Which place is cheaper, Prince Edward Island or Alberta?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Alberta or Prince Edward Island?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Alberta or Prince Edward Island? 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 Prince Edward Island?
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.
Prince Edward Island
Known as simply "PEI" or "the island," Prince Edward Island is full of spectacularly red sandy beaches and dunes. The high levels of iron in the soil of this Canadian destination give the shores their rusty, prominent color. As the locals so cleverly out it, "there are no white dogs in PEI."
Prince Edward Island is Canada's only island province, and is also the setting to Lucy Montgomery's classic novel Anne of Green Gables.
As an island, this area isn't always easily accessible by car. To drive to Prince Edward Island, you'll have to use the iconic Confederation Bridge that crosses the Northumberland Strait between New Brunswick and PEI. This short, ten-minute drive can be a fun event on its own – complete with scenic viewing stations on the New Brunswick side. There is a hefty toll to pay when returning to the mainland. There are several express shuttles or car ferries available, as well.
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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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAlberta $113Prince Edward Island $147
The average daily cost (per person) in Alberta is $113, while the average daily cost in Prince Edward Island is $147. 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 Prince Edward Island in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAlberta $66Prince Edward Island $84
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAlberta $132Prince Edward Island $168
Compare Hotels in Alberta and Prince Edward Island
Looking for a hotel in Alberta or Prince Edward Island? 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 $19Prince Edward Island $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alberta
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Alberta:
- Alberta Transfer: Banff, Jasper, Lake Louise, Calgary: $64
- Arrival Private Transfer: Calgary Airport YYC to Calgary in Business Car: $108
- Arrival Private Transfer: Calgary Airport YYC to Calgary in Luxury Van: $128
- Banff Thermal Resorts to Calgary Airport (YYC) Departure Transfer: $139
- Calgary Air to Fairmont/Radium Hot Springs Round-Trip Transfer: $295
- Calgary Airport (YYC) to Banff Thermal Round-Trip Transfer: $277
- Calgary Airport (YYC) to Banff | Private Transfer: $185
- Calgary Airport (YYC) to Jasper Thermal Resorts Arrival Transfer: $169
- Calgary Airport (YYC) to Lake Louise - Arrival Private Transfer: $115
- Calgary Airport (YYC) to Lake Louise | Private Transfer: $235
- Calgary Airport to Banff Thermal Resorts Private Arrival Transfer: $139
- Calgary Airport to Kicking Horse Private Round Trip Transfer: $153
Is it cheaper to fly into Alberta or Prince Edward Island?
Prices for flights to both Prince Edward Island 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 $28Prince Edward Island $36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Alberta
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Alberta.
- Take a Bite out of Banff ~ Rocky Mountain Banff Food Tour: $94
- Half-Day Jasper Culture Food Tour: $107
- Peak Nic - A hike and an outdoor cooking lesson: $119
- Banff Food Tour: Eat the Castle: $153
- 4-Hours E-Bike Food Tour : $201
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Prince Edward Island
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Prince Edward Island.
- 2 Hour Dinner Cruise in North America by Solar Boat : $134
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Alberta $13Prince Edward Island $33
Tours and Activities in Alberta
Here are a few actual costs in Alberta for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Discover the Early History of Strathcona with Historic Walking Tour: $4.46
- Bow River Trail: a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.19
- Tunnel Mountain Trail: a Smartphone Audio Nature Tour : $5.19
- Downtown Calgary a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.22
- 3-Hour Tips Based Walking Tour of Calgary: $5.46
- The Sights of Banff: a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $6.31
- Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between Banff and Calgary: $6.31
- The Sights of Canmore: a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $6.31
- Explore the Stampede City with Walking Tours in Calgary: $6.68
- Edmonton Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Banff Cave and Hot Springs Self-Guided Walking Tour: $9.99
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Edmonton by Crazy Dash: $10
Tours and Activities in Prince Edward Island
Here are a few actual costs in Prince Edward Island for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Downtown Charlottetown: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Charlottetown Walking Tour: $19
- Historic Walking Tour of Charlottetown: $22
- Small Group Walking Tour of Charlottetown Prince Edward Island: $48
- 90 Minutes Harbour Tours on North Americas Largest Solar Boat: $52
- Island Drive & Anne of Green Gables Tour: $84
- Charlottetown Food Walking Tour: $100
- Best of P.E.I. Small Group Tour w/Anne Of Green Gables +Cavendish: $119
- City Tour of Historic Charlottetown Prince Edward Island : $295
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAlberta $11Prince Edward Island $14
Sample the Local Flavors in Alberta
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Alberta:
- Calgary Brewery Tour: $90
- Edmonton Brewery Tour: $105
Sample the Local Flavors in Prince Edward Island
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Prince Edward Island:
- Charlottetown Pedal Pub Crawl along the Waterfront on a Solar-Powered Pedal Bus!: $52
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Alberta and Prince Edward Island, we can see that Prince Edward Island 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 Prince Edward Island would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Prince Edward Island 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 Prince Edward Island Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, Alberta or Prince Edward Island?
Alberta has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Prince Edward Island. When comparing the sizes of Alberta and Prince Edward Island, 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.