Last Updated: November 10, 2021
Toronto Vs. Calgary (More Expensive or More Fun?)
Canada is a vast wilderness that stretches for thousands of miles. It’s home to some of the most beautiful natural environments from mountains, to lakes, rivers, and stunning beaches along their feature-filled coastline.
To explore any of these places magical places, you’re going to have to fly through a city and why not spend some time in one while you’re passing through, it makes sense, right? But which one? Today we are going to take a look at Toronto vs Calgary, two major Canadian cities.
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About These Canadian Cities
Whenever you go traveling, you’re going to do some research into your options to get a general gist of what’s what on wherever you’re planning to go. It’s a great way to know if it’s worth visiting and suits your tastes or not, so let’s have a quick look at Toronto vs Calgary.
Toronto
Toronto sits on the southeastern side of Canada and is the capital of the Canadian district of Ontario. Toronto is Canada’s most populated city with over 6.25 million people, so it’s a busy place but it’s also a beautiful city.
One of the reasons Toronto is so popular with residents and tourists alike is thanks to its location on the shores of Lake Ontario. No matter where you are in Toronto, you’re never far from a lovely view across Lake Ontario or a chilly dip in its waters.
Toronto is a very fun city full of culture and diversity. And offers lots of better opportunities – at least for work. With lots of large corporations calling the city home.
Of course, this also means the cost of living is higher, but then usually the wages match too. Things like rent prices will definitely be higher in Toronto and the average restaurant will cost more as well. But it’s not New York, so don’t imagine yourself broke after you pay the rent!
Half of the population of the city aren’t Canadian, and it attracts 25 million global visitors to soak up all the film, music, theater, and festivals it hosts every year.
Calgary
Calgary sits on the western side of Canada, just close to the rocky mountains which are home to Banff National Park and Jasper National Park. Calgary is the biggest city in the district of Alberta and the fourth biggest in the whole of Canada. It’s home to around 1.63 million people, so has a lot fewer people than the 6 million or so in Toronto.
Calgary’s growth came down to it being the center of Canada’s oil industry which formed a city full of skyscrapers but it’s not all about oil, it holds other industries including technology, film, manufacturing, financial services, and more.
It’s not all about the energy scene in Calgary, Calgary is also very much drenched in western American culture with the nickname of “Cowtown” and it is also home to museums, festivals, and lots more great things to do.
Just keep in mind, that owing to all the oil money, Calgary also has a relatively high cost of living compared to other cities in the province. But the cost of living is a little less than Toronto or Vancouver even.
Verdict
Overall, Toronto wins. It is probably a little bit more interesting than Calgary to spend some time in. It’s a lot more culturally diverse and it’s a lot prettier too thanks to its shoreline location on Lake Ontario. That being said, it is a lot busier than Calgary with a lot more residents and a lot more visitors too, so and it can be a little hectic on the street at times.
Calgary also has a charming wild west culture which is very unique and appealing, and you’ll probably find it’s more of an authentic experience than Toronto.
Things To Do
Something that is always worth knowing prior to picking where you want to travel to is if the city or place has some fun things to do that you’ll like. Whether it’s a budding theatre scene, some great good, famous art galleries, or fantastic museums it’s important that the city has something on offer for you.
When it comes to Calgary vs Toronto, they both have some great things to do but they are still a little different, so be sure to choose the right one for you.
Toronto
Being the most populated city in Canada, Toronto isn’t short of things to do, the list is actually never-ending. One thing that makes Toronto very unique is the Toronto Island Park, a must-see place, especially if you have kids.
The Toronto Island Park is a series of islands with no cars, covered in amusements for children, wonderful beaches, and more. It’s a great place to spend the day exploring with the family and to get there you just need to hop onto a water taxi or a ferry.
There are some amazing museums and art galleries in Toronto city centre too. And, even if you’re not into museums there are some you really have to see.
The Royal Ontario Museum is over 100 years old and it showcases a bit of everything from nature to global history, art, and culture. You’ll find over 40 galleries and exhibitions with more than six million pieces to see that will teach you all about the world and how it’s evolved.
You also have the AGO, Art Gallery of Ontario which holds thousands of pieces of art, and of there is Casa Loma, a historical 98 room castle that has probably one of the best views looking over Toronto and down the Niagra escarpment.
On top of all of these great things, you should also see the breweries, hockey hall of fame, the huge Ripley’s Aquarium, go up the CN tower, go to High Park, and go to some of the great markets. Niagara Falls is also just next to Toronto, so you should really pay a visit and see this amazing waterfall while you’re in town.
Calgary
Calgary is a city that has been integrated with nature in its design. You have all the usual things you’d expect from a city in Calgary such as museums and theaters but you also have some amazing natural areas, one of which you can’t miss.
Fish Creek Provincial Park is one of the largest wilderness areas in the world within an urban area. It’s home to more than 54 miles of different hiking and biking trails so if you want a good walk or to spend time in nature, there isn’t anywhere better. You can explore ice caves, walk along the Bow River, around marshland, and through wonderful woodlands.
Other great parks include Prince’s Island Park, Bowness Park, and of course, there is always the beautiful emerald green bow river to canoe, kayak, row, and cruise down when you want some peace and quiet.
Outside of all the wonderful green spaces in Calgary you also have some great museums to visit in the city centre too. One of the best of them is Heritage Park which is a kind of living museum. You’ll find preserved homesteads, heritage buildings, as well as real steam trains, and lots more. There are also loads of rides, exhibits, and more, it’s a great place to go with kids too. It’s not open all year though, just May to October.
Something that Calgary is famous for is the Calgary Stampede which happens every year in July. Millions of people come to see and take part in the biggest rodeo in the world along with other fun things like chuckwagon racing. It all started in 1912 as a way to celebrate the “disappearing” Old West and has happened every year since.
Verdict
As you can see, Toronto is a little bit more metropolitan and full of things like great museums and art galleries whereas Calgary is more about nature and the ways of the west, and how it used to be.
Both, are a lot of fun but if you say live in say New York City, perhaps Calgary might be a more interesting experience, whereas if you lived in say rural California, the bright city life of Toronto might be more appealing.
Either way, both cities are a lot of fun and you’ll have fun in either no matter which of them you choose.
Day Trips
Going to Canada can’t be all about staying in the city. As soon as you get a glimpse of the views from either Toronto or Calgary, whether it is the lakes or the mountains, you’re going to want to go and explore them.
So, let’s take a look at both Calgary and Toronto in regards to what day trips each place has on offer so you can see if one suits you better.
Toronto
The most famous day trip in Toronto is a trip to Niagra Falls and you can do it in loads of different ways. You can go on a cruise up to the falls, which is a great way to see them, some tours include a fancy lunch with a view of the falls, you can see them from above the falls instead of on a boat, or you can even do a day & night tours on a boat too.
Outside of going to Niagra Falls, there aren’t that many day trips to be had in Toronto. You can go for a cruise on the lake, hop in a helicopter for an aerial tour of the city and cycle around the city, but in terms of leaving it, your options are minimal.
Calgary
Calgary on the other hand has a lot of day trip options and this is because it’s so close to the rocky mountains. You can go to Banff National Park for the day, ride a horse for the day around Kananaskis, see the azure blue lakes of Columbia Icefield, go to Lake Louise, and more.
If you love hiking and seeing amazing mountains plus all the dramatic scenery, stunning lakes, rivers, and wildlife that goes with it, Calgary is the place to be.
Verdict
If you love to spend time in the outdoors and want to do some day trips away from the city, then Calgary is a much better option. You can spend 10 days in a row out of the city and do something different each day. In Toronto however, there isn’t much to do outside of the city bar seeing Niagra Falls which is an awesome experience.
If you want a true city experience with an incredible day trip, then Toronto is the place to be. If you want more of a rugged adventure with some wilderness to explore, Calgary is the obvious choice.
How Good Is The Food Scene
If there is something consistent that one has to do every day it’s eating, so why not choose a city with new and delicious things to try? One of my favorite things to travel for is food and while Canadian food isn’t quite as diverse as say Thai or Indian cuisine, there are still some very tasty things to try.
Calgary vs Toronto: when it comes to food are quite different places so let’s take a deeper look at their food scenes so you can pick the right city for you.
Toronto
Considering that Toronto has over 3 million residents from around the world, it’s not surprising that this diversity is showcased in their food scene too. Everything from Asia to South American, French to Caribbean food is available in Toronto.
An interesting restaurant to check out is Rasta Pasta which is a fusion of Italian and Jamaican cuisines. Imagine rich and flavorful Italian sauces with some jerk spiced chicken infused all served on fresh pasta, and you have the idea.
If you love Asian food, head to the R&D Chinese restaurant that is run by the first winner of MasterChef Canada Eric Ching along with one of the judges, Alvin Leung. This is Chinese food like you have never tried before, you’ll recognize everything on the menu but it all comes served with a twist.
If you’re looking for somewhere to stop for lunch while you’re exploring Toronto, you should go via Kensington Market. Kensington Market is home to lots of different stalls that serve delicious lunches from around the world. You can also pick up some great wine, cheese, and other local produce while at the market and try lots of tasters from the stalls.
You’ll also find great Japanese, Greek, Sri Lankan, Indian, Mexican, French, Italian, and more international cuisines all over the place.
Calgary
Calgary’s food scene isn’t quite on the same levels as Tornoto’s but it’s not far behind. Recently, 10 restaurants in Calgary were included in the top 100 list of the best restaurants in Canada, and the food scene continues to grow steadily, plus it’s diverse too.
For a taste of amazing Asian cuisines, you should go to Chinatown in Calgary. You’ll find a ton of different Asian restaurants from Chinese to Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, and more.
Head to Inglewood for a dip into fabulous French and Italian food served up by award-winning bistros. You’ll also find some incredible craft breweries where you can find some delicious beer to try before and after dinner.
If you want some fine dining with multiple courses then the areas of Kensington or Sunnyside in Calgary are the places to go. It’s full of hip cafes with great food, and it’s also where you’ll find a delicious 5-course meal with all the wine pairings.
The best place to go in Calgary if you want a real culinary experience is to International Avenue. It is the cultural and culinary zone of the city and you’ll find restaurants that serve everything from African and Indian food to Caribean, Mexican, all the way to French, Italian, and Asian.
Verdict
Let’s be honest, you’re not going to be left wanting when it comes to delicious food in either Toronto or Calgary. I’d call it a draw in terms of the range of cuisines on offer, the only area where Toronto might have an edge is in their number of restaurants, but that is not a big deal.
Which city is more affordable?
While it is hard to choose between Toronto vs Calgary, something that might tip your decision-making is the cost of each. We all have to travel on some kind of budget and it’s always nice to know how far your money can go in each city so see which one you can get the most of.
When it comes to costs and Toronto vs Calgary, it might not come as a surprise that one is a lot more affordable than the other.
Toronto
The most expensive part of most vacations is paying for your accommodation. In Toronto, you’re likely to pay around $74 a night for a single room and around $150 a night for a double room. It’s not the most expensive play to get a hotel in the world but it’s not the cheapest either.
When it comes to food, Toronto is not cheap at all and travelers should expect to spend around $58 a day on average. This budget goes up quickly when you start going to fancy restaurants, but it also goes down if you stick to fast food or street vendors.
Public transportation isn’t cheap either at $27 a day on average, entertainment isn’t too bad at $26 a day, and booze isn’t cheap at around $19 a day. Toronto isn’t the most affordable place and not a great space to be in if you want your hard-earned dollars to go as far as possible.
Calgary
Calgary on the other hand is a lot more affordable than Toronto, and I mean a lot. When it comes to accommodation, you will spend on average $60 a night and $120 a night for a double so a little less than in Toronto.
When it comes to food, Calgary costs less than half of what Toronto costs with an average spend of $27 a day compared to $58 a day. Public transportation also costs less than half at $11 in Calgary when compared to $27 in Toronto. Entertainment is also half price in Calgary at $13 a day, while some booze is around $9.50 a day, again 50% cheaper than Toronto.
Verdict
Considering Calgary is 50% cheaper than Toronto in every aspect bar accommodation, it’s certainly the place to go if you want to make your dollars go as far as possible. You can pretty much have double the fun in Calgary compared to Toronto.
The Weather And When To Visit
How important is the weather when it comes to choosing where to visit? Well, it’s very important in my eyes. I often pick a destination based on just the weather and nothing else. If one place is better than the other, it usually wins so let’s take a look at the weather in Toronto vs Calgary.
Now, Toronto and Calgary are in the same country but they are very in very different parts of it, so the weather isn’t quite the same.
Toronto
Toronto’s temperatures during summer range between 15 and 26 degrees celsius and their winter temperatures hit a low of -7 and a high of 3 degrees celsius. It’s also quite a dry city with about 8 days of rain on average over a month.
The best time to visit Toronto is definitely in the summer but it will be full of crowds. The soaring temperatures make things like swimming in the lake a reality and the streets do come to life. If you want to avoid the summer crowds, try being there in May and June.
Calgary
In comparison to Toronto, Calgary is a bit colder but also quite a bit drier. The summers range from 10 to 23 degrees Celsius, while the winters go down to -14 degrees celsius with a high of -1 degrees celsius. So it’s a hell of a lot colder than Toronto, but with the mountains right there you can go skiing anytime you like.
It only rains in Calgary around 4-5 days a month on average, so it will most likely be dry whenever you visit. It’s best to avoid winter unless you want to ski and to go in May/June for the best weather and least the crowds, but it doesn’t get so crowded in Calgary so go ahead and visit in July and August too.
Toronto vs Calgary – The Verdict
Which of these two cities wins? If it was me, I’d go to Calgary in a heartbeat and my decision is mainly based on the culture and the costs. I feel like Calgary offers a lot more thanks to its cowboy cultural connections and which is something different from the generic metropolitan vibes of Toronto. Also, it’s nice to spend 50% less somewhere too.
That being said, if you want the high life of a major city, and to see Niagra Falls, then visiting Toronto isn’t a bad idea either. It all comes down to personal choice, doesn’t it? I hope you enjoyed the article and it was helpful when making your choice between Toronto vs Calgary.
About the Author Roger Timbrook
Roger is a little obsessed with travel. He has been to over 40 countries, broken 3 suitcases and owned over 10 backpacks in 12 months. What he doesn't know about travel, ain't worth knowing!
