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.
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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 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.
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Alberta Prices
Canada PricesBritish Columbia Prices
Canada Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAlberta $131British Columbia $160
The average daily cost (per person) in Alberta is $131, while the average daily cost in British Columbia is $160. 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 $66British Columbia $80
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAlberta $132British Columbia $160
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 $19British Columbia $22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alberta
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Alberta:
- Arrival Transfer: Calgary Airport YYC to Calgary by Business Car: $117
- Banff Canmore to Calgary Airport YYC Private Transfer: $242
- Banff to Calgary Exclusive Private Transfer: $243
- Black Car Airport Transfers in Bow Valley: $294
- Calgary Airport (YYC) to Banff Resorts - Arrival Private Transfer: $213
- Calgary Airport (YYC) to Lake Louise - Arrival Private Transfer: $205
- Calgary Airport Transfer | Luxury Sedan or SUV: $110
- Calgary YYC Airport: Hassle-free Private Transfer to Lake Louise: $179
- Calgary hotel or address to Calgary Airport (YYC) - Departure Private Transfer: $99
- Calgary or YYC Airport to Banff | Private Transfer: $135
- Calgary to Banff, Canmore, Lake Louise, Luxury YYC Transfer: $293
- Calgary to Lake Louise private group transfer: $290
Hired Cars and Shuttles in British Columbia
Some specific examples of transportation prices in British Columbia:
- A Private Transfer from Vancouver Pier Cruise Ship to YVR Airport: $188
- Arrival Private Transfer Vancouver YVR or Cruise Port to Vancouver by Minibus: $171
- Arrival Private Transfer from Vancouver YVR or Port to Vancouver by Business Car: $108
- Arrival Private Transfer: Vancouver Airport YVR to Vancouver in Luxury Car: $195
- Arrival Transfer: Vancouver Airport YVR - Vancouver by Luxury SUV: $144
- Calgary Airport Transfer to/from Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise: $43
- Canada Place Cruise Port to Vancouver Arrival Private Transfer: $85
- Canada Place Cruise Port to Vancouver hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $239
- Cypress/Grouse Mountain to Vancouver Airport (YVR) - Transfer: $116
- 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
- Mount Washington to Vancouver Airport (YVR) - Departure Transfer: $269
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 $47British Columbia $53
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Alberta
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Alberta.
- Bites and Sites of Canmore Walking Food Tour: $73
- Taste of Banff Food Tour: $107
- Banff's Winter Wonderland Food Tour: $107
- The Banff Food Tour and So Much More: $110
- Half-Day Jasper Culture Food Tour: $119
- Iconic Eats of Calgary Food Tour: $130
- Edmonton's #1 Food Bike Tour: The Best Local Food Tour on E-Bikes: $146
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in British Columbia
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in British Columbia.
- Fun Sushi Making Cooking Class With a Local Chef in Vancouver: $63
- Kelowna: #1 Rated Walking Food Tour with 7 Tastings and 4 Drinks: $88
- Hip & Hidden Chinatown + Old Town Food Tour Victoria: $95
- Vancouver Gastown's Elite Walking Food Tour Experience: $106
- A Wok Around Granville Island Public Market Food Tour: $110
- Vancouver Foodie Tour: Granville Island Market Food Tour: $121
- Gastown Historic Walking Food Tour: $122
- Indulge in a Wine & Food Tour - Cowichan Valley: $124
- Vancouver Chinatown Tour and Dumpling-Making Cooking Class: $135
- Private Granville Island Vancouver's Elite Walking Food Tour: $135
- Vancouver Foodie Tour: Downtown Vancouver Asian Food Tour: $153
- Vancouver Evening Dinner Cruise: $161
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Alberta $13British Columbia $43
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 City Highlights 3 Hour Walking Tour Gratuity-Based: $5.00
- Edmonton Self Guided Audio Experience: $6.00
- Bow River Trail Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $6.61
- The Sights of Canmore: a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $8.06
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Edmonton by Crazy Dash: $10
- Jasper National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $15
- A Spectacular Audio Tour : Calgary Adventure: $15
- Rockies Trio: 3 Self Guided Smartphone Audio Tours Bundle: $17
- Icefields Parkway Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $17
- Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Jasper National Park: $17
- Lake Louise and Yoho National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $17
Tours and Activities in British Columbia
Here are a few actual costs in British Columbia for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Victoria City Highlights 3 Hour Walking Tour Grauity-Based: $5.00
- Vancouver Audio Guided Walking Tour 2h15 and 20 reviews: $7.06
- Spy Escape in Vancouver: Outdoor Puzzle Adventure: $7.09
- Vancouver to Whistler Private Self Guided Audio Tour: $7.35
- Victoria Scavenger Hunt and City Highlights Walking Tour: $7.75
- Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between Kamloops & Revelstoke: $8.06
- Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between Kamloops and Vancouver: $8.08
- Sea to Sky Highway: a Smartphone Audio Driving Tour: $8.08
- Guided Tour of Britannia Shipyards NHS in Steveston: $9.27
- Victoria's Chocolate and Churches: A Self-Guided Walking Tour: $9.99
- Victoria’s Historic Heights: An Audio Tour Through Beacon Hill: $9.99
- Where Canada Ends: Audio Tour of Victoria's Wild Southern Shore: $9.99
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAlberta $11British Columbia $12
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): $103
- Calgary to Banff Brewery Tour and Lunch: $146
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: $26
- Guided BC Wine Tasting at Vancouver Park: $37
- Pickle Pub Crawl in Victoria's Inner Harbour: $48
- Vancouver Craft Brewery Neighbourhood Walking Tour: $65
- Whistler Distillery Tour & Tasting Experience: $82
- Victoria Craft Brewery Tour: $88
- 4-Hour Okanagan Valley Wine Tasting. Wineries of East Kelowna Bench.: $107
- Signature West Kelowna Wine Tour: $110
- Signature Lake Country Wine Tour: $110
- Victoria Craft Beer and Distillery Tour: $110
- West Kelowna Half Day Wine Tour- Incl. Tasting Fees & Guide Grat!: $117
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Alberta and British Columbia, we can see that British Columbia is more expensive. And not only is Alberta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Alberta would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Alberta 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 Alberta.
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.