How much does it cost to travel to British Columbia?
You should plan to spend around $139 (CA$191) per day on your vacation in British Columbia. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $32 (CA$44) on meals
- $20 (CA$28) on local transportation
- $159 (CA$220) on hotels
A one week trip to British Columbia for two people costs, on average, $1,941 (CA$2,674). 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 British Columbia 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 British Columbia expensive to visit?
Prices in British Columbia 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, British Columbia is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to many other destinations.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is British Columbia Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to British Columbia?
The average British Columbia trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these British Columbia travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
|
Category
|
Cost
|
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
CA$220
($159)
|
|
Local Transportation 1
|
CA$28
($20)
|
|
Food 2
|
CA$44
($32)
|
|
Entertainment 1
|
CA$60
($43)
|
|
Tips and Handouts 1
|
CA$3 -
10
($3 - 8)
|
|
Alcohol 2
|
CA$8 -
24
($6 - 17)
|
Accommodation Budget in British Columbia
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in British Columbia is $80 (CA$110). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in British Columbia is $159 (CA$220). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in British Columbia? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in British Columbia
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in British Columbia is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $20 (CA$28) per person, per day, on local transportation in British Columbia.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$20
CA$28
How much does it cost to go to British Columbia? 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 British Columbia 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 British Columbia
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in British Columbia can vary, the average cost of food in British Columbia is $32 (CA$44) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in British Columbia should cost around $13 (CA$18) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in British Columbia is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$32
CA$44
Entertainment Budget in British Columbia
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in British Columbia typically cost an average of $43 (CA$60) 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.
$43
CA$60
Tips and Handouts Budget in British Columbia
Calculated from travelers like you
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps Budget in British Columbia
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 British Columbia is $0.99 (CA$1.37), as reported by travelers.
-
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps1
$0.99
CA$1.37
Alcohol Budget in British Columbia
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $12 (CA$16) on alcoholic beverages in British Columbia per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$12
CA$16
Water Budget in British Columbia
Calculated from travelers like you
-
On average, people spend $2.54 (CA$3.50) on bottled water in British Columbia per day. The public water in British Columbia is considered safe to drink.
-
Water2
Bottled water for one day
$2.54
CA$3.50
British Columbia On a Budget
The westernmost province in Canada, British Columbia, is four times the size of Great Britain with less than one tenth of the population. This is due to the vast mountain ranges just ready to be tackled including the Rockies, Selkirks and the Coastal Range. With vibrant cities and ambitious outdoor activities, British Columbia is ready for any traveler.
Sights
Those who love the comfort of Mother Nature will love the beauty of British Columbia's Yoho National Park. On the western side of the continental divide separating Alberta and British Columbia, Yoho is full of lakes, waterfalls and, in the winter, it is a haven for ice climbing and other snow sports. Expect to see everything from bears to elk to mountain goats, but be sure to keep your distance and travel in groups.
For just as much beauty, with a bit more danger, visit the Glacier National Park. Located in the Interior Wetbelt region of British Columbia, this park experiences a large amount of precipitation in a year – including snow. This area is dangerous wilderness with near constant avalanche danger. Be sure to explore this magnificent region with the help of a guide.
And let's not forget the draw of the young and fun city of Vancouver. The capital of this province is full of historical buildings, art galleries, refined restaurants, spectator sports and so much more. Just imagine anything you can do and see in a major, international city, and you will find it in Vancouver.
Regions
This large province is divided into several regions. Vancouver Island is home to British Columbia's capital city Vancouver, while Lower Mainland includes world-class skiing in Whistler. Beach lovers will want to visit Thompson-Okanagan, and Kootenays provides more nautical fun with lakes, hot springs and rivers. The Canyons and the Cariboo is home to history and ranchlands, while the North and Central Coast is mostly untouched wilderness famous for fishing. Lastly, Northern British Columbia is a large area of mountains, forests and wildernesses with the start of the Fraser River.
Activities
British Columbia is home to some of the top winter sports areas in the world. Skiing, snowboarding, ice climbing, you name it you can do it in British Columbia. Try the skiing at Whistler-Blackcomb, the largest ski resort in North America. There's also Kimberley, Fernie, Nelson, Kelowna and Rossland.
For a challenging and scenic hike, follow the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail through the Commonwealth Nature Legacy Park. With over 3700 acres including a continuous hiking trail along 47 kilometers of coastline, this eerily beautiful trail is known as the "Graveyard of the Pacific," given the amount of shipwrecks that happened here.
And if that's just not enough for you, visit one of the most famous sites in the entire rock climbing world – the Stawamus Chief of Squamish. This towering, granite has over 600 established routes in the area. Most of them are traditional, but some are known as sport routes including scaling the giant boulders at the base of the Stawamus Chief.
Food and Dining
Given the vast area of British Columbia, you're likely to find different dishes in different areas. Given the amount of tourists the larger cities entertain every year, it's unlikely you'll go hungry.
One of the distinguishing characteristics of the Pacific Northwest is freshness. Chefs meet fishing boats every morning to select the day's catch. In western Canada, chefs are very particular about letting their customers know where their food is from – which farm, which orchard, what bay, etc. Don't miss out on any locally sourced food in British Columbia – especially the seafood!
Transportation
The most convenient way to get around British Columbia is by air, but it's certainly not the most economical. Getting from the travel hub of Vancouver to anywhere within the province can be as expensive as getting to Europe.
Many of the places you'll want to visit are not accessible by public transportation. Some bus service is available within the cities, but it seems the most popular option is renting your own car. In this region, be sure to use your headlights both day and night. Also, provincial law requires that you prepay for your gas, and many don't accept cash.
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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.