Which place is cheaper, Nova Scotia 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 Nova Scotia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Alberta or Nova Scotia? 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 Nova Scotia?
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.
Nova Scotia
As one of the original four provinces of Canada, Nova Scotia became part of Canada in 1867. With a population of over 900,000 people, 44% of them live in the capital city of Nova Scotia. This region is truly diverse with people of countless ethnic backgrounds calling Nova Scotia home, but the biggest influences come from the early Scottish settlers. It's undoubtedly there even if it's been mixed with the native Mi'kmaq culture and those of other immigrant groups.
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 PricesNova Scotia Prices
Canada Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAlberta $129Nova Scotia $8,736
The average daily cost (per person) in Alberta is $129, while the average daily cost in Nova Scotia is $8,736. 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 Nova Scotia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAlberta $65Nova Scotia $3,426
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAlberta $130Nova Scotia $
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6.00
Compare Hotels in Alberta and Nova Scotia
Looking for a hotel in Alberta or Nova Scotia? 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 $19Nova Scotia $1,788
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alberta
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Alberta:
- Arrival Transfer: Calgary Airport YYC to Calgary by Business Car: $116
- Banff Resorts to Calgary Airport (YYC) Departure Private Transfer: $211
- Banff to Calgary Exclusive Private Transfer: $241
- Banff/Canmore to Calgary YYC Airport Private Transfer: $248
- Calgary Airport (YYC) to Banff Resorts - Arrival Private Transfer: $211
- Calgary Airport (YYC) to Calgary hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer: $99
- Calgary Airport (YYC) to Lake Louise - Arrival Private Transfer: $203
- Calgary Airport Transfer | Luxury Sedan or SUV: $109
- Calgary Hotels or YYC Airport to Drumheller Best Private Transfer: $109
- Calgary YYC Airport: Hassle-free Private Transfer to Lake Louise: $179
- Calgary hotel or address to Calgary Airport (YYC) - Departure Private Transfer: $99
- Calgary to Lake Louise private group transfer: $288
Is it cheaper to fly into Alberta or Nova Scotia?
Prices for flights to both Nova Scotia 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 $46Nova Scotia $3,641
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Alberta
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Alberta.
- Banff's Sips & Sweets Evening Food Tour: $84
- Taste of Banff Food Tour: $106
- Explore Canmore Food Tour and More: $109
- The Banff Food Tour and So Much More: $109
- Half-Day Jasper Culture Food Tour: $118
- Iconic Eats of Calgary Food Tour: $129
- Edmonton's #1 Food Bike Tour: The Best Local Food Tour on E-Bikes: $145
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Alberta $13Nova Scotia $2,030
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
- Town of Banff Highlights 2 Hour Walking Tour Gratuity-Based: $5.00
- Edmonton Self Guided Audio Experience: $6.00
- Calgary's Beltline District: a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $6.56
- The Sights of Canmore: a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $8.02
- Tunnel Mountain Trail: a Smartphone Audio Nature Tour: $8.02
- Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between Banff and Calgary: $8.02
- The Sights of Banff: a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $8.02
- Banff Basin and Town Self-Guided Walking Tour (No Ticket): $9.99
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Edmonton by Crazy Dash: $10
- Buffalo Nations Museum in Banff - Admission Ticket: $11
- David Garneau Dark Chapters Reading the Ruins Exhibition Ticket: $13
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAlberta $11Nova Scotia $714
Sample the Local Flavors in Alberta
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Alberta:
- Park Distillery Tour with Craft Spirits Tasting: $11
- Park Distillery Tour with Whisky Tasting: $18
- Craft Your Own Gin at Burwood Distillery: $91
- Calgary Brewery Tour: $95
- Edmonton Brewery Tour (10 person minimum group): $102
- Calgary to Banff Brewery Tour and Lunch: $145
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Alberta and Nova Scotia, we can see that Nova Scotia 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 Nova Scotia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nova Scotia 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 Nova Scotia Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, Alberta or Nova Scotia?
Alberta has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Nova Scotia. When comparing the sizes of Alberta and Nova Scotia, 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.