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

Should you visit Banff or Bonaire?

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

Should I visit Banff or Bonaire? 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 Bonaire?

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.

Bonaire

An island municipality of the Netherlands, Bonaire resides in the Caribbean, east of Central America and north of Venezuela. It is a part of the ABC Islands together with Aruba and CuraƧao, and is best known as a tropical vacation destination with many great dive spots, beaches, lagoons, and wildlife.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada, and The Best Camping Tours in Canada.


Which place is cheaper, Bonaire or Banff?

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 Banff is $105, while the average daily cost in Bonaire is $299. 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 Bonaire in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Banff $38
    Bonaire $155
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Banff $76
    Bonaire $310
Compare Hotels in Banff and Bonaire

Looking for a hotel in Banff or Bonaire? 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 Bonaire


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 Bonaire Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Banff $5.18
    Bonaire $65

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Banff

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Banff:

  • Canmore/Banff to Calgary Airport (YYC) Private Transfer: $172
  • Banff Canmore to Calgary YYC Airport Transfer: $216
  • Banff to Calgary YYC Airport (Private Transfer with Tesla): $286
  • All-Inclusive Private Banff Tour with Hotel Transfer: $796
  • Calgary Airport to Banff - Private Transfer: $839

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bonaire

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bonaire:

  • Private Transfers between Bonaire airport and any local address : $40
  • Private Transfer from Kralendijk Port to Bonaire Airport (BON): $59
  • Private Transfer from Kralendijk Cruise Port to Kralendijk city : $59
  • Airport Transfer Return Included: $80

Is it cheaper to fly into Banff or Bonaire?

Prices for flights to both Bonaire 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 $49
    Bonaire $101
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.

  • Morning Glory ~ Banff's 'Breakfast Bits' Food Tour: $66
  • Sips & Sweets - Canadian Evening Food Tour: $69
  • Bites and Sites of Canmore Walking Food Tour: $77
  • Banff's Winter Wonderland Food Tour: $85
  • A Taste of Banff Food Tour: $87
  • Banff Food Tour: Eat the Castle: $151
  • Winter Tour with Dinner & Nightrise at Banff Gondola: $166

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bonaire

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

  • Dinner at Sea: $95
  • Discover the Flavors of Bonaire with the Bonaire Snack Food Tour: $130

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Banff $12
    Bonaire $40
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:

  • Town of Banff Highlights 2 Hour Walking Tour | Gratuity-Based : $4.00
  • Tips-Based Walking Tour & Town Highlights: $4.02
  • Tunnel Mountain Trail: a Smartphone Audio Nature Tour : $8.05
  • Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between Banff and Calgary: $8.05
  • The Sights of a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $8.05
  • The Sights of Canmore: a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $8.07
  • Banff Cave & Hot Springs Audio Walking Tour (Not a Ticket): $9.99
  • Explore Banff National Park: Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $14
  • Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary Walk Ticket in Canada: $29
  • Paranormal History Walking Ghost Tour: $29
  • Sightseeing Chairlift Ride High Above Banff: $34
  • Self-Guided Audio Tours for the Canadian Rockies: $34

Tours and Activities in Bonaire

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

  • Semi Submarine Boat Experience to Klein Bonaire: $33
  • Walking Tours & Private Tours on Bonaire: $36
  • 4 Hours Open Air Party Bus Tour with Beach Stop in Caribbean: $39
  • Half-Day Bonaire Island Tour with Hotel Pickup and Drop-off: $46
  • Bonaire Essentials Island Tour: $49
  • Walking Tour with Lunch & Ice Cream: $55
  • Yacht tour with local guide & snorkeling activities: $57
  • Clearbottom Mangrove Kayak & Snorkel tour: $59
  • Highlights of Bonaire & Cultural Experience: $59
  • Tour in North and South Bonaire Guided : $63
  • Explore North & South Tour: $65
  • Small-Group Guided North & South Tour of Bonaire with Pick Up: $65

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Banff $9.33
    Bonaire $33

Sample the Local Flavors in Banff

Also in Banff, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Park Distillery Tour with Craft Spirits Tasting: $11


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Banff and Bonaire, we can see that Bonaire is more expensive. And not only is Banff much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Banff is in North America and Bonaire is in Caribbean Islands, 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 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 Bonaire would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bonaire 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 Bonaire Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Banff or Bonaire?

Bonaire has a larger population, and is about 78% larger than the population of Banff. When comparing the sizes of Banff and Bonaire, 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.