Is Havana or Toronto cheaper?

Havana is cheaper on average. A mid-range day in Havana costs about $80 vs $160 in Toronto, so Havana saves you roughly $80 per day compared to Toronto.

Is Havana or Toronto safer?

Toronto scores higher on our safety index (80/100 vs 65/100). Toronto is one of the safest large cities in North America.

Is it easier to get by with English in Havana or Toronto?

English is more widely spoken in Toronto (5/5 vs 2/5 on our scale). You will find it easier to order food, ask for directions, and navigate transit in Toronto.

How do daily costs in Havana and Toronto compare?

In Havana: budget ~$30-50/day, mid-range ~$70-130/day, luxury ~$200+/day. In Toronto: budget ~$65–100/day, mid-range ~$160–260/day, luxury ~$400+/day.

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Havana vs Toronto

Q: Which has better weather, Havana or Toronto?

Havana has the more temperate climate year-round. Havana has a tropical climate with a dry season (November-April) and a wet season (May-October). Temperatures are warm year-round. Hurricane season runs from June to November, with September and October being the highest-risk months.

Which destination is right for your next trip?

🏆 Toronto wins 86 OVR vs 75 · attribute matchup 1–6

Havana

Cuba

75OVR

Toronto

Canada

86OVR

Safety

Affordability

Food

Culture

Nightlife

Walkability

Nature

Connectivity

Transit

Havana Guide →Toronto Guide →

Havana

Cuba

Toronto

Canada

Havana

Safety: 70/100Pop: 2.1M (city)America/Havana

Toronto

Safety: 80/100Pop: 2.9M (city), 6.7M (metro)America/Toronto

💰 Budget

budget

Havana: $30-50Toronto: $65–100

mid-range

Havana: $70-130Toronto: $160–260

luxury

Havana: $200+Toronto: $400+

🛡️ Safety

Havana70/100Safety Score✓80/100Toronto

Havana

Cuba is generally one of the safest countries in Latin America. Violent crime against tourists is extremely rare. The main annoyances are persistent jineteros (hustlers) offering everything from cigars to restaurant recommendations on commission.

Toronto

Toronto is one of the safest large cities in North America. The tourist areas — downtown core, Distillery District, Kensington Market, Yorkville, and the waterfront — are very safe at virtually any hour. Petty theft (phone snatching, bag theft) does occur in busy areas. The Jane-Finch and Scarborough areas have higher crime rates but are well away from tourist destinations.

⭐ Ratings

Havana2/5English Friendly✓5/5Toronto

Havana4/5Walkability4/5Toronto

Havana2/5Public Transit✓4/5Toronto

Havana3/5Food Scene✓5/5Toronto

Havana4/5Nightlife4/5Toronto

Havana4/5Cultural Sites✓5/5Toronto

Havana3/5Nature Access✓4/5Toronto

Havana2/5WiFi Reliability✓5/5Toronto

🌤️ Weather

Havana

Havana has a tropical climate with a dry season (November-April) and a wet season (May-October). Temperatures are warm year-round. Hurricane season runs from June to November, with September and October being the highest-risk months.

Dry Season (November - April)20-28°C

Early Wet Season (May - June)23-32°C

Hurricane Season Peak (July - October)24-33°C

Late Season Transition (November)22-29°C

Toronto

Toronto has a humid continental climate with four distinct seasons. Winters are cold with snow and occasional ice storms, though milder than many Canadian cities. Summers are warm and humid with temperatures regularly hitting 30°C+. Lake Ontario moderates temperatures slightly — the lake stays cold until July, which delays summer warming near the waterfront. Spring and fall are beautiful but brief.

Spring (March – May)0–18°C

Summer (June – August)18–32°C

Autumn (September – November)-2–20°C

🚇 Getting Around

Havana

Havana's transport is a fascinating mix of vintage American cars, Chinese buses, coconut-shaped taxis, and horse-drawn carts. There's no ride-hailing app that works reliably. Getting around requires a mix of walking, negotiating with taxi drivers, and patience.

Walkability: Old Havana, Centro Habana, and the Malecon are all walkable, though sidewalks are uneven and sometimes missing. The 3-4 km walk from Habana Vieja to Vedado along the Malecon is one of the great urban walks. Beyond central areas, distances become too large for walking.

Classic Car Taxis (Almendrones) — CUP 40-100 (~$0.30-0.80) for shared rides along fixed routes

Private Taxis — $5-15 USD for trips within central Havana

HabanaBusTour (Hop-on Hop-off) — $10 USD for a full-day pass

Toronto

The TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) runs the subway, buses, and streetcars. It's functional but old and often overcrowded during rush hour. The Presto card is used on TTC, GO Transit (regional rail), and most regional buses — load it at any subway station. Driving in downtown Toronto is not recommended: traffic is severe and parking costs CAD $4–8/hour. The waterfront and many neighbourhoods are pleasant to walk.

Walkability: Downtown Toronto is very walkable between major attractions. The CN Tower, Harbourfront, Distillery District, St. Lawrence Market, and the AGO are all reachable on foot from each other. Kensington Market, Chinatown, and the Annex form another walkable cluster. The financial district's underground PATH system (30km) makes it possible to navigate a huge area without going outside in winter.

TTC Subway — CAD $3.30 per ride with Presto card; CAD $3.35 cash (exact change only on buses/streetcars)

TTC Streetcars — CAD $3.30 with Presto (transfer included within 2 hours)

GO Transit — CAD $6–15 depending on distance; Presto card accepted

The Verdict

Choose Havana if...

you want a time-warp to 1959 — vintage Chevys on the Malecón, Old Havana plazas, rum mojitos, son cubano clubs, and crumbling colonial grandeur

Choose Toronto if...

you want Canada's most cosmopolitan city — CN Tower EdgeWalk, 200-language multiculturalism, St. Lawrence Market, the Distillery District, ROM and AGO, world-class restaurants on every block, and Niagara Falls 90 minutes away

Havana

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Toronto

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