How much does it cost to travel to Alberta?
You should plan to spend around $113 (CA$156) per day on your vacation in Alberta. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $28 (CA$39) on meals
- $19 (CA$26) on local transportation
- $132 (CA$181) on hotels
A one week trip to Alberta for two people costs, on average, $1,587 (CA$2,186). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Alberta has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Alberta expensive to visit?
Prices in Alberta are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.
Within North America, which is known to be an expensive region, Alberta is a reasonably affordable destination compared to other places. It is in the top 25% of cities in North America for its affordability. You can find more affordable cities such as Hope, but there are also more expensive cities, such as Key West.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Alberta Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Alberta?
The average Alberta trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Alberta travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
|
Category
|
Cost
|
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
CA$181
($132)
|
|
Local Transportation 1
|
CA$26
($19)
|
|
Food 2
|
CA$39
($28)
|
|
Entertainment 1
|
CA$18
($13)
|
|
Tips and Handouts 1
|
CA$0 -
0
($0 - 0)
|
|
Alcohol 2
|
CA$7 -
22
($5 - 16)
|
Accommodation Budget in Alberta
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Alberta is $66 (CA$91). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Alberta is $132 (CA$181). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Alberta? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Alberta
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Alberta is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $19 (CA$26) per person, per day, on local transportation in Alberta.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$19
CA$26
How much does it cost to go to Alberta? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Alberta will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Alberta
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Alberta can vary, the average cost of food in Alberta is $28 (CA$39) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Alberta should cost around $11 (CA$16) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Alberta is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$28
CA$39
Entertainment Budget in Alberta
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Alberta typically cost an average of $13 (CA$18) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$13
CA$18
Tips and Handouts Budget in Alberta
Calculated from travelers like you
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps Budget in Alberta
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Unfortunately, bad things can happen on a trip. Well, you've just got to deal with it! The average price for a scam, robbery, or mishap in Alberta is $0.46 (CA$0.64), as reported by travelers.
-
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps1
$0.46
CA$0.64
Alcohol Budget in Alberta
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $11 (CA$15) on alcoholic beverages in Alberta per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$11
CA$15
Water Budget in Alberta
Calculated from travelers like you
-
On average, people spend $1.85 (CA$2.55) on bottled water in Alberta per day. The public water in Alberta is considered safe to drink.
-
Water2
Bottled water for one day
$1.85
CA$2.55
Alberta On a Budget
Banff National Park
If you ever wanted to visit a place where all the beauty of nature is centrally located, you will want to make a trip to Alberta, Canada. With part of the Canadian Rockies, the prairies and the wilderness of forests, Alberta has something for everyone. As the home to Canada's oil industry, this is also the richest province in the country.
Sights
One of the most breathtaking sights you can see in Alberta is the drive from Calgary west towards British Columbia. The Rockies spike dramatically and quickly from the earth. The routes through Banff, Jasper or Glacier National Park are also quite stunning.
If you plan to take a stop, consider Kananaskis Country. This section of the Alberta Rockies region includes Peter Lougheed Provincial Park with a ski resort and golf course. Book a tee time early, as these are the busiest courses in North America. If it's winter, enjoy the cross-country skiing and skate trails. If it's summer, hop on an ATV and cruise around.
Another stunning stop is Lake Louise in the middle of Banff National Park. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains with a large glacier at the far end, this isolated area is perfect for a luxurious resort. Be sure to explore the vibrantly colored glacial lakes like Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Bow Lake and Peyto Lake. Another must-see is Victoria Glacier.
Regions
Alberta is split into several regions. The Alberta Badlands are located in the southeast of Alberta, and is home to valleys and plains full of fossils. The Alberta Rockies region includes the beauty of Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper. The Calgary region contains Alberta's largest city, Calgary, and a rapidly growing population. Central Alberta is the most rural region of the province with rolling hills, prairie and forests. Eastern Alberta is mostly forests and farms while Edmonton Capital contains the capital city of Edmonton. The Peace River Valley has breathtaking forests with small towns, and Southern Alberta is the windy region with several wind farms and regular farms.
Activities
Between all the ski resorts in Alberta – Jasper National Park, Sunshine Village, Lake Louise and Norquay – you will find slopes for every level of experience. The hardcore skier will find new challenges to intrigue them, while the novice can enjoy the leisurely runs through the greens.
For the experienced hiker, the Rockies can be an interesting challenge. With a few lakes for boating, jet skiing and other water sports, you will get the entire nature experience in a landlocked province.
For a truly unique experience, visit the Dinosaur Provincial Park just a couple of hours southeast of Calgary. Admission for general camping is free, but to see the restricted areas, you have to pay for a guide. The park is full of trails and hoodoos for climbing, and the scenery is amazing. A large percentage of the world's dinosaur bones have been found in this park, hence the name, and it is not unusual to find small bone fragments on the ground. You'll have to put them back for others to find, however, because taking them with you us against the rules. Keep your eye out for several common dangers of this park – rattlesnakes, scorpions and black widow spiders live here, as well.
Food and Dining
Given that many parts of Alberta are so isolated, there is a surprising variety in the restaurants to choose from – especially in the major cities. From simple diners to fine dining, Alberta is ready to offer travelers whatever meal they're looking for. The region is particularly known for its beef, and the steak is considered the regional dish for the province.
Transportation
Greyhound Canada offers services along almost all the major destinations in Alberta. Keep in mind, Greyhound does so-called "milk runs" where they stop at almost every location to drop odd and pick up passengers.
Given that Alberta is so large, however, car travel is basically a must. Most towns have grown vertically instead of horizontally so unless you plan on staying in Calgary or Edmonton, where walking is an option, you're going to want a car. Road regulations are the same as Canada as a whole. Keep your eyes open, as critters love to dart into the road.
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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.