Should you visit Alberta or Quebec?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Alberta or Quebec? 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 Quebec?
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.
Quebec
The culture and history of Europe is alive and well in North America. The largest province in Canada, Quebec, was a French colony from the time of Jacques Cartier in 1534 until 1760. Today, it is the only province in Canada where French is the official language. With the second largest population in the country, approximately 6.4 million, or 80% of the people speak French as their native language.
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.
Which place is cheaper, Quebec or Alberta?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Alberta is $132, while the average daily cost in Quebec is $36,335. 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 Quebec in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation
Hotel or hostel for one person
Alberta $66
Quebec $17,362
-
Accommodation
Typical double-occupancy room
Alberta
$132
Quebec
$
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34
Looking for a hotel in Alberta or Quebec? 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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alberta
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Alberta:
-
Banff: Private 1-Way Airport Transfer from Calgary Airport:
$363
-
Black Car Airport Transfers in Bow Valley:
$299
-
Private Transfer to Banff from Calgary or Airport:
$261
-
Edmonton Airport (YEG) to Edmonton - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$239
-
Banff Canmore to Calgary YYC Airport Transfer:
$220
-
Banff Resorts to Calgary Airport (YYC) Departure Private Transfer:
$215
-
Calgary Airport (YYC) to Sunshine Village - Arrival Transfer:
$212
-
Calgary Airport (YYC) to Lake Louise - Arrival Private Transfer:
$206
-
Calgary or Calgary Airport to Lake Louise Private Transfer:
$193
-
Calgary to Banff Airport Transfer Reliably to the Rockies:
$185
-
Banff to Calgary or YYC Airport | Private Transfer:
$176
-
Calgary YYC Airport: Hassle-free Private Transfer to Lake Louise:
$164
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quebec
Also for Quebec, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
8 Passengers Transfer from or to Montreal Airport YUL to Montreal City Center :
$224
-
From Quebec City: Grosse Île Tour & Cruise + Bus Transfer:
$106
-
Le Terminal Quebec Cruise Port to Quebec - Arrival Private Transfer:
$74
-
Le Terminal Quebec Cruise Port to Quebec - Round-Trip Private Transfer :
$148
-
Le Terminal Quebec Cruise Port: Private Transfer to Quebec:
$245
-
Le Terminal Quebec Port to Québec Airport (YQB) - Departure Private Transfer:
$104
-
Le Terminal Quebec Port to Quebec city - Arrival Private Transfer:
$178
-
Montreal Best Private Transfer services :
$74
-
Montreal Private Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL in Luxury Van:
$185
-
Montreal hotel or port to Montréal Airport (YUL) - Departure Private Transfer:
$69
-
Private One Way Transfer from Montreal to Montreal Airport:
$64
-
Private Transfer from Jean Lesage Airport (YQB) to Québec City:
$113
Is it cheaper to fly into Alberta or Quebec?
Prices for flights to both Quebec 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
-
Food
Meals for one day
Alberta $47
Quebec $12,331
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Alberta
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Alberta.
-
Pasta Cooking Class at a Local Distillery in Calgary:
$63
-
Sushi Cooking Class at a Local Distillery in Calgary:
$63
-
Sips & Sweets - Canadian Evening Food Tour:
$77
-
Morning Glory ~ Banff's 'Breakfast Bits' Food Tour:
$82
-
Half-Day Jasper Culture Food Tour:
$121
-
Iconic Eats of Calgary Food Tour:
$132
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quebec
For Quebec, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Quebecois Aperitif Food Tour in Quebec City:
$62
-
Jean-Talon Market & Little Italy Walking Secret Food tour:
$78
-
Beyond the Market Non-Touristy Food Tour by Spade & Palacio:
$81
-
Montreal Cooking Class - Learn to make Dim Sums:
$84
-
Montreal Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours:
$85
-
Old Montreal Food & Drink Tour by Local Montreal Food Tours:
$116
-
Québec City: 3 or 5-Course Dinner Cruise with DJ & Dancing:
$127
-
Jewish Neighborhood Food Tour:
$130
-
Montreal Gourmet Dinner Cruise with DJ & Dancing:
$131
-
Cooking Class & Lunch x Michelin-Trained Chef:
$134
-
Progressive Dinner on Grande-Allée and History Tour:
$205
-
Quebec City: Old Quebec 5-Course Gourmet Food Tour:
$205
Entertainment
Tours and Activities in Alberta
Here are a few actual costs in Alberta for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
Banff National Park Big Canoe Tour:
$64
-
Banff and Yoho Lakes with Takakkaw Falls Group Tour:
$149
-
1 Day of Drumheller Badlands in Private Minibus Customizable Tour:
$89
-
1-Hour Edmonton River Valley Segway Tour:
$45
-
2 Day Banff Lake Louise Johnston Canyon Gondola Hot Springs tour:
$141
-
2 Hour Banff Horseback Riding Adventure:
$152
-
25-Minute Helicopter Adventure in Three Sisters Canmore:
$266
-
4WD Tour from Calgary to Bow Lake Banff:
$186
-
5.5-Hour Jasper Wildlife and Waterfalls Tour with Maligne Lake Cruise from Jasper:
$161
-
Airport Pickup & Private Tour from Calgary to The Rockies!:
$261
-
Athabasca Falls/Abraham,Sunwapta Falls,Icefield & Peyto Lake Tour:
$168
-
Banff & beyond Custom Guided Adventures Falls, Views, Hidden Gems:
$166
Tours and Activities in Quebec
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Quebec.
-
Uncover Old Fun Walking Tour of the City with Local Guide:
$4.48
-
Montreal City Highlights 3 Hour Walking Tour | Gratuity-Based :
$5.00
-
Québec City: Artillery Park Tour:
$5.46
-
Montreal Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour:
$7.15
-
Montreal Prohibition Mystery: Self-Guided Walking Adventure:
$7.39
-
Québec: Fortifications-of-Québec Guided Walking Tour:
$8.19
-
APP Self-Guided Tours Quebec with Audioguide:
$9.54
-
APP Self-Guided Tours Montreal with Audioguide:
$9.54
-
Quebec City: Observatoire de la Capitale Entry Ticket:
$11
-
Quebec City: MNBAQ National Fine Arts Museum Entry Ticket:
$11
-
Old Quebec Walking Tour with a Certified Local Guide:
$15
-
Montréal Scavenger Hunt and City Highlights Walking Tour:
$15
Alcohol
Sample the Local Flavors in Alberta
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Alberta:
-
Park Distillery Tour with Craft Spirits Tasting:
$11
-
Edmonton Brewery Tour (10 person minimum group):
$104
Sample the Local Flavors in Quebec
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Quebec:
-
Quebec City: Honey and Distillery Tour with Tasting:
$21
-
Haunted Montreal Pub Crawl:
$25
-
Quebec City: Craft Brewery and Beer Tasting Tour:
$50
-
Quebec City Craft Brewery and Beer Tasting Small-Group Tour:
$61
-
Introduction to Wine Tasting, French Natural Wines:
$93
-
Quebec City: Island of Orleans Wine Tour:
$95
-
Wine Tasting on Ile d'Orleans:
$97
-
Quebec City: Montmorency Falls and Microbrewery eBike Tour:
$111
-
Quebec City: Montmorency Falls and Microbrewery eBike Tour:
$126
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Alberta and Quebec, we can see that Quebec 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 Quebec would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Quebec 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 Quebec Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, Alberta or Quebec?
Quebec has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Alberta. When comparing the sizes of Alberta and Quebec, 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.
Related Articles for Alberta
Related Articles for Quebec