Cost per day · Canada
Toronto on $70, $160 or $450 a day
How much does Toronto cost per day? Budget travellers get by on about $70 a day, mid-range trips run around $160, and luxury starts near $450 — accommodation, food, transport and activities included.
That makes Toronto the 19th most expensive of 100 cities for a mid-range trip — see all 100 ranked.
Toronto is Canada's most dynamic city — a global metropolis of over 200 nationalities where world-class food, art, and architecture collide on the shores of Lake Ontario. From the CN Tower skyline to the Distillery District and Kensington Market, it rewards exploration at every turn.
Toronto is not a cheap city, but budget travel is very manageable. The TTC subway is excellent, Kensington Market and Chinatown offer extraordinary cheap eats, and most museums have free or by-donation evenings. Hostels cluster in the Entertainment District and Kensington.
✈️ How to Get There
🗺️ What to Do
Art Gallery of Ontario — free admission on Wednesday evenings
Get tickets on Tiqets →Toronto's most eclectic neighbourhood, free and fascinating
Get tickets on Tiqets →Victorian industrial district turned arts hub, free to explore
Get tickets on Tiqets →🏨 Where to Stay
Central hostel near CN Tower, lively bar and social events
Check prices on Klook →Downtown hostel with dorms and private rooms, within walking distance of Queen Street and the streetcar network.
Check prices on Klook →Award-winning eco-hostel in Kensington Market neighbourhood
Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Downtown & the Waterfront ~$40
Day 2: Markets & Neighbourhoods ~$35
Day 3: Parks & Views ~$35
The AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario) is free on Wednesday evenings. Kensington Market is the best cheap eat district in Canada. Day trip to Niagara Falls on GO Transit is under $30 return. Buy a Presto card for TTC — cheaper than cash fares. St. Lawrence Market on Saturday morning is unmissable.
Mid-range Toronto is exceptional. Queen West boutique hotels, diverse restaurant scenes from Little Italy to Greektown, NHL games at Scotiabank Arena, and easy day trips to wine country and Niagara make for a rich visit. The city's diversity means every cuisine is authentic and affordable.
✈️ How to Get There
🗺️ What to Do
The 90-minute pilgrimage from Toronto — the boat into the Horseshoe's spray, the tunnels behind the wall of water, and the kitsch of Clifton Hill.
Read guide → Get tickets on Tiqets →Canada's biggest museum — dinosaurs, a crystal crashing through a heritage façade, and 13 million objects sorted by curiosity.
Read guide → Get tickets on Tiqets →Canada's largest aquarium at the CN Tower's feet — the underwater tunnel through Dangerous Lagoon, sharks overhead, and the best rainy-day card Toronto holds.
Read guide → Get tickets on Tiqets →🏨 Where to Stay
Accor four-star in the Esplanade, a few minutes from Union Station, St Lawrence Market and the waterfront.
Check prices on Klook →Stylish Yorkville hotel with great restaurant and rooftop bar
Check prices on Klook →Large downtown tower opposite City Hall, with a year-round indoor-outdoor pool and direct PATH access.
Check prices on Klook →Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Icons & Islands ~$120
Day 2: Museums & Markets ~$130
Day 3: Castles & Cafés ~$120
Stay in the Annex or Queen West — better neighbourhoods than downtown hotels. The CN Tower EdgeWalk needs booking well ahead. A Blue Jays game at Rogers Centre is great value. Niagara-on-the-Lake wine country day trip is 90 minutes each way. Book popular restaurants (Canoe, Alo) 3–4 weeks ahead.
Luxury Toronto means private suites at the Four Seasons Yorkville, chef's table dinners at Alo and Canoe, box seats at the ACC, and helicopter tours over the Great Lakes. The Ritz Carlton and Shangri-La are exceptional and better value than equivalent NYC or London properties.
✈️ How to Get There
🗺️ What to Do
Chauffeured tour of Niagara-on-the-Lake wineries, gourmet lunch
Get tickets on Tiqets →Stunning Islamic art museum for exceptional client cultural experiences
Get tickets on Tiqets →Art Gallery of Ontario — free admission on Wednesday evenings
Get tickets on Tiqets →🏨 Where to Stay
Soaring 65-floor tower, exceptional spa and Pool Lounge bar
Check prices on Klook →Superior rooms and TOCA restaurant, steps from the financial district
Check prices on Klook →Yorkville landmark reopened after a full restoration, with the Roof Lounge looking over the city.
Check prices on Klook →Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Skyline & Fine Dining ~$600
Day 2: Art, Wine & Lake ~$700
Day 3: Water & Culture ~$650
The Four Seasons Yorkville has the best concierge in Canada. Book Alo Restaurant 4 weeks ahead — Canada's most sought-after reservation. Box seats at the Leafs require connections or premium ticket agents. Helicopter tour of Niagara Falls and Toronto skyline is unforgettable. Consult the hotel concierge about private gallery access in Yorkville.
About Toronto
Humid continental climate. Cold, snowy winters (often below −5°C) and warm, humid summers (25–30°C). Spring and early autumn are mild and far less crowded; late summer is festival season.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -6° | -5° | 0° | 7° | 14° | 19° | 22° | 21° | 17° | 10° | 4° | -3° |
| 14d | 11d | 12d | 12d | 12d | 11d | 10d | 10d | 10d | 11d | 13d | 14d |
| low | low | low | mid | mid | high | high | high | mid | mid | low | low |
The TTC runs subways, streetcars and buses on a single fare (tap a PRESTO card or credit card). Two subway lines cross downtown and the streetcar network covers the core. Downtown is walkable, with the underground PATH for winter. Uber and taxis are plentiful.
The tower and the lake, the market that feeds the city, and the Victorian whisky works at the end.
The immigrant market, Chinatown, the crystal on the museum and the art gallery Gehry rebuilt.
A travel eSIM gets you online the moment you land in Canada — data plans start at $7 — no roaming bill, no queue for a local SIM, and nothing to swap in and out of your phone. Install it before you fly.
The dense heart of the city: CN Tower, Rogers Centre, theatres and the weatherproof PATH network. Stay here to walk to almost everything, though it empties out on weekends.
Best for midrangeA car-free pocket of independent shops, vintage stores and global street food. The most characterful cheap eats in the city, wedged between Chinatown and Little Italy.
Best for budgetA pedestrianised Victorian industrial quarter of red-brick warehouses, now full of galleries, cafés and the city's best Christmas market.
Best for midrangeA long strip of indie boutiques, galleries and bars. West Queen West — the 'Art & Design District' — gets grittier and cooler the further west you walk.
Best for midrangeToronto's luxury quarter: designer flagships, fine dining and the city's grandest hotels, all a block from the ROM museum.
Best for luxuryVictorian houses, bookshops and cheap international eats around the University of Toronto. Relaxed, residential and well-connected.
Best for budget- ✓Tip 15–20% at restaurants, bars and salons — staff are paid a tipped wage
- ✓Say "sorry" liberally — here it's social lubricant, not an admission of fault
- ✓Let people off the subway before boarding, and stand right on escalators
- ✓Sort your waste — bins are split into recycling, compost and landfill everywhere
- ✓Embrace the multiculturalism — ask about the food, it's a point of civic pride
- ✓Dress for the weather — lake-effect windchill in winter is no joke
- ✗Confuse Canada with the US — Canadians notice and quietly mind
- ✗Skip the tip — it's effectively mandatory here, unlike in Europe
- ✗Assume everywhere takes cash — many places are tap/card only
- ✗Jaywalk in front of police downtown — it can be ticketed
- ✗Be loud or boastful — understatement is the local style
- ✗Call it "Toronno" and expect locals to correct you — they will, fondly
Travel Insurance for Toronto
Travel insurance is strongly recommended for any trip to Toronto. Safety is rated Very safe — even in safe destinations, unexpected medical emergencies or trip cancellations can be costly. Make sure your policy covers emergency medical treatment, hospitalisation, trip cancellation, and emergency evacuation.
Visa note: Visa-free for many nationalities; visa-exempt air travellers need an eTA. US citizens need neither.. Some countries require proof of travel insurance as part of the visa application.
Get travel insurance for Toronto →FAQ: Toronto Travel Questions
Is Toronto safe to visit? ▾
Very safe
When is the best time to visit Toronto? ▾
May – June, September – October Humid continental climate. Cold, snowy winters (often below −5°C) and warm, humid summers (25–30°C). Spring and early autumn are mild and far less crowded; late summer is festival season.
How much does a trip to Toronto cost per day? ▾
- budget: $70–$100/day
- midrange: $160–$260/day
- luxury: $450–$800/day
- business: $220–$420/day
Do I need a visa to visit Canada? ▾
Visa-free for many nationalities; visa-exempt air travellers need an eTA. US citizens need neither.
How do I get around Toronto? ▾
The TTC runs subways, streetcars and buses on a single fare (tap a PRESTO card or credit card). Two subway lines cross downtown and the streetcar network covers the core. Downtown is walkable, with the underground PATH for winter. Uber and taxis are plentiful. Toronto has a metro system. Taxi base fare ~$4. Day pass ~$14.
Is tipping expected in Toronto? ▾
Expected. 15–20% at restaurants and bars; round up for taxis.
What currency is used in Canada? ▾
The local currency is CAD (C$), and the official language is English.