Daily costs per person in CAD. Toronto is affordable by world city standards — diverse cheap eats, free museums on select days, and a flat transit fare keep costs down.
Daily cost breakdown
Currency: CAD (C$) (1 USD ≈ C$1.36)
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Splurge | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | C$40–75 | C$130–220 | C$300+ | Hostels → boutique hotels → luxury hotels |
| Food | C$20–35 | C$50–80 | C$120+ | Street food & markets → casual restaurants → fine dining |
| Transport | C$7–13 | C$15–30 | C$50+ | TTC + walking → TTC + Uber → Uber everywhere |
| Activities | C$0–15 | C$25–50 | C$80+ | Free galleries & parks → museums + CN Tower → CN EdgeWalk + tours |
| Drinks | C$10–18 | C$25–40 | C$60+ | LCBO + dive bars → craft breweries → cocktail bars |
| Daily Total | C$77–156 | C$245–420 | C$610+ | Budget → comfortable → luxury |
Money-saving tips
Free museum evenings
AGO is free Wednesday evenings (6–9pm). ROM is free on the third Monday of each month. Many galleries in the Distillery District and Queen West are always free.
Diverse cheap eats
Toronto's diversity means cheap, authentic food from everywhere: C$7 fish tacos in Kensington, C$12 pho on Spadina, C$14 butter chicken in Little India, C$4 dim sum in Chinatown.
Presto card transit
Get a Presto card (C$6 from any TTC station). Single rides: C$3.35. Two-hour transfers included (ride subway, streetcar, and bus on one fare). Day pass: C$13.50.
LCBO vs bars
Drinks at bars are expensive (C$8–14/beer). Buy from the LCBO (government liquor store) or The Beer Store and drink at Trinity Bellwoods, Toronto Islands, or the waterfront.
Toronto Islands escape
The ferry to the Islands (C$9 return) is one of Toronto's best budget activities — beaches, biking, and the best skyline photos for the price of a coffee.
Free festivals
Toronto has massive free festivals: NXNE (music), Caribana (Caribbean), Pride, TIFF (some events), Taste of the Danforth, and Luminato arts festival. Check timing.
