Which place is cheaper, Prince Edward Island 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 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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Alberta Prices
Canada PricesPrince Edward Island Prices
Canada Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAlberta $131Prince Edward Island $170
The average daily cost (per person) in Alberta is $131, while the average daily cost in Prince Edward Island is $170. 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:
- Arrival Transfer: Calgary Airport YYC to Calgary by Business Car: $117
- Banff Canmore to Calgary YYC Airport Transfer: $250
- 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
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 $47Prince Edward Island $59
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Alberta
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Alberta.
- 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: $148
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.
- Solar harbour cruise with live music! (Optional lunch/dinner): $58
- Charlottetown Small Group Harbour Food Tour: $73
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:
- Calgary City Highlights 3 Hour Walking Tour Gratuity-Based: $5.00
- Edmonton 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: $8.08
- 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
- Experience the season with a scavenger hunt in Calgary with Holly Jolly Hunt: $20
Tours and Activities in Prince Edward Island
Here are a few actual costs in Prince Edward Island for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Charlottetown Audio Walking Tour: $9.61
- A 7th-Gen Local's View of Downtown Charlottetown: An Audio Tour: $9.99
- Self Guided Charlottetown Tour with a Sixth-Generation Islander: $9.99
- Murder Mystery Detective Experience in Charlottetown PE: $11
- Self Guided Audio Driving Tour of the North Shore of PEI: $13
- Charlottetown Walking Tour: $21
- Historic Walking Tour of Charlottetown: $21
- "Time Walk" Virtual Reality Walking Tours in Charlottetown, PEI: $40
- Charlottetown Foodie Tasting and VR Experience: $49
- Harbour Hopper Tours: Charlottetown, PEI: $58
- Charlottetown waterfront SOLAR PartyBike food & drink experience!: $58
- Charlottetown Small Group Tour With Province House: $66
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:
- An Epic Bar Crawl: Cruisin' Calgary: $12
- Edmonton Brewery Tour (10 person minimum group): $103
- Calgary to Banff Brewery Tour and Lunch: $146
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.