Complete budget travel guide to Toronto for international visitors — free attractions, cheap eats under $15, affordable hotels, transit tips, and how to do Toronto for under $100/day.
A realistic budget day in Toronto — TTC travel, street food and market eats, free attractions — comes to $70–120 CAD per person including budget accommodation. Without a hostel, just food and transport runs $30–50.
Toronto has a reputation for being expensive, but it's very manageable if you eat in Chinatown/Kensington/Scarborough (not the waterfront), use the TTC instead of taxis, and focus on the city's many free attractions.
The UP Express train from Pearson (Terminal 1 or 3) to Union Station costs $9.25 with a PRESTO card ($12.35 cash) and takes 28 minutes. It's the cheapest and fastest option by far vs a $60–80 taxi.
Yes — the AGO is free on the first Wednesday of each month from 6–9pm, the Aga Khan Museum is free every Wednesday from 4–8pm, and the ROM is free on the third Tuesday monthly from 4–8:30pm. The Design Exchange is free daily. Many smaller galleries along Queen West are always free.
Scarborough offers the best value food in the GTA — Sri Lankan, Jamaican, Indo-Chinese, and Tamil cuisines at prices 40–60% lower than downtown. Chinatown on Spadina and Kensington Market are also excellent budget options.
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