Vancouver vs Toronto- Comparison of Each And Every Thing in 2024

Last Updated on July 27, 2024 by William Alexander

Introduction of Toronto and Vancouver.

Toronto.

According to popularity, toronto is the most popular city in Canada and the fourth most popular city of North america. Toronto is the capital of Ontario, which is the province of Canada. The population of Toronto is 2.79 Million, according to the calculation for 2021.

I always tell people that if I move anywhere it would be Toronto.

Kendrick Lamar

Vancouver.

Vancouver is located in British Columbia. It is also a famous city in western Canada with the population of 662,248, according to the calculation for 2021. 

When you live in Vancouver, you realize most of the population is in eastern North America

Jim Pattison

Best Places to Visit in Vancouver vs. Toronto

Best Places to visit in Toronto.

The best Places to visit in Toronto are given below.

• CN Tower
• Royal Ontario Museum 
• Distillery District
• Toronto Islands
• Art Gallery of Ontario 
• High Park
• St. Lawrence Market
• Kensington Market
• Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada
• Toronto Zoo
• Casa Loma
• Hockey Hall of Fame
• Distillery Historic District.

Best Places to visit in Vancouver.

The best Places to visit in Vancouver is given below.

• Stanley Park
• Granville Island
• Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
• Vancouver Aquarium
• Grouse Mountain
• Vancouver Art Gallery
• Science World
• Gastown
• Vancouver Seawall
• Museum of Anthropology 
• Chinese Garden
• Capilano Suspension Bridge
• English Bay Beach
• Museum of Vancouver
• Whale Watching
• Vancouver Lookout
• FlyOver Canada

Things to Do in Vancouver Vs. Toronto

We always divide the Things to Do section into two categories at: first, outdoor activities, and on second, indoor activities. So, the outdoor and indoor activities of Toronto vs. Vancouver are bellowed.

Outdoor activities in Toronto

1. Visit Toronto Islands 

• The island plays a crucial role in the beauty of Toronto. Here are some famous islands given below
• You can visit Centre Island, Ward’s Island, Muggs Island,  Hanlan’s Point, Donut, Forestry Island,  Olympic Island, South Island, Snake Island, and Algonquin Island.

2. Waterfront Trail

Take a bike on rent and ride along the waterfront tail.

3. Visit High Park  

Explore the High Park and do picking and visit the High Park Zoo.

4 . Do hiking in  the National Urban Park

5. Relax on beaches like Woodbine Beach and Cherry Beach

6. Explore festivals like food festivals and  cultural celebrations and the Toronto International Film Festival

7. Explore Niagara Falls. 

8. Explore the beautiful Toronto music garden

9 Walk along the Humber river

10. Explore exciting festivals 

 Indoor activities in Toronto 

1. Explore Museums and Art Galleries like the Royal Ontario Museum and Ontario Science Centre. 
2. Indoor Sports.  You can enjoy indoor swimming pools and ice skating.
3. Visit indoor attractions like  CN Tower and Casa Loma.
4. You can go to spas and wellness centers for relaxation.
5. dining in the best restaurants and Shopping in big markets in Toronto.

Outdoor activities in Vancouver.

• You can visit Stanley Park
• Hiking on Grouse Grind, The steepest trail in  Vancouver
• You can experience the thrill of walking at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park 
• Whale and other marine life watching on the boat, like watching humpback whales.
• Skiing on mountains like Cypress Mountain or Mount Seymour, 
• Enjoy a scenic ride on a bike at Stanley Park Seawall.
• You can do Beach Activities on  Jericho Beach and Sunset Beach
• Kayaking at Cove.
• Whitewater rafting near Squamish

 Indoor activities in Vancouver.

1. Explore historical places like Museums and Galleries, such as the Vancouver Art Gallery, the Museum of Vancouver, and Science World.
2. Visit the Aquarium with your family and explore marine life here, like jellyfish and sea otters.
3. Do shopping from Metrotown, the largest mall in British Columbia. 
4. Do indoor sports  like indoor soccer and ice skating
5. Relax at the spa center.
6. Dine in the best restaurants 

Toronto vs Vancouver Entertainment cost difference.

After visiting both Canadian cities, we concluded that the cost of entertainment in Vancouver is higher than in Toronto. (Make table)

• The average cost of entertainment per person in Vancouver is $300 per capita.
• The average cost of entertainment per person in Toronto is $35 per capita.
• A meal in Standard restaurant in Vancouver is $20
• A meal in Standard restaurant in Toronto  is $15
• Domestic beer costs 10$ per tin in Toronto.
• Domestic beer costs 10$ per tin in Vancouver.
• Cinema tickets for a Couple are $40 in Toronto.
• Cinema tickets for a Couple are $45 in Vancouver.

Cost of living comparison Vancouver and Toronto

The cost of living is very high in both cities. It depends upon your affordability. Both are Canada’s most expensive most expensive cities. The goods and services tax on things in Vancouver is high. 

We can divide the cost of living in Vancouver and  Toronto into two categories: one is the cost of renting, and the other is the cost of buying. I am going to explain both.

Buying a home in Vancouver and Toronto

Home buying costs in Vancouver are high compared to those in Toronto. 

The reason is that Vancouver is surrounded by water and mountains and is a protected green area. And provincial sales tax is high in Vancouver. These factors have limited the availability of land for homes and increased the rates of the real estate market. Therefore, living expenses in Vancouver are high.

If you’re looking to buy the average home in the city of Vancouver, then you need  

minimum $1.5 million CDN according to March 2024 rates, while if you want to live in Canada’s largest city, Toronto, you need a minimum of $1.3 million CDN for an Average home.

Hence, the average cost of living in Vancouver is high.

Cost of living in Vancouver Vs Toronto for a rented Home.

No doubt, buying a home in Vancouver or Toronto is very challenging for an average person. Therefore, most people like to rent an apartment.

According to recent stats.

Apartments	Toronto	Vancouver
Rent of One-Bedroom Apartments	CAD 1500 – 2500	CAD 1900 – 2500
Rent of  Two-Bedroom Apartments	CAD 2000 – 3500	CAD 2,200 – 3,600
Rent of  Three-Bedroom Apartments	CAD 2200 – 4500	CAD 2,500 – 6,100

Hence, we can Vancouver’s apartment rent is a monthly cost than Toronto’s

Another cost of living

Category	Toronto	Vancouver
Cost of Insurance of houses  and Utilities	$150	$220
Grocery items  Cost for one person	$230	$290.60
Phone and Internet	$85	$90
Cost of Car Insurance	$1900	$1,528
Health And Fitness	$50	$65
Taxes	12%	13%

 If you plan a trip to Vancouver or Toronto, Affordable Places to stay.

Cost-effective Places to Stay in Downtown Toronto.

 As we know, Toronto is the biggest city in Canada, so it has too many options for staying, like restaurants, hotels, and resorts. You can select according to your budget while following the budget-friendly places below.

Place Name	One bed Package Price  in $
The Sutton Place Hotel Toronto	227
Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel	249
Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Toronto	176
Luxury 1BR – Walk to CN Tower – Convention Centre – Gym/Pool	127
Soho Suites Yorkville	587

Cost-effective Places to Stay in Downtown Vancouver

Vancouver offers friendly places while following a budget, which is given below.

Place Name	One bed Package Price  in $
Metropolitan Hotel Vancouver	446
JW Marriott Parq Vancouver	411
Fairmont Waterfront	462
Skwachàys Lodge	333
Paradox Hotel Vancouver	411

Weather and Temperature conditions in those two cities.

As we know, Canada is famous for its cold weather. Most tourists like it due to its cold weather and snowfall in winter. If We talk about the Weather difference between Toronto and Vancouver, then Toronto is very cold in winter, And the temperature is down to -7 °C. In comparison, it is hot in summer, and temperatures up to 27 °C.

The weather is freezing in Toronto from January to February, and there are also the highest chances of snowfall these days.  

While the weather in Vancouver is different, the temperature is down to -3°C   in winter while it is hot in summer and temperate up to 22 °C.

	Average Temperature in January graph b e like	Average Temperature in July
Vancouver	High: 7°C Low: -3°C	High: 22°C Low: 14°C
Toronto	High: 0°C  Low: -7°C	High: 27 °C  Low: 18 °C

Public Transportation in Vancouver vs. Toronto.

 Public transport is essential for any area you want to live in or plan a tour of.  Both cities have the best transport options. The following are given below.

Public Transport in Toronto.

Toronto offers two big airports: Toronto Pearson International Airport and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. You can use buses, trains, public cars etc to go from the airport to anywhere.

Toronto transport options and their fairs and arrival and departure are given below.

Transport Mode	Departure Time	Arrival Time	Fare In USD
TTC Bus	Varies (depends upon  the route)	Varies (depends upon  the route)	$4
TTC Subway	Varies (depends upon stops and direction)	Varies (depends upon stops and direction)	$4
GO Train	Varies (depends upon  the route and schedule)	Varies (depends upon  the route and schedule)	The fare depends upon the distance between destination;  it generally ranges from $6.00 – $10.00
GO Bus	Varies (depends upon  the route and schedule)	Varies (depends upon  the route and schedule)	The fare depends upon the distance between destination;  it generally ranges from $8.00 – $10.00
UP Express	Every 15-30 minutes (depending upon the  time of day)	Every 15-30 minutes (depending upon the  time of day)	$12.50

Public Transport in Vancouver

Vancouver provides fast and frequent travel options that allow you to go anywhere in Vancouver. It’s better than Toronto, and it’s a big reason people live here.

 Vancouver Tanspsport options and their fairs and arrival and departure are given below.

Transport Mode	Departure Time	Arrival Time	Fare in Usd
TransLink Bus	Varies (depends upon  the route	Varies (depends upon  the route	$3.5
SkyTrain	Varies (depends upon stops and direction)	Varies (depends upon stops and direction)	$3.5
SeaBus	Every 15-30 minutes (depending upon the  time of day)	Every 15-30 minutes (depending upon the  time of day)	$4.25
West Coast Express	Varies (depends upon its  schedule)	Varies (depends upon its  schedule)	The fare depends upon the distance between destination;  it generally ranges from $5.00 – $10.00
HandyDART	Varies (depends upon its  schedule)	Varies (depends upon its  schedule)	$3.5
Public bike share

Hence, it proved that public transport in Vancouver is the best option.

Cost Difference of Groceries in Vancouver Vs. Toronto.

I have lived in both cities and according to my observation, the cost of groceries  in  

Toronto is high as compared to Vancouver. These items include fruits, vegetables, meat, and others. The rate comparison per week of the following items is given below. 

Item Name	Price in Vancouver	Price in Toronto
Milk per Gallon	$12.34	$14.39
Rice (white) (1 lb)	$2.48	$2.07
Eggs 1 Dozen	$6.01	$4.55
l Cheese (1 lb)	$8.05	$7.33
Chicken  (1 lb)	$8.32	$7.75
Beef  (1 lb)	$8.78	$9.14
Apples (1 lb)	$2.45	$2.53
Banana (1 lb)	$0.86	$0.75
Oranges (1 lb)	$2.26	$2.57
Tomato (1 lb)	$2.58	$2.38
Potato (1 lb)	$2.01	$1.75
Onion (1 lb)	$1.56	$1.80
Total Average weekly cost of groceries per person	$56.70	$57.01

Job Opportunities in Vancouver Vs. Toronto

The economy of British Columbia is known for its diversity and strength. In Vancouver, people work in various roles, such as software development, accounting, marketing, and across different businesses. Outside the city, there are plenty of outdoor employment options available for individuals with varying skill levels. The province has one of the most robust and diverse economies in Canada. On the other hand, Toronto’s job market is heavily focused on banks and financial institutions. While this is great for those in the financial sector, Vancouver often provides better opportunities for those seeking employment in other industries.

Salary Comparison Vancouver Vs. Toronto

As we know, Vancouver’s economy is strong because of its diverse economy, natural resources, technology department, tourism, quality of life, infrastructure investments,  and political stability. Therefore, people can do jobs in sectors of IT, Software development, computer networks, Data science, banking, and finance.

Here, too many opportunities for outdoor jobs are also available. In Toronto,

most opportunities are in banking and finance. Here, people in the Accounts department take advantage. While salary variations are given below.

Note: Salary will change according to experience and expertise

Profession	Average Salary in Vancouver (CAD)	Average Salary in Toronto (CAD)
Software Engineer	$85,000 – $110,000	$90,000 – $120,000
Data Scientist	$90,000 – $120,000	$95,000 – $125,000
Doctor	$200,000 – $350,000	$220,000 – $380,000
Financial Advisor	$50,000 – $80,000	$55,000 – $85,000
Network Engineer	$80,000 – $100,000	$85,000 – $110,000
Accountant	$50,000 – $70,000	$55,000 – $75,000
Investment Banker	$90,000 – $150,000	$100,000 – $170,000
Database Administrator	$75,000 – $95,000	$80,000 – $100,000
Web Developer	$70,000 – $90,000	$75,000 – $100,000
Tax Consultant	$60,000 – $80,000	$65,000 – $85,000

Lifestyle And Culture in Toronto Vs Lifestyle in Vancouver.

Lifestyle and culture are the same in some aspects but quite different in others, so the following differences are in the table below.

Aspect	Vancouver	Toronto
Lifestyle	Vancouver is a fun city	Toronto is a commercial market  and  is famous for urban living
outdoor recreational activities	In outdoor activities, Vancouver people like nature and beauty. Skating, hiking, skiing, swimming, boating, biking, and walking	Torontonians like art and culture.Mostly wants to visit art galleries and museums.
Nightlife	People of Vancouver like nightlife. Mainly, the market opens at night. It has a lot to offer in terms of nightlife.	Torontonians less like nightlife
Hardworking	People like relaxed city life	Like hardworking, People always something doing
food scene	People like fresh seafood and Asian cuisine.	People like dining in trendy restaurants
Traffic	Lower traffic	Heavy traffic

Healthcare facilities in Vancouver vs Toronto.

Medical facilities in both are well appreciated but different for residents and visitors. Both city’s medical facilities are under the supervision of the province. 

Toronto Medical facilities are under the control of Ontario, and the same policies are applicable here. Residents’ health care is accessible through health cards and health insurance. Specialists are available for all departments of medicine. For visitors, however, no service is free of cost.

Top biggest Hospitals in Toronto

• University of Alberta Hospital
• Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center
• McMaster University Medical Center—Hamilton Health Sciences
• Foothills Medical Center
• The Ottawa Hospital—Civic Campus
• Rockyview General Hospital
• Jewish General Hospital
• Vancouver General Hospital
• North York General Hospital
• Royal Alexandra Hospital

Vancouver Medical facilities are under the supervision of British Columbia. The same applies to Toronto  Healthcare of Residents, which is accessible through health cards and health insurance. For visitors, however, no service is free of cost.

Top biggest Hospitals metro vancouver

1. Vancouver General Hospital (VGH)
2. Lions Gate Hospital
3. Surrey Memorial Hospital
4. Royal Columbian Hospital
5. Burnaby Hospital

Education in Vancouver vs Toronto

The education system is a crucial point for shifting from one area to another.

Both cities provide many options for education, but Toronto is best Because it’s a big city, so we can explore Education options in both. 

 Elementary and High  School Education in Toronto.

Toronto’s school system is divided into four educational boards. 

1. Toronto District School Board (TDSB): This is the most giant board. It serves 2 lac Students every year in more than 600 schools
2. Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB): This provides free  Catholic education to Catholic students. To take service from this school board, you must provide documents to prove yourself a catholic. It serves 92 thousand students in 200 schools.
3. Conseil scolaire Viamonde: This is a French-language public school. And gives Education in the French language to the  Francophone community.
4. Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir:  this is a french language public school. And gives Education in the French language to the Catholic Francophone community in Toronto and nearby areas.

These public schools are fully funded and offer everything free. Also, provide all educational books and uniforms free of cost. Private schools are not publically funded and charge fees from students.

Public schools in Toronto 

• Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School
• Northmount School
• Rosedale Junior Public School
• Cottingham Junior Public School
• John Ross Robertson Junior Public School
• St Michael’s Choir (Jr) School

Special Education.

Toronto also promises to provide special education to disabled students.

Universities in Toronto.

Toronto is also known for its best universities. The following are given below.

1. University of Toronto
2. York University
3. Toronto Metropolitan University.

Elementary and High School Education in Vancouver.

Canada is famous for its education worldwide. British Columbia plays a crucial role in it. Vancouver Public Schools provide fully funded education with books and other educational expenses like uniforms. They also offer education in English and French.

Vancouver elementary and high schools have only one School board. VSB.

Vancouver School Board. The public schools of Vancouver work under the VSB board. The Vancouver School Board has eighteen secondary schools and eighty-nine elementary schools. They serve students from Grade 1 to Grade 12.

Independent Schools:  No independent schools are also present in Vancouver. These work independently and offer education in both French and English. Its work culture is different from public schools.

Public schools in Vancouver

1. Britannia Community Elementary
2. Carnarvon Community Elementary
3. Admiral Seymour Elementary
4. Champlain Heights Annex
5. Bayview Community Elementary
6. Captain James Cook Elementary
7. Britannia Community Secondary
8. Champlain Heights Community Elementary

Universities in  Vancouver

The following best Universities are present in Vancouver

1. The University of British Columbia
2. Simon Fraser University
3. University of Victoria.

Food in Vancouver vs. Toronto.

In terms of food and eating, Toronto and Vancouver are different. In Vancouver, people like seafood. Because of the link with the specific ocean, Toronto people like a vegetarian diet.  Now we are exploring some Favourite foods in both cities.

Toronto local foods.

1. Sushi
2. Dim Sum
3. Korean BBQ
4. Pho
5. Gourmet Burgers
6. Roti
7. Poutine
8. Ethiopian Cuisine
9. Craft Beer and Food Trucks
10. Peameal Bacon Sandwich

Vancouver local foods.

1. Wild Salmon
2. Spot Prawns
3. Dungeness Crab
4. Oysters
5. Geoduck
6. Sablefish (Black Cod)
7. Spot Shrimp
8. Mussels and Clams

Crime Rate in Toronto and Vancouver.

According to our experience and research, Toronto is safer than Vancouver. In recent years, the crime ratio has increased in both cities. 15 % in Vancouver and 20% in Toronto.

Toronto is the second safest city in Canada, while other cities in the same province, like Ottawa and Thunderbay, need to be more secure.

Crime list in Vancouver.

Here is a list of crimes according to their reported cases . Mostly do in the Jane and Finch area.

1. Assaults
2. Attempted murder
3. Culpable Homicides
4. Sex Offences
5. Robbery
6. Theft.

Crime list in Toronto.

Here is a list of crimes according to their reported cases. Mostly done in the Downtown East side area.

• Assault
• Auto Theft
• Breaking
• Robbery
• Sexual Violations
• Theft Over $5,000
• Assault with a weapon
• Assault Causing Bodily Harm.

Which city is more Beautiful?

If we can compare the beauty of both cities, every person decides according to their taste. According to my text, Toronto is more beautiful than Vancouver due to its connection with art. Toronto offers  Pretty Waterfronts, Green Spaces, Architecture, Cultural Diversity, Public Art, and Seasonal Beauty. Ontario lake. Therefore, I prefer Toronto because of its beauty.

Nearby destinations Toronto and Vancouver For a Tour in one day.

Toronto	Vancouver
Niagara Falls (Ontario)	Whistler
Niagara-on-the-Lake (Ontario)	Victoria
Blue Mountain (Ontario)	Grouse Mountain
Prince Edward County	Bowen Island
Hamilton (Ontario)	Squamish
Stratford (Ontario)	Harrison Hot Springs

Which city is  best for you – Pros and Cons

Both cities are best in different aspects, and you can choose according to your lifestyle and budget. The pros and cons of both cities are given below

Pros of Toronto 

• Big City
• Multicultural city
• Best Education options (French / English)
• Best Healthcare options
• Close to New York City, Montreal,  And Mexico. Quebec City
• More Opportunities 
• Low cost of living as compared to Vancouver

Cons of Toronto.

• Traffic congestion More Pollution
• Low temperature
• Nightlife is not the best compared to Vancouver.
• Less green Spaces 
• Crowded Streets and Parks

Pros of Vancouver 

• Close to the Pacific Ocean
• best transport option 
• More green spaces 
• Less crowd in parks and streets 
• Easy access to nature activities.
• Closer to Banff
• more job opportunities
• Best Nightlife

Cons of Vancouver 

• Smaller city
• High living cost as compared to Toronto 
• More Risk of Earthquake
• Greater Crime Ratio to Toronto 
• Rainy weather

FAQs