A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Banff vs. Beaver Creek for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Banff or Beaver Creek?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Banff or Beaver Creek? 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: Banff or Beaver Creek?

Banff

Nestled in the pristine and gorgeous mountains of the Alberta Rockies is the popular town of Banff. This town sits right in Canada's Banff National Park and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.

While the surrounding nature may give the impression of a quiet, little town, Banff is typically crowded with tourists. The beauty of this area is irresistible for travelers from all over the world. This may not be the place for solitude or even an authentic, country experience, you'll still find an unforgettable vacation.

Beaver Creek

Beaver Creek is a popular ski resort and small village in Colorado. It's located up the mountain from the town of Avon, and it has a more resort and village vibe. The resort is made up of three areas - Beaver Creek Village, Bachelor Gulch, and Arrowhead.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada, The Best Camping Tours in Canada, The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, and The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Beaver Creek or Banff?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Banff is $84, while the average daily cost in Beaver Creek is $316. 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 Banff and Beaver Creek in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Banff $38
    Beaver Creek $203
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Banff $76
    Beaver Creek $406
Compare Hotels in Banff and Beaver Creek

Looking for a hotel in Banff or Beaver Creek? 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.

Hotels in Banff


Hotels in Beaver Creek


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: Banff Hotel Prices and Beaver Creek Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Banff $5.18
    Beaver Creek $30

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Banff

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Banff:

  • Private Banff National Park Tour with Hotel Transfers: $876
  • From 1-Way Private Transfer to Calgary Airport (YYC): $511
  • From Private One-Way Transfer to Calgary: $365
  • Private Airport Transfer to Banff: $289
  • Private Transfer - Between YYC Calgary Airport and Banff: $234

Is it cheaper to fly into Banff or Beaver Creek?

Prices for flights to both Beaver Creek and Banff 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
    Banff $29
    Beaver Creek $85
Typical Food Prices in Banff

Some typical examples of dining costs in Banff are as follows:


  • Tea House Lunch for Two
    $33
  • Hostel Breakfast
    $27
  • McDonalds
    $4.63

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Banff

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Banff.

  • Banff Food Tour: Eat the Castle: $153

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Banff $12
    Beaver Creek $53
Typical Entertainment Prices in Banff

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Banff are as follows:


  • Hot Springs
    $5.31

Tours and Activities in Banff

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Banff are as follows:

  • Banff National Park Big Canoe Tour: $56
  • Skybridge Adventure Golden BC from Canmore & Banff: $165
  • 2 Hour Banff Horseback Riding Adventure: $144
  • 4 Days Tour to Banff & Jasper National Park with Hotels: $2,595
  • 4 Days Tour to Banff & Jasper National Park without Hotels: $1,462
  • BANFF EVENING eBIKE WILDLIFE TOUR: $74
  • Banff : Day Tour : Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and Peyto Lake: $186
  • Banff Highlights & Wildlife | Award-Winning Small Group Adventure: $74
  • Banff National Park Self-Guided Driving Tour: $17
  • Banff National Park Tour with Lake Louise and Moraine Lake: $84
  • Banff National Park: Big Canoe River Explorer Tour: $53
  • Banff National Park: Self-Guided Scenic Driving Tour: $13

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Banff $9.34
    Beaver Creek $35


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Banff and Beaver Creek, we can see that Beaver Creek is more expensive. And not only is Banff much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Banff would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Banff 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 Beaver Creek would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Beaver Creek than you might in Banff.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Banff Expensive? and Is Beaver Creek Expensive?.