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Toronto or New York? An honest comparison
The short answer
Pick New York for the headline city break: Broadway, skyscrapers, the Met and food at any hour. Pick Toronto for a calmer, cleaner, more affordable city, about €214 a day mid-range against €281 in New York on our numbers, with excellent multicultural food and Niagara Falls as an easy day trip.
Toronto: suits families, couples and remote workers who want a safe, relaxed city with great neighbourhood food and Niagara Falls nearby.
New York: suits couples, solo travellers, friends and first-timers who want Broadway, skyline views, nightlife and world-class museums.
Side by side
| Toronto | New York | |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-range day* | €215 C$345 local | €284 $319 local |
| Budget day* | €104 | €156 |
| Value for money | ●●●●●About €214 a day mid-range; noticeably cheaper than New York. | ●●●●●About €281 a day; tips and sales tax add more. |
| Crowds (5 = calm) | ●●●●●CN Tower and Distillery District busy; most neighbourhoods feel relaxed. | ●●●●●Times Square, Midtown and the subway are crowded constantly. |
| Food | ●●●●●Kensington, Chinatown, Greektown and St. Lawrence Market; huge variety. | ●●●●●Pizza slices, bagels, delis and every cuisine, late into the night. |
| Nightlife | ●●●●●Good bars on Queen West and Ossington; quieter than New York. | ●●●●●Broadway, bars and clubs; the city really runs late. |
| Family-friendly | ●●●●●Clean and safe, with the islands, aquarium and Niagara nearby. | ●●●●●Central Park and museums, but crowds and costs tire families. |
| Getting around | ●●●●●Subway is limited and streetcars slow; downtown is walkable. | ●●●●●24-hour subway and grid streets, though stations show their age. |
| Best months | May, Sep | May |
| Warmest / coolest | Jul 26°C / Jan 0°C | Jul 30°C / Jan 5°C |
| Known for | CN Tower, Niagara Falls, Kensington Market, diverse neighbourhood dining | Empire State Building, Broadway shows, Brooklyn Bridge, world-class museums |
* Per person per day with two sharing a room: bed, food, sights and local transport, from our Toronto and New York day-cost tables (approximate 2026 prices; other currencies converted at recent rates). Ratings are our editorial judgement.
Which one should you pick?
Pick Toronto if…
- you want a calmer, easier city
- Niagara Falls is on your list
- you are travelling with children
- you love multicultural neighbourhood food
Pick New York if…
- Broadway and skyline views are a must
- you want the Met, MoMA and big museums
- you want nightlife that runs very late
- It is your first trip to North America
Weather month by month
| Month | Toronto high / rainy days | New York high / rainy days |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 0°C · 8 | 5°C · 11 |
| Feb | 1°C · 11 | 6°C · 11 |
| Mar | 6°C · 11 | 11°C · 10 |
| Apr | 12°C · 13 | 16°C · 11 |
| May | 18°C · 8 | 21°C · 9 |
| Jun | 24°C · 10 | 26°C · 11 |
| Jul | 26°C · 14 | 30°C · 14 |
| Aug | 26°C · 13 | 29°C · 14 |
| Sep | 22°C · 8 | 25°C · 11 |
| Oct | 16°C · 11 | 19°C · 10 |
| Nov | 8°C · 10 | 12°C · 8 |
| Dec | 4°C · 12 | 9°C · 11 |
Average daily high and number of rainy days. Copernicus ERA5, 2021–2023.
What you will eat
Toronto
Peameal bacon sandwich · Jamaican beef patty · Doubles and roti · Dim sum · Butter tart · Souvlaki and Greek grill
Where: St. Lawrence Market, Old Town, Kensington Market, Chinatown, Spadina Avenue, Danforth Avenue (Greektown)
New York
New York slice · Bagel with cream cheese · Pastrami on rye · Halal cart chicken and rice · Dumplings and roast pork buns · Cannoli
Where: Chinatown and Little Italy (Manhattan), Lower East Side and Essex Market, Chelsea Market, Flushing (Queens)
Doing both in one trip
8 days: 3 in Toronto + 5 in New York
Start in Toronto with a Niagara day, then finish in New York, where flight options home are widest.
Getting between them: Flight about 1 h 30 plus airport time, with US border preclearance at Toronto Pearson. The daily Maple Leaf train takes roughly 12–13 hours via Niagara Falls; coaches about 10–12 hours — check current timetables. Distance about 555 km as the crow flies. Check current timetables.
- Day 1: Toronto — CN Tower, the waterfront, St. Lawrence Market
- Day 2: Niagara Falls day trip
- Day 3: Kensington Market, Chinatown, ferry to the Toronto Islands
- Day 4: Fly to New York, Midtown and Times Square in the evening
- Day 5: Central Park, the Met, Upper West Side
- Day 6: Lower Manhattan, 9/11 Memorial, Brooklyn Bridge walk
- Day 7: Lower East Side, Chelsea Market and the High Line, a Broadway show
- Day 8: Brooklyn or Flushing food neighbourhoods, fly home
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Common questions
Is Toronto or New York cheaper?
Toronto, on our mid-range figures: about €214 per person per day against roughly €281 in New York. Hotels show the biggest difference. Both cities add sales tax at the till and expect 15–20% tips in restaurants, so menu prices understate the bill. Toronto's markets and neighbourhood restaurants in Chinatown and Greektown are especially good value.
How do I get from Toronto to New York?
Flying is fastest: about 1 h 30, with US border preclearance done at Toronto Pearson before you board, so you land as a domestic arrival. The Maple Leaf train runs daily and takes roughly 12–13 hours, with scenic stretches along the Hudson River. Coaches take around 10–12 hours. Check current timetables and visa or ESTA requirements.
When is the best time to visit?
Our data marks May and September for Toronto and May for New York. Both have hot, humid summers, Toronto about 26°C in July and New York about 30°C, and cold winters, near 0°C in Toronto in January. Late spring and early autumn are the most comfortable, and October's autumn colours make it a strong choice too.
Can I visit Niagara Falls from either city?
Toronto is the natural base: the falls are about 1 h 30 to 2 hours away by car, with trains and tours too, so a day trip is easy. From New York City, Niagara is roughly 650 km away, a long drive or a short flight to Buffalo, so it needs an overnight stay. The Canadian side has the best views.