Which place is cheaper, Toronto or Zurich?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Zurich 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.
Zurich has the biggest connection for trains in Switzerland. It also has the country's biggest and busiest airport. Because of its importance as a transportation center, it is likely to be the first place you visit in Switzerland. It is the financial capital of the country (although, contrary to what you may have thought, not the political capital). It has many international companies, and is home to the country's stock exchange.
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 Sightseeing Tours in Switzerland, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Switzerland, The Best Northern Lights Tours in Canada, and The Best Luxury Tours to Canada.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Zurich is $271, 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 Zurich and Toronto in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Zurich 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.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Zurich:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zurich:
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Toronto are as follows:
Also for Toronto, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Toronto and Zurich 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.
Some typical examples of dining costs in Zurich are as follows:
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:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zurich are as follows:
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 in Zurich, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Toronto:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zurich and Toronto, we can see that Zurich is more expensive. And not only is Toronto much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Zurich 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 Toronto would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Toronto 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 Zurich would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Zurich than you might in Toronto.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Zurich Expensive? and Is Toronto Expensive?.
Toronto has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Zurich. When comparing the sizes of Zurich 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.
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.
Both Toronto and Zurich during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Zurich for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In July, Zurich is generally around the same temperature as Toronto. Daily temperatures in Zurich average around 21°C (70°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 Zurich. In the summer, Zurich often gets less sunshine than Toronto. Zurich gets 241 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Toronto receives 281 hours of full sun.
Zurich usually gets more rain in July than Toronto. Zurich gets 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Toronto receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Zurich and Toronto. The autumn months attract visitors to Zurich because of the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Zurich is a little warmer than Toronto in the autumn. The daily temperature in Zurich averages around 13°C (56°F) in October, and Toronto fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
Zurich usually receives less sunshine than Toronto during autumn. Zurich gets 120 hours of sunny skies, while Toronto receives 153 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Zurich usually receives more rain than Toronto. Zurich gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Toronto receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
The winter brings many poeple to Zurich as well as Toronto. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Zurich this time of year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Toronto. It's quite cold in Zurich in the winter. In the winter, Zurich is much warmer than Toronto. Typically, the winter temperatures in Zurich in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Toronto averages at about -4°C (25°F).
In the winter, Zurich often gets less sunshine than Toronto. Zurich gets 55 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Toronto receives 87 hours of full sun.
Zurich usually gets more rain in January than Toronto. Zurich gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Toronto receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Toronto and Zurich are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Zurich for the natural beauty.
In April, Zurich is generally much warmer than Toronto. Daily temperatures in Zurich average around 12°C (53°F), and Toronto fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).
Zurich usually receives less sunshine than Toronto during spring. Zurich gets 150 hours of sunny skies, while Toronto receives 179 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Zurich usually receives more rain than Toronto. Zurich gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Toronto receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Zurich | Toronto | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | -4°C (25°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
Feb | 5°C (40°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | -4°C (26°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
Mar | 8°C (46°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
Apr | 12°C (53°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
May | 16°C (60°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
Aug | 21°C (69°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
Oct | 13°C (56°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
Dec | 4°C (39°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | -1°C (30°F) | 75 mm (2.9 in) |