toronto receives 153 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Shanghai usually receives around the same amount of rain as Toronto. Shanghai gets 61 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 OctoberShanghai 19°C (65°F)Toronto 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Shanghai or Toronto in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Shanghai as well as Toronto. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Shanghai this time of year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Toronto. It's quite cold in Shanghai in the winter. In the winter, Shanghai is much warmer than Toronto. Typically, the winter temperatures in Shanghai in January average around 4°C (39°F), and Toronto averages at about -4°C (25°F).
In the winter, Shanghai often gets more sunshine than Toronto. Shanghai gets 135 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Toronto receives 87 hours of full sun.
Shanghai usually gets less rain in January than Toronto. Shanghai gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Toronto receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryShanghai 4°C (39°F)Toronto -4°C (25°F)
Should I visit Shanghai or Toronto in the Spring?
Both Toronto and Shanghai are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Shanghai for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In April, Shanghai is generally much warmer than Toronto. Daily temperatures in Shanghai average around 15°C (58°F), and Toronto fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).
Shanghai usually receives less sunshine than Toronto during spring. Shanghai gets 153 hours of sunny skies, while Toronto receives 179 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Shanghai. In April, Shanghai usually receives more rain than Toronto. Shanghai gets 102 mm (4 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 AprilShanghai 15°C (58°F)Toronto 7°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Toronto and Shanghai
| Shanghai | Toronto | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 4°C (39°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | -4°C (25°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 5°C (41°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | -4°C (26°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (48°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (58°F) | 102 mm (4 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| May | 20°C (67°F) | 113 mm (4.5 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (75°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 128 mm (5 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (65°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (44°F) | 35 mm (1.4 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.