Which place is cheaper, British Columbia or Alaska?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Alaska or British Columbia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Alaska or British Columbia? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Alaska or British Columbia?
Alaska
Alaska joined the United States of America as the 49th state. The US purchased the area from the Russian Empire in 1867 for just 7.2 million dollars (about two cents an acre). It became an organized territory in 1912 and a state in 1959. It is separated from the rest of the country by Canada and, although it is the largest state, it is the least densely populated and for many years had the lowest population. It covers an area equal to California, Texas and Montana combined and lies on the Arctic Circle. Many people consider Alaska to be the United State's "final frontier" because of its vast wilderness. It is also where you will find the highest point in North America.
British Columbia
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America, The Best Historical Tours in United States of America, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Canada, and The Best Adventure Tours to Canada.
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Alaska Prices
USA PricesBritish Columbia Prices
Canada Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAlaska $280British Columbia $173,509
The average daily cost (per person) in Alaska is $280, while the average daily cost in British Columbia is $173,509. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Alaska and British Columbia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAlaska $135British Columbia $93,574
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAlaska $270British Columbia $
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Compare Hotels in Alaska and British Columbia
Looking for a hotel in Alaska or British Columbia? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Alaska $51British Columbia $12,929
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alaska
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Alaska:
- Anchorage to Seward Direct Transfer Tour: $79
- Anchorage to Seward Shared Bus Transfer Service: $75
- Anchorage to Whittier Cruise Transfer with Wildlife: $120
- Anchorage to Whittier Direct Transfer Tour: $80
- Anchorage to Whittier Shared Bus Transfer Service: $69
- Portage Glacier Express with Van Transfer from Anchorage: $123
- Private Transfer Alaska Anchorage Airport ANC to Anchorage City: $180
- Private Transfer, Anchorage to Seward Cruise Ship Terminal: $299
- Private Transfer, Seward Cruise ship to Anchorage: $299
- Seward Cruise Transfer with Wildlife & Scenic Tour to Anchorage: $249
- Seward to Anchorage Cruise Transfer & Wildlife Tour: $227
- Seward to Anchorage Direct Transfer Tour: $85
Hired Cars and Shuttles in British Columbia
Some specific examples of transportation prices in British Columbia:
- Vancouver Airport Transfer to Vancouver/Whistler (Special Offer): $27
- Vancouver Bus Transfer from or to Whistler: $30
- Private Departure Transfer to Vancouver Airport (YVR): $32
- Transfers Vancouver Airport and Cruise port to or from Hotels: $40
- Private Transfer to Vancouver Airport (YVR): $41
- Vancouver Airport YVR Private Transfer to Downtown: $43
- Private Transfer from Vancouver Hotels to Vancouver Airport (YVR): $45
- Private Transfer from Vancouver Airport (YVR) to Vancouver hotels: $45
- Calgary Airport Transfer to/from Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise: $56
- Vancouver hotel/address to Vancouver Airport (YVR) - Departure Private Transfer: $59
- Victoria to Vancouver - Coach Bus Transfer: $66
- Vancouver to Canada Place Cruise Port Departure Private Transfer: $84
Is it cheaper to fly into Alaska or British Columbia?
Prices for flights to both British Columbia and Alaska change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayAlaska $94British Columbia $62,931
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Alaska
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Alaska.
- Alaska Cabin Nite Dinner Theatre Experience: $95
- Aurora Viewing and Dinner: $120
- Anchorage Sightseeing and Food Tour - Available All Year Long!: $195
- Northern Lights Experience and Cabin Dinner: $200
- Kenai Fjords National Park Glacier Dinner Cruise from Seward: $228
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in British Columbia
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in British Columbia.
- Kelowna Top 5 Food Tour with Drinks: $87
- Kelowna: #1 Rated Walking Food Tour with 7 Tastings and 4 Drinks: $87
- Hip & Hidden Chinatown + Old Town Food Tour Victoria: $94
- Eat Like a Canadian Food Tour | Victoria Sightseeing: $95
- Vancouver Chinatown Elite Food Tour Hidden Gems & Local Tastings: $98
- Vancouver Gastown's Elite Walking Food Tour Experience: $101
- Vancouver Foodie Tour: Granville Island Market Food Tour: $107
- Gastown Historic Walking Food Tour: $121
- Indulge in a Wine & Food Tour - Cowichan Valley: $123
- Private Granville Island Vancouver's Elite Walking Food Tour: $134
- Vancouver Evening Dinner Cruise: $136
- Vancouver Private Food Tour: Taste 6+ Local Dishes & Fresh Sushi: $136
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Alaska $65British Columbia $11,079
Tours and Activities in Alaska
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Alaska are as follows:
- Anchorage Self-Guided Tour: Discover Glaciers & Alaska's Frontier: $1.15
- Anchorage to Denali Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $16
- Self Guided Driving Audio Tour: Anchorage to Seward: $17
- Downtown Juneau Explorer Self-Guided Audio Tour Bundle: $20
- Anchorage–Homer Sterling Highway Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $20
- Self Guided Driving Audio Tour Anchorage to Homer: $20
- Anchorage Trolley's 1-Hour City Tour: $25
- Kennecott Mill Town Tour: $36
- Alaska Road Trip: Anchorage, Seward, Homer & Denali Audio Tour: $40
- Self Guided Driving Audio Tour Alaska Bundle: $40
- Siberian Husky Kennel Tour in Fairbanks Alaska: $49
- Guided Walking Tour of Sitka | HISTORIC DOWNTOWN: $49
Tours and Activities in British Columbia
Here are a few actual costs in British Columbia for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Discover Vancouver: A Self-Guided Tour: $1.14
- Vancouver Walking Tour: Self-Guided City Game: $3.71
- Victoria Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $4.37
- Cycling the Seawall: A Self-Guided Audio Tour Along the Stanley Park Seawall: $5.00
- Vancouver Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $5.10
- Stanley Park Self Guided Bike Tour: $6.55
- Walking Tour Along Stanley Park's Seawall: $6.55
- Stanley Park Self Guided Walking Tour: $6.55
- Discover Stanley Park: A Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $6.55
- Vancouver Audio Guided Walking Tour 2h15 and 20 reviews: $6.99
- Victoria Free Historic Walking Night Tour-Gratuity Based: $7.00
- Vancouver to Whistler Private Self Guided Audio Tour: $7.27
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAlaska $20British Columbia $4,233
Sample the Local Flavors in Alaska
Also in Alaska, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Distillery Tour in the Heart of Anchorage: $25
- Denali Husky Sled Dog Experience & Local Brewery Visit: $130
- Distillery Tour and Signature Bottle Infusion Experience: $149
- Craft Brews & Epic Views: Juneau's Brewery & Sightseeing Tour: $159
- Wilderness and Wine Tasting out of Anchorage: $239
Sample the Local Flavors in British Columbia
Also in British Columbia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Amazing Bar Crawl in Vancouver BC: $15
- Gastown Pub Crawl: $25
- Guided BC Wine Tasting at Vancouver Park: $36
- Pickle Pub Crawl in Victoria's Inner Harbour: $52
- Vancouver Craft Brewery Neighbourhood Walking Tour: $65
- Whistler Distillery Tour & Tasting Experience: $81
- Vancouver Craft Brewery Tour: $87
- Victoria Craft Brewery Tour: $87
- Vancouver Craft Brewery Tour Led by a Local: $106
- 4-Hour Okanagan Valley Wine Tasting. Wineries of East Kelowna Bench.: $106
- Signature Lake Country Wine Tour: $109
- Signature West Kelowna Wine Tour: $109
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Alaska and British Columbia, we can see that British Columbia is more expensive. And not only is Alaska much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Alaska would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Alaska and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in British Columbia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in British Columbia than you might in Alaska.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Alaska Expensive? and Is British Columbia Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, Alaska or British Columbia?
British Columbia has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Alaska. When comparing the sizes of Alaska and British Columbia, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
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.