Which place is cheaper, Vancouver or Toronto?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Toronto and Vancouver 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.
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.
Vancouver is a beautiful and cosmopolitan city in Western Canada. It is also the largest city in British Columbia, and is dramatically positioned between the coast and mountains. It's a very international city, with a high level of energy and countless activites that you can enjoy while you're in town. In addition to offering all of the activities and entertainment of a modern city, it is also in jumping off distance to any number of outdoor activities.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Northern Lights Tours in Canada, The Best Luxury Tours to Canada, The Best Tours for Seniors to Canada, and The Best Contiki Tours to Canada.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Toronto is $205, while the average daily cost in Vancouver is $142. 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 Toronto and Vancouver in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Toronto or Vancouver? 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.
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Toronto are as follows:
Also for Toronto, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vancouver are as follows:
Also for Vancouver, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Vancouver and Toronto 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.
For Toronto, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
For Toronto, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Vancouver:
For Vancouver, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Toronto's activities, tours, and tickets:
For Toronto, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vancouver.
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Toronto:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Vancouver:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Toronto and Vancouver, we can see that Toronto is more expensive. And not only is Vancouver much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Vancouver would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vancouver 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 Vancouver.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Toronto Expensive? and Is Vancouver Expensive?.
Toronto has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Vancouver. When comparing the sizes of Toronto and Vancouver, 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.
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.
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Toronto and Vancouver.
Toronto is a little warmer than Vancouver in the summer. The daily temperature in Toronto averages around 21°C (70°F) in July, and Vancouver fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vancouver this time of the year. In Toronto, it's very sunny this time of the year. Toronto usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Vancouver during summer. Toronto gets 281 hours of sunny skies, while Vancouver receives 296 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Toronto usually receives more rain than Vancouver. Toronto gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
The autumn brings many poeple to Toronto as well as Vancouver.
In the autumn, Toronto is around the same temperature as Vancouver. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Toronto in October average around 11°C (51°F), and Vancouver averages at about 11°C (51°F).
In the autumn, Toronto often gets more sunshine than Vancouver. Toronto gets 153 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vancouver receives 124 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Vancouver. Toronto usually gets less rain in October than Vancouver. Toronto gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Vancouver and Toronto are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.
Vancouver can be very cold during winter. Toronto can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Toronto is generally much colder than Vancouver. Daily temperatures in Toronto average around -4°C (25°F), and Vancouver fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).
Toronto usually receives more sunshine than Vancouver during winter. Toronto gets 87 hours of sunny skies, while Vancouver receives 55 hours of full sun in the winter.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Vancouver. In January, Toronto usually receives less rain than Vancouver. Toronto gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Both Vancouver and Toronto during the spring are popular places to visit.
Toronto is cooler than Vancouver in the spring. The daily temperature in Toronto averages around 7°C (44°F) in April, and Vancouver fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).
In the spring, Toronto often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Vancouver. Toronto gets 179 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vancouver receives 172 hours of full sun.
Vancouver gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Toronto usually gets less rain in April than Vancouver. Toronto gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
Toronto | Vancouver | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | -4°C (25°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
Feb | -4°C (26°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 179 mm (7.1 in) |
Mar | 1°C (34°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) |
Apr | 7°C (44°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
May | 12°C (54°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
Jun | 18°C (64°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
Aug | 21°C (69°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
Sep | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
Nov | 5°C (41°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 234 mm (9.2 in) |
Dec | -1°C (30°F) | 75 mm (2.9 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) |