Which place is cheaper, British Columbia or Alberta?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Alberta or British Columbia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Alberta 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: Alberta or British Columbia?
Alberta
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.
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 3-Day Tours from Vancouver, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Vancouver, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Toronto, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Vancouver.
-
Alberta Prices
Canada PricesBritish Columbia Prices
Canada Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAlberta $20,492British Columbia $155
The average daily cost (per person) in Alberta is $20,492, while the average daily cost in British Columbia is $155. 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 Alberta and British Columbia in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAlberta $8,899British Columbia $77
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAlberta $
Warning: A non-numeric value encountered in /homepages/12/d310477359/htdocs/citycomparison.php on line 2876
16British Columbia $154
Compare Hotels in Alberta and British Columbia
Looking for a hotel in Alberta 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
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Alberta $2,472British Columbia $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alberta
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Alberta:
- Alberta Transfer: Banff, Jasper, Lake Louise, Calgary: $74
- Arrival Transfer: Calgary Airport YYC to Calgary by Business Car: $113
- Banff Canmore to Calgary Airport YYC Private Transfer: $237
- Banff to Calgary Exclusive Private Transfer: $237
- Banff to Calgary or YYC Airport | Private Transfer: $132
- Calgary Airport (YYC) to Calgary hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer: $96
- Calgary Airport (YYC) to Calgary hotel or address - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $192
- Calgary Airport (YYC) to Lake Louise - Arrival Private Transfer: $198
- Calgary Airport (YYC) to Sunshine Village - Arrival Transfer: $204
- Calgary Airport Transfer | Luxury Sedan or SUV: $108
- Calgary Best Private Transfer Between Local Airport and Hotels: $53
- Calgary Downtown Hotels to YYC Airport Private Transfer: $71
Hired Cars and Shuttles in British Columbia
Some specific examples of transportation prices in British Columbia:
- Calgary Airport Transfer to/from Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise: $56
- Canada Place Cruise Port to Vancouver Arrival Private Transfer: $82
- Canada Place Cruise Port to Vancouver hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $231
- Departure Private Transfer Vancouver to Vancouver YVR or Cruise Port by Minibus: $149
- Departure Private Transfer from Vancouver to Vancouver YVR or Cruise Port by SUV: $102
- Departure Private Transfer: Vancouver to Vancouver Airport YVR in Luxury SUV: $140
- Field to Calgary Airport (YYC) - Departure Private Transfer: $292
- Group Transfer to/from Vancouver International Airport (YVR): $32
- Mount Washington to Nanaimo Airport (YCD) - Departure Transfer: $203
- Private Airport Transfer from Vancouver Airport to Downtown Hotel: $115
- Private Airport Transfer from Vancouver Airport to Downtown Hotel: $179
- Private Arrival Transfer from Vancouver Airport (YVR): $32
Is it cheaper to fly into Alberta or British Columbia?
Prices for flights to both British Columbia and Alberta 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
-
Food Meals for one dayAlberta $8,321British Columbia $51
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Alberta
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Alberta.
- Refined Indian Cooking Class in Edmonton (Includes 4-Course Meal): $83
- Banff's Best Breakfast Food Tour: $93
- Banff's Canadian Rocky Mountain Food Tour: $104
- Jasper SkyTram and Astronomy Experience with Dinner options: $106
- The Banff Food Tour and So Much More: $108
- Half-Day Jasper Culture Food Tour: $116
- Iconic Eats of Calgary Food Tour: $127
- Edmonton's #1 Food Bike Tour: The Best Local Food Tour on E-Bikes: $143
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in British Columbia
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in British Columbia.
- Victoria: Old Town & Chinatown Local Food Tour with 7 Tastings: $68
- Delicious Donuts & Holiday Cheer: Victoria's Sweetest Food Tour: $70
- Mount Pleasant Neighborhood Food Tour: $82
- Kelowna: #1 Rated Walking Food Tour with 7 Tastings and 4 Drinks: $83
- Vancouver Gastown's Elite Walking Food Tour Experience: $92
- Hip & Hidden Chinatown + Old Town Food Tour Victoria: $93
- Vancouver Chinatown Elite Food Tour Hidden Gems & Local Tastings: $96
- A Wok Around Granville Island Public Market Food Tour: $108
- Vancouver: Gastown Food Tour with 6 Authentic Local Food Tastings: $113
- Vancouver Foodie Tour: Granville Island Market Food Tour: $118
- Gastown Historic Walking Food Tour: $119
- Indulge in a Wine & Food Tour - Cowichan Valley: $121
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Alberta $5,168British Columbia $42
Tours and Activities in Alberta
Here are a few actual costs in Alberta for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Edmonton City Highlights 3 Hour Walking Tour Gratuity-Based: $5.00
- Calgary Self Guided Audio Experience: $6.00
- Edmonton Self Guided Audio Experience: $6.00
- Calgary Bow River Trail Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $6.45
- Sights of Canmore Self-Guided Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $7.88
- Sights of Banff: Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $7.89
- Tunnel Mountain Trail: a Smartphone Audio Nature Tour: $7.89
- Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between Banff and Calgary: $7.89
- Banff Basin and Town Self-Guided Walking Tour (No Ticket): $9.99
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Edmonton by Crazy Dash: $10
- Calgary Self Guided Walking Tour and Scavenger Hunt: $10
- Buffalo Nations Museum in Banff - Admission Ticket: $11
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: $1.12
- Victoria City Highlights 3 Hour Walking Tour Grauity-Based: $5.00
- Fort Langley Film & Television Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $5.73
- Spy Escape in Vancouver: Outdoor Puzzle Adventure: $6.17
- Stanley Park Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $6.45
- Bloedel Conservatory Admission Ticket: $7.16
- Vancouver to Whistler Private Self Guided Audio Tour: $7.17
- Kamloops–Revelstoke Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour: $7.88
- Vancouver–Kamloops Self-Guided Coquihalla Audio Driving Tour: $7.89
- Guided Tour of Britannia Shipyards NHS in Steveston: $9.04
- Victoria’s Historic Heights: An Audio Tour Through Beacon Hill: $9.99
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in North Vancouver by Wacky Walks: $10
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayAlberta $2,039British Columbia $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Alberta
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Alberta:
- An Epic Bar Crawl: Cruisin' Calgary: $12
- Edmonton Brewery Tour (10 person minimum group): $101
- Calgary to Banff Brewery Tour and Lunch: $143
- Cask Blending Class at Burwood Distillery: $144
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
- Pickle Pub Crawl: Victoria Harbour Ferry Pub Crawl: $47
- Whistler Distillery Tour & Tasting Experience: $80
- Vancouver Craft Brewery Tour: $86
- North Vancouver Elite Walking Brewery Tour: $93
- Signature Lake Country Wine Tour: $100
- Vancouver Craft Brewery Tour Led by a Local: $104
- 4-Hour Okanagan Valley Wine Tasting. Wineries of East Kelowna Bench.: $105
- Naramata Half Day Wine Tour (Incl. Tasting Fees & Guide Grat!): $114
- Sunset Sip Wine Tour: $114
- West Kelowna Half-Day Guided Wine Tour With 4 Wineries: $114
- East Kelowna Half-Day Guided Wine Tour With 4 Wineries: $114
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Alberta and British Columbia, we can see that Alberta is more expensive. And not only is British Columbia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to British Columbia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in British Columbia 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 Alberta would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Alberta than you might in British Columbia.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Alberta Expensive? and Is British Columbia Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, Alberta or British Columbia?
British Columbia has a larger population, and is about 26% larger than the population of Alberta. When comparing the sizes of Alberta 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.