Which place is cheaper, British Columbia or Alberta?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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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 G Adventures Tours to Canada, The Best 3-Day Tours from Vancouver, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Vancouver, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Toronto.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAlberta $0.00British Columbia $0.00
The average daily cost (per person) in Alberta is $0.00, while the average daily cost in British Columbia is $0.00. 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
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAlberta -British Columbia -
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAlberta $0.00British Columbia $0.00
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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Alberta -British Columbia -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alberta
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Alberta:
- Alberta Transfer: Banff, Jasper, Lake Louise, Calgary: $68
- Arrival Private Transfer: Calgary Airport YYC to Calgary in Luxury SUV: $133
- Banff Thermal Resorts to Calgary Airport (YYC) Departure Transfer: $144
- Banff: Private 1-Way Airport Transfer from Calgary Airport: $367
- Calgary Airport (YYC) to Calgary hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer: $119
- Calgary Airport (YYC) to Calgary hotel or address - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $238
- Calgary Airport (YYC) to Jasper Thermal Resorts Arrival Transfer: $176
- Calgary Airport (YYC) to Lake Louise - Arrival Private Transfer: $119
- Calgary Airport to Fairmont/Radium Hot Springs Arrival Transfer: $153
- Calgary Airport to Sunshine Village Private Round-Trip Transfer: $125
- Calgary Int Airport (YYC) to Fernie - Arrival Private Transfer: $79
- Calgary International Airport (YYC) to Field - Roundtrip Transfer: $260
Hired Cars and Shuttles in British Columbia
Some specific examples of transportation prices in British Columbia:
- Airport Transfer: $159
- Arrival Private Transfer: Vancouver Airport YVR to Vancouver in Luxury Car: $169
- Calgary Airport Transfer to/from Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise: $44
- Canada Cruise Port to Vancouver Airport (YVR) - Private Transfer: $96
- Canada Place Cruise Port to Vancouver Arrival Private Transfer: $57
- Canada Place Cruise Port to Vancouver hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $193
- Cypress/Grouse Mountain to Vancouver Airport - Departure Transfer: $40
- Departure Private Transfer Vancouver to YVR Airport or Cruise Port- Business Car: $87
- Field to Calgary Intl Airport (YYC) - Departure Private Transfer: $130
- From Powell River: Scenic Seaplane transfer to Vancouver : $166
- From Richmond (YVRSouth): Scenic Seaplane Transfer to Salt Spring: $118
- From Tofino: Scenic Seaplane transfer to Vancouver : $260
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
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Food Meals for one dayAlberta -British Columbia -
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Alberta
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Alberta.
- Take a Bite of Banff ~ Rocky Mountain Banff Food Tour: $95
- Half-Day Jasper Culture Food Tour: $108
- Peak Nic - A hike and an outdoor cooking lesson: $121
- 4-Hours E-Bike Food Tour : $204
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in British Columbia
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in British Columbia.
- Vancouver Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $65
- Hip & Hidden Chinatown + Old Town Food Tour Victoria: $68
- Kelowna: #1 Rated Walking Food Tour with 7 Tastings and Drinks: $75
- A Wok Around Food Tour of the Granville Island Public Market: $85
- Private Historical Food Tour of Gastown : $102
- Gastown Historic Walking Food Tour: $102
- Vancouver Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $102
- Granville Island Vancouver's Elite Walking Food Tour: $117
- Private Experience Gastown Vancouver's Elite Walking Food Tour: $125
- Vancouver Evening Dinner Cruise: $136
- Vancouver Authentic Chinese Food Tour: $136
- VIP Granville Island Market Vancouver - Walking Food Tour: $141
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Alberta -British Columbia -
Tours and Activities in Alberta
Here are a few actual costs in Alberta for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Downtown Calgary a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $6.05
- Calgary's Beltline District: a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $6.05
- Explore the Stampede City with Walking Tours in Calgary: $6.80
- Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between Banff and Calgary: $7.56
- Banff Cave & Hot Springs Self-Guided Walking Tour (Not a Ticket): $9.99
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Edmonton by Crazy Dash: $11
- Listen to a Tour Guide as You Drive & Walk with our Discover the Rockies Package: $15
- Banff National Park Self-Guided Driving Tour: $17
- Icefields Parkway Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $17
- Calgary Flames Ice Hockey Game Ticket at Scotiabank Saddledome: $23
- Live Theater Show Ticket 'From Jasper with love': $25
- Edmonton Oilers Ice Hockey Game Ticket at Rogers Place: $26
Tours and Activities in British Columbia
Here are a few actual costs in British Columbia for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Victoria Tips-Based Walking Tour | 2.5-Hour: $4.00
- Vancouver Tips-Based Walking Tour | 3-Hour: $4.00
- Discover Stanley Park with a Smartphone Audio Tour: $6.05
- Bloedel Conservatory Admission Ticket: $6.60
- Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between Kamloops & Revelstoke: $6.80
- Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between Kamloops and Vancouver: $6.80
- Exploring The Multicultural History of Victoria in a Walking Tour: $6.81
- Victoria Scavenger Hunt and City Highlights Walking Tour: $7.23
- VanDusen Botanical Garden Admission Ticket: $7.79
- Vancouver Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Vancouver by Crazy Dash: $11
- Vancouver Maritime Museum Admission Ticket: $14
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAlberta -British Columbia -
Sample the Local Flavors in Alberta
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Alberta:
- Calgary Bar Crawl: Cruisin' Calgary: $12
- Edmonton Brewery Tour: $106
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:
- Victoria's Distillery & Brewery Tasting Experience: $21
- Gastown Pub Crawl: $26
- Pickle Pub Crawl in Victoria's Inner Harbour: $49
- Vancouver Craft Brewery Tour: $91
- Kelowna Brewery Tour: $98
- Lake Country Scenic Wine Tour With Wine Tasting Experience: $106
- 4-Hour Okanagan Valley Wine Tasting. Wineries of East Kelowna Bench.: $110
- Kelowna Wine Tour on an E-Bike with Lunch: $113
- Kelowna or West Kelowna Afternoon Sightseeing Wine Tour: $120
- West Kelowna Half-Day Guided Wine Tour With 4 Wineries : $120
- Sunset Sip Wine Tour : $120
- East Kelowna Half-Day Guided Wine Tour With 4 Wineries: $120
When comparing the travel costs between Alberta and British Columbia, we can see that Alberta is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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.