Which place is cheaper, Vancouver or Amsterdam?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Amsterdam or Vancouver?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Amsterdam or Vancouver, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Amsterdam or Vancouver?
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the capital, and most popular tourist destination in the Netherlands. There are over one million residents in the metro area. Amsterdam is most famous for its canals that criss cross across the city, but it also has a rich history, interesting culture, and liberal vibe that appeal to all types of travelers. The architecture, bridges, and cycling culture help this metropolitan area maintain its small town vibe, despite being the largest city in the country as well as the financial center.
Vancouver
Vancouver is a beautiful and cosmopolitan city in Western Canada. It is also the largest city in British Columbia, and is dramatically positioned between the coast and mountains. It's a very international city, with a high level of energy and countless activites that you can enjoy while you're in town. In addition to offering all of the activities and entertainment of a modern city, it is also in jumping off distance to any number of outdoor activities.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam, The Best 10-Day Tours from Vancouver, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAmsterdam €175Vancouver €132
The average daily cost (per person) in Amsterdam is €175, while the average daily cost in Vancouver is €132. 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 Amsterdam and Vancouver in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAmsterdam €102Vancouver €81
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAmsterdam €204Vancouver €162
Compare Hotels in Amsterdam and Vancouver
Looking for a hotel in Amsterdam or Vancouver? 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: Amsterdam Hotel Prices and Vancouver Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Amsterdam €20Vancouver €11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Amsterdam
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Amsterdam:
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Ride on Tram€3.20
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Renting a Bike€15
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One Hour Canal Cruise€10
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Single Day Transit Pass€2.60
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Transit Pass to Amsterdam Airport€3.40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amsterdam
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Amsterdam:
- Private Transfer to/from Bruges: $829
- Kinderdijk & Delft Private Day Trip w/ Transfers: $807
- Private Transfer to/from Brussels: $743
- Private Transfer to/from Antwerp: $592
- Private Transfer to Bruges: $387
- Amsterdam Cruise Port: Private Transfer to The Hague hotels: $335
- Amsterdam and Rotterdam: 1-Way Private Transfer: $312
- Rotterdam: Private transfer to/from Schiphol Airport: $312
- 1-15 persons Taxi or Bus Transfer Amsterdam Airport to Dordrecht: $288
- Private Direct Transfer from Amsterdam to Bruges: $274
- 1-15 persons Taxi or Bus Transfer Airport Amsterdam to Den Haag: $273
- Layover Sightseeing Tour with Airport Transfer: $268
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vancouver
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vancouver are as follows:
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SkyTrain from Airport€5.94
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Taxi from Airport to Downtown€20
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15 min Taxi Ride€8.15
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SkyTrain DayPass€6.11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vancouver
Also for Vancouver, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arrival Private Transfer from Vancouver YVR or Cruise Port to Vancouver by SUV: $120
- Arrival Private Transfer: Vancouver Airport YVR to Vancouver in Luxury Car: $163
- Canada Place Cruise Port to Vancouver Airport (YVR) - Departure Private Transfer: $93
- Canada Place Cruise Port to Vancouver hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $93
- Canada Place Cruise Port to Vancouver hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $186
- Canada Place Cruise Port: Transfer to Vancouver hotels: $428
- Canada Place Port to Vancouver Airport(YVR) - Departure Transfer : $55
- Departure Private Transfer: Vancouver to Vancouver Airport YVR in Luxury Car: $163
- Departure Private Transfer: Vancouver to Vancouver Airport YVR in Luxury SUV: $133
- Maximize Your Cruise Adventure: Vancouver Tour & Transfer: $292
- Mount Washington to Vancouver Airport (YVR) - Departure Transfer: $93
- Private Departure Transfer to Vancouver Airport (YVR): $32
Is it cheaper to fly into Amsterdam or Vancouver?
Prices for flights to both Vancouver and Amsterdam 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 dayAmsterdam €43Vancouver €29
Typical Food Prices in Amsterdam
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Amsterdam:
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Afternoon Tea€6.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Amsterdam
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Amsterdam.
- Food Tour Amsterdam (Tip Based): $5.46
- Amsterdam Self-Guided Food Tour in De Pijp Neighbourhood : $8.19
- Self-Guided Food Tour in De Jordaan Neighbourhood: $13
- Self-Guided Food Tour in De Pijp Neighbourhood: $13
- Self-Guided Food Tour of Amsterdam's De Jordaan District: $14
- Hard Rock Cafe Amsterdam with Set Lunch or Dinner: $31
- Exclusive Burger Dinner Cruise: $32
- Dinner Cruise with Fries Bitterballen and Drink from Amsterdam: $38
- Pizza Cruise with Drinks: $40
- Evening Canal Cruise with Pizza and Drinks: $43
- Amsterdam Nightlife Ticket with A GOLD MENU Hard Rock Dinner: $43
- Food Tour Jordaan District: $51
Typical Food Prices in Vancouver
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Vancouver:
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All You Can Eat Sushi Lunch€8.23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vancouver
For Vancouver, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- A Wok Around Food Tour of the Granville Island Public Market: $84
- The Gastown Experience Walking Food Tour: $94
- Gastown Historic Walking Food Tour: $100
- Vancouver Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $100
- North Vancouver Shipyards Food Tour: $108
- Vancouver Authentic Chinese Food Tour: $134
- VIP Granville Island Market Vancouver - Walking Food Tour: $138
- Authentic Asian Eats Walking Food Tour: $142
- 3-Hour Bowen Island Boat Cruise with Dinner: $153
- Evening Cruise with Dinner Buffet: $153
- Vancouver Evening Dinner Cruise: $157
- Granville Island Uncorked Walking Food Tour: $161
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Amsterdam €37Vancouver €34
Typical Entertainment Prices in Amsterdam
Here are a few typical costs in Amsterdam for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Two tickets to the Houseboat Museum€6.00
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Entry for two to the Anne Frank House€17
Tours and Activities in Amsterdam
Here are a few actual costs in Amsterdam for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Amsterdam (Museum Quarter) Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $11
- Anne Frank Story & Neighborhood Walk Tour in Amsterdam: $46
- Cheese, Wine with Unlimited Drinks in Amsterdam Luxury Cruise: $54
- 1 Hour Amsterdam Canal Cruise with Audio Guide: $20
- 1 Hour Canal Cruise in Amsterdam: $22
- 1,5 hours Amsterdam Rickshaw Tour: $164
- 1-Hour Canal Cruise in the Evening : $22
- 2 Hour Exclusive Canal Boat Cruise w/ Dutch snacks & Onboard Bar: $43
- 2 Hour Exclusive Canal Cruise: Including drinks & Dutch snacks: $63
- 2 Hours Private Amsterdam Rickshaw Tour: $213
- 2-Hour Private Historical Highlights Walking Tour: $131
- 2-hour Red Light District and Old Town Walking Tour in Amsterdam: $49
Tours and Activities in Vancouver
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vancouver.
- Vancouver self-guided tour App - multilingual AudioGuide: $4.31
- Self-Guided Smartphone Walking Tour of Gastown: $4.75
- Self-Guided Smartphone Walking Tour of Gastown: $4.82
- Discover Stanley Park with a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.11
- Fort Langley: a Film & Television Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.19
- Discover Stanley Park with a Smartphone Audio Tour: $5.19
- Cycling the Seawall: A Self-Guided Audio Tour Along the Stanley Park Seawall: $5.46
- Historic Walking Tours of Vancouver with Then & Now Images!: $6.68
- Walking Tour Along Stanley Park's Seawall: $6.68
- Vancouver Downtown: Espionage Adventure Outdoor Escape Game: $6.99
- Self-Guided Smartphone Tour of Stanley Park: $7.31
- Self-Guided Smartphone Walking Tours of Stanley Park: $7.42
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAmsterdam €24Vancouver €15
Sample the Local Flavors in Amsterdam
Also in Amsterdam, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bar Crawl with Shots and Beer Maid Guide: $25
- Red Light District Pub Crawl: $27
- Central Pub Crawl and Nightlife Experience: $27
- Central Pub Crawl and Nightlife Experience: $27
- Original Pub Crawl Party with VIP Entrance: $29
- Chateau Urban Wine Tasting and optional bites: $32
- Original Amsterdam Pub Crawl: $33
- Self-guided Red Light District Pub Crawl Mystery: $38
- Leidseplein and Red Light Pub Crawl: 2 Night Pass: $38
- Red Light District and Local Pub Tour: $39
- Dutch Cheese and Wine Tasting: $43
- Dutch Wine Tasting || Amsterdam City Centre: $48
Sample the Local Flavors in Vancouver
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Vancouver:
- Vancouver - Granville Pub Crawl ROUTE B: $18
- Gastown Pub Crawl: $22
- Vancouver - Granville Pub Crawl: $26
- 3.5-Hour Craft Brewery Tour: $88
- Fraser Valley Wine Tour with a light Lunch from Vancouver: $134
- Vancouver Wine Tour (Fraser Valley): $134
- From Half-Day Fraser Valley Wine Tour: $138
- From Fraser Valley Wine Tour with Local Tastings: $139
- Taste of the Valley Wine Tour: $148
- Stawamus Chief Hike and Local Brewery Tasting: $165
- Fraser Valley & White Rock Premium Public Wine Tour: $166
- Stawamus Chief Hike & Local Brewery Tasting : $167
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Amsterdam and Vancouver, we can see that Amsterdam is more expensive. And not only is Vancouver much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Amsterdam is in Europe and Vancouver is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Vancouver would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vancouver 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 Amsterdam would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Amsterdam than you might in Vancouver.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Amsterdam Expensive? and Is Vancouver Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Amsterdam or Vancouver?
Vancouver has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Amsterdam. When comparing the sizes of Amsterdam and Vancouver, 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.
When is the best time to visit Amsterdam or Vancouver?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Amsterdam or Vancouver in the Summer?
Both Vancouver and Amsterdam during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Amsterdam for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Amsterdam is generally around the same temperature as Vancouver. Daily temperatures in Amsterdam average around 17°C (62°F), and Vancouver fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
In Vancouver, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Amsterdam. In the summer, Amsterdam often gets less sunshine than Vancouver. Amsterdam gets 204 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vancouver receives 296 hours of full sun.
Amsterdam usually gets more rain in July than Vancouver. Amsterdam gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAmsterdam 17°C (62°F)Vancouver 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Amsterdam or Vancouver in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Amsterdam and Vancouver. Many visitors come to Amsterdam in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Amsterdam is around the same temperature as Vancouver in the autumn. The daily temperature in Amsterdam averages around 11°C (51°F) in October, and Vancouver fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
Amsterdam usually receives less sunshine than Vancouver during autumn. Amsterdam gets 99 hours of sunny skies, while Vancouver receives 124 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Vancouver receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Amsterdam usually receives less rain than Vancouver. Amsterdam gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAmsterdam 11°C (51°F)Vancouver 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Amsterdam or Vancouver in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Amsterdam as well as Vancouver. Most visitors come to Amsterdam for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
The weather in Vancouver can be very cold. Amsterdam can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Amsterdam is much colder than Vancouver. Typically, the winter temperatures in Amsterdam in January average around 2°C (36°F), and Vancouver averages at about 4°C (40°F).
In the winter, Amsterdam often gets less sunshine than Vancouver. Amsterdam gets 46 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vancouver receives 55 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Vancouver. Amsterdam usually gets less rain in January than Vancouver. Amsterdam gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAmsterdam 2°C (36°F)Vancouver 4°C (40°F)
Should I visit Amsterdam or Vancouver in the Spring?
Both Vancouver and Amsterdam are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Amsterdam because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In April, Amsterdam is generally cooler than Vancouver. Daily temperatures in Amsterdam average around 8°C (46°F), and Vancouver fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).
Amsterdam usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Vancouver during spring. Amsterdam gets 166 hours of sunny skies, while Vancouver receives 172 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Vancouver. In April, Amsterdam usually receives less rain than Vancouver. Amsterdam gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAmsterdam 8°C (46°F)Vancouver 9°C (49°F)
Typical Weather for Vancouver and Amsterdam
| Amsterdam | Vancouver | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 2°C (36°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (37°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 179 mm (7.1 in) |
| Mar | 5°C (41°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) |
| Apr | 8°C (46°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| May | 12°C (54°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (62°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (57°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Nov | 6°C (43°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 234 mm (9.2 in) |
| Dec | 3°C (38°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) |
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.