Which place is cheaper, Whistler or Albuquerque?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Albuquerque or Whistler?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Albuquerque and Whistler. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Albuquerque or Whistler?
Albuquerque
Albuquerque is a large city in the middle of the desert, right in the heart of New Mexico. It's the largest city in the state and has a lot to offer visitors. The city has a quaint downtown with a handful of good shops and restaurants. The surrounding area is quite beautiful and every fall the city hosts a famous and spectacular hot air balloon festival.
Whistler
Located in the province of British Columbia in Canada, Whistler is most famous as the largest ski area in North America. It is also only a short distance from the city of Vancouver, and offers countless opportunities for snow boarding and other winter sports. The town has a permanent population of almost 10,000 and there is a larger seasonal population of workers that come from all over the world. Whistler is a major travel destination with more than two million people visiting the town yearly. As such, there are countless amenities available to visitors. Hotels can vary dramatically in price and quality. There are some budget options, including a couple of hostels in the area, but most people do not visit Whistler as a budget travel destination. It's usually an expensive vacation, but few would argue that it isn't worth the cost.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America, The Best Contiki Tours to Canada, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAlbuquerque $135Whistler $125
The average daily cost (per person) in Albuquerque is $135, while the average daily cost in Whistler is $125. 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 Albuquerque and Whistler in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAlbuquerque $69Whistler $65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAlbuquerque $138Whistler $130
Compare Hotels in Albuquerque and Whistler
Looking for a hotel in Albuquerque or Whistler? 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Albuquerque Hotel Prices and Whistler Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Albuquerque $37Whistler $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Albuquerque
Also for Albuquerque, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Albuquerque Airport (ABQ) to Albuquerque - Arrival Private Transfer: $39
- Albuquerque to Albuquerque Airport (ABQ) - Departure Private Transfer: $39
- Private Arrival Transfer from Albuquerque Airport (ABQ): $40
- Private Departure Transfer To Albuquerque Airport ABQ: $40
- Albuquerque Airport (ABQ) to Albuquerque - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $79
- Albuquerque Airport to Truth or Consequences Private Transfer: $126
- Albuquerque Airport (ABQ) to Pagosa Springs Private Transfer: $175
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Whistler
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Whistler:
- Private Transfer from Whistler to Richmond BC: $633
- Private Transfer from Whistler to Downtown Vancouver: $570
- Vancouver: Seaplane Transfer between Vancouver & Whistler: $161
Is it cheaper to fly into Albuquerque or Whistler?
Prices for flights to both Whistler and Albuquerque 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 dayAlbuquerque $41Whistler $30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Albuquerque
For Albuquerque, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Albuquerque, NM: $79
Typical Food Prices in Whistler
Some typical examples of dining costs in Whistler are as follows:
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Coffee at Starbucks$12
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Tim Hortons Breakfast$12
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Coffee at Timmy's$3.63
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Whistler
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Whistler.
- Finer Things: 4-Course Dinner Tour in Whistler: $131
- Finer Things Dinner Tour in Whistler: $144
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Albuquerque $24Whistler $78
Tours and Activities in Albuquerque
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Albuquerque.
- Old Town Self-Guided Walking Tour by App: $6.50
- Historic Old Town Albuquerque smart phone App/Audio Walking Tour: $7.75
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Albuquerque by Operation City Quest: $10
- The Turquoise Museum Curator's Tour: $20
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Albuquerque by Zombie Scavengers: $20
- Turquoise Museum Admission Ticket: $20
- Albuquerque Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $21
- Albuquerque Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour and Game: $25
- Old Town Albuquerque Ghost Tour: $26
- The Ghost Tour of Old Town - New Mexico's oldest Ghost Walk - Since 2001: $35
- 12pm - Public High Noon History, Legends & Lore Tour - Guided Old Town Stroll: $35
- ABQ City Guided History Tour: $35
Typical Entertainment Prices in Whistler
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Whistler are as follows:
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Driving Range$15
Tours and Activities in Whistler
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Whistler are as follows:
- 2 Hour Late Afternoon Winter Zipline Adventure: $111
- Audain Art Museum Admission Ticket: $16
- Call of the Wild ATV Tour: $155
- Callaghan Cruiser Snowmobile Tour : $218
- Fishing Adventure in Whistler: $140
- Full Day Fly Fishing Tour: $249
- Full Day Spin Fishing Tour: $249
- Glacier Sightseeing Experience by Seaplane from Whistler: $183
- Guided Lunch Tour in Whistler: $88
- Half Day Fly Fishing Tour: $196
- Half Day Spin Fishing Tour: $194
- Ice Fishing Adventure in Whistler: $140
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAlbuquerque $20Whistler $8.72
Sample the Local Flavors in Whistler
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Whistler:
- Whistler Distillery Tour & Tasting Experience: $66
When comparing the travel costs between Albuquerque and Whistler, we can see that Albuquerque is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Albuquerque Expensive? and Is Whistler Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Albuquerque or Whistler?
Albuquerque has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Whistler. When comparing the sizes of Albuquerque and Whistler, 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.