Which place is cheaper, Ontario 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 Ontario?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Alberta or Ontario? 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 Ontario?
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.
Ontario
Chances are when you think of Canada, the things that come to mind are all located in the province of Ontario. Ontario has the highest population of any province in the country, and is the heart of Canadian tourism. As the home of Toronto, Niagara Falls and Lake Superior, this area is a major tourist destination.
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 PricesOntario Prices
Canada Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAlberta $132Ontario $14,070
The average daily cost (per person) in Alberta is $132, while the average daily cost in Ontario is $14,070. 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 Ontario in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAlberta $66Ontario $7,648
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAlberta $132Ontario $
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Compare Hotels in Alberta and Ontario
Looking for a hotel in Alberta or Ontario? 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 $19Ontario $2,187
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alberta
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Alberta:
- Black Car Airport Transfers in Bow Valley: $295
- Calgary to Banff, Canmore, Lake Louise, Luxury YYC Transfer: $294
- Calgary to Banff Exclusive Private Transfer: $258
- Private Transfer from Calgary to Banff: $257
- Private transfer from Banff and surrounding area: $257
- Banff/Canmore to Calgary YYC Airport Private Transfer: $251
- Edmonton Airport (YEG) to Edmonton - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $239
- Banff to Calgary Exclusive Private Transfer: $224
- Banff Resorts to Calgary Airport (YYC) Departure Private Transfer: $214
- Calgary Airport (YYC) to Sunshine Village - Arrival Transfer: $211
- Calgary Airport (YYC) to Calgary hotel or address - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $199
- Calgary YYC Airport: Hassle-free Private Transfer to Lake Louise: $179
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ontario
Also for Ontario, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer Toronto to Niagara region: $294
- Arrival Private Transfer: Toronto Airport YYZ to Niagara Falls in Luxury SUV: $202
- Arrival Transfer: Pearson Airport YYZ to Toronto by Luxury SUV: $177
- Low Cost :- Private Transfer Toronto Downtown to Niagara Falls Ont: $261
- Low Cost:-Private Transfer: Niagara Falls Canada to Toronto Pearson Airport: $211
- One-Way Private Airport Transfer from Toronto to Pearson Airport: $66
- Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier Airport (YOW) to Ottawa - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $121
- Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier Airport (YOW) to Ottawa City - Arrival Private Transfer: $61
- Ottawa Parc Omega Private Tour with Hotel Transfer: $250
- Private Airport Transfer Pearson Airport to or from Toronto: $66
- Private Arrival Transfer from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Airport YOW: $40
- Private Arrival Transfer. Pearson Airport to Kitchener/Waterloo: $214
Is it cheaper to fly into Alberta or Ontario?
Prices for flights to both Ontario 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 $47Ontario $4,512
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): $85
- Banff's Sips & Sweets Evening Food Tour: $85
- Banff's Canadian Rocky Mountain Food Tour: $107
- Explore Canmore Food Tour and More: $111
- 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: $147
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ontario
For Ontario, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Fun Sushi Making Cooking Class at a Trendy Venue in Toronto: $55
- Toronto Premier Dinner Cruise on Odyssey in Toronto Harbour: $61
- Kingston: Downtown Food Tour with 6 Tastings & Secret Dish: $64
- Toronto Express Canadian Food Tour: 90 Min with Our Founder: $64
- Toronto Sweet Treats Food Tour: Donuts, Churros, Pastries, & More: $65
- Downtown London Walking Food Tour: $66
- Great Canadian Food Tour- St. Lawrence Market + The Distillery: $72
- Taste Canada: Non-Touristy St Lawrence Market Food Tour: $73
- Toronto: Niagara Falls Night Tour, Boat, Journey, Dinner & Tower: $73
- Toronto: Authentic Food Tour with Local & International Flavors: $76
- Oh Canada Eh!? Ottawa Dinner Musical with Live Music and Comedy: $77
- Kensington Market International Food Tour: $91
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Alberta $13Ontario $1,521
Tours and Activities in Alberta
Here are a few actual costs in Alberta for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Day Tour Drumheller Royal Tyrrell Museum from Calgary: $114
- 1 Day Tour in Banff Lake Louise and Moraine Lake: $111
- 1-Hour Edmonton River Valley Segway Tour: $44
- 12 Iconic Stops: Banff & Yoho Premium Small Group Guided Tour: $154
- 2 Hour Banff Horseback Riding Adventure: $161
- 3 Day Banff Moraine Lake Louise Johnston Columbia Icefield Tour: $220
- 4 hour Moraine Lake Tour from Banff and Canmore: $70
- 5 Lakes Tour Louise and Moraine Emerald Peyto Takakkaw Falls: $114
- A Spectacular Audio Tour : Calgary Adventure: $15
- Abraham Lake Ice Bubble Hunt Full Day Tour: $80
- Alberta's Rocky Mountain Sunset, Stargazing & Forest Experience: $164
- BANFF: Moraine Lake & Lake Louise | 6 HOURS SIGHTSEEING: $49
Tours and Activities in Ontario
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ontario.
- Discover Toronto: A Self-Guided Tour: $3.55
- City’s Oldest Landmarks History Walking Tour of Toronto: $4.42
- Toronto Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $4.42
- Ottawa Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $4.62
- Ottawa City Highlights 3 Hour Walking Tour | Gratuity-Based: $5.00
- Toronto Iconic Core and Landmarks Walking Tour: $5.00
- Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between Collingwood and Toronto: $6.63
- Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between Bracebridge & Toronto: $6.63
- Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between Huntsville & Toronto: $6.68
- Toronto Audio Guided Walking Tour 3h and 23 audio commentary: $7.00
- Ottawa Walking Tour 2h20 and 25 audio commentary: $7.00
- Ottawa Downtown Historic Smartphone Guided Walking Tour: $7.75
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAlberta $11Ontario $863
Sample the Local Flavors in Alberta
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Alberta:
- Park Distillery Tour with Whisky Tasting: $18
- Calgary Brewery Tour: $96
- Edmonton Brewery Tour (10 person minimum group): $103
- Calgary to Banff Brewery Tour and Lunch: $147
- Cask Blending Class at Burwood Distillery: $147
Sample the Local Flavors in Ontario
Also in Ontario, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Toronto Distillery District: Whisky Exploration Game and Tour: $8.30
- Epic Ottawa Bar Crawl: By Let’s Roam: $12
- Astounding Bar Crawl: Take On Toronto: $15
- Between The Lines Classic Wine Tasting: $18
- Summer Sips - Private Outdoor Wine Tasting Experience: $22
- Between the Lines Black Glass Wine Tasting in Niagara-on-the-Lake: $23
- Guided Tasting Activity at Sake Brewery: $29
- Distillery District Breakfast Tour: $54
- Private Corktown and Distillery District Tour: $59
- Niagara Wine Tour and Tastings with Transportation: $74
- Toronto Craft Brewery Tour: $92
- Relaxing Wine Tour through Niagara's Wine Country: $95
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Alberta and Ontario, we can see that Ontario 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 Ontario would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ontario 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 Ontario Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, Alberta or Ontario?
Ontario has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Alberta. When comparing the sizes of Alberta and Ontario, 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.