Which place is cheaper, Calgary or Banff?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Banff or Calgary?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Banff or Calgary? 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 Calgary?
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.
Calgary
Calgary is the largest city in Alberta and, located at the edge of the prairie and foothills, it is a gateway to the Rocky Mountains. If you're headed to Banff or Jasper, this is likely to be your first stop. It's also Canada's fourth largest city and worth a few days visit. Calgary's economy is diverse, but includes energy, financial services, film and television, transportation, technology, manufacturing, and much more.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada, The Best Camping Tours in Canada, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Canada, and The Best Northern Lights Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBanff $84Calgary $154
The average daily cost (per person) in Banff is $84, while the average daily cost in Calgary is $154. 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 Calgary in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBanff $38Calgary $73
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBanff $76Calgary $146
Compare Hotels in Banff and Calgary
Looking for a hotel in Banff or Calgary? 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: Banff Hotel Prices and Calgary Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Banff $5.18Calgary $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Banff
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Banff:
- Private Banff National Park Tour with Hotel Transfers: $872
- From 1-Way Private Transfer to Calgary Airport (YYC): $508
- From Private One-Way Transfer to Calgary: $363
- Private Airport Transfer to Banff: $287
- Private Transfer - Between YYC Calgary Airport and Banff: $233
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Calgary
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Calgary:
- Private Transfer from Calgary Airport to Calgary Hotels: $63
- Alberta Transfer: Banff, Jasper, Lake Louise, Calgary: $64
- Private Transfer from Fernie to Calgary International Airport: $76
- Calgary Downtown Transfers: $87
- Transfer in private minivan from Calgary Airport (YYC) - Calgary Downtown: $91
- Transfer in private minivan from Calgary Downtown - Calgary Airport (YYC): $91
- Departure Private Transfer: Calgary to Calgary Airport YYC in Business Car: $108
- Private Transfer: Calgary Airport to Downtown: $111
- Calgary Airport (YYC) to Lake Louise - Arrival Private Transfer: $115
- Calgary hotel or address to Calgary Airport (YYC) - Departure Private Transfer: $115
- Calgary Airport to Sunshine Village Private Round-Trip Transfer: $120
- Roundtrip Transfer Private Vehicle Calgary Airport (YYC) -Calgary Downtown: $121
Is it cheaper to fly into Banff or Calgary?
Prices for flights to both Calgary 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
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Food Meals for one dayBanff $29Calgary $31
Typical Food Prices in Banff
Some typical examples of dining costs in Banff are as follows:
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Tea House Lunch for Two$33
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Hostel Breakfast$27
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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: $154
Typical Food Prices in Calgary
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Calgary:
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Bread, Chips, Cheese$8.10
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Calgary
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Calgary.
- Light Brunch & Food Tour at Calgary Farmers' Market WEST: $81
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Banff $12Calgary $15
Typical Entertainment Prices in Banff
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Banff are as follows:
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Hot Springs$5.31
Tours and Activities in Banff
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Banff are as follows:
- Banff self-guided tour App with multi-language audio guide: $4.27
- Tunnel Mountain Trail: Nature Tour with Audio Guide: $5.08
- Tunnel Mountain Trail: a Smartphone Audio Nature Tour : $5.22
- The Sights of a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $6.17
- Calgary & Lake Louise: Smartphone Audio Driving Tour: $6.17
- The Sights of Canmore: a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $6.34
- The Sights of a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $6.34
- Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between Banff and Calgary: $6.34
- Paranormal History Walking Ghost Tour: $7.63
- Historic Cave & Basin Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $8.49
- Banff National Park: Self-Guided Scenic Driving Tour: $13
- Listen to a Tour Guide as You Drive & Walk with our Discover the Rockies Package: $15
Typical Entertainment Prices in Calgary
Here are a few typical costs in Calgary for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Stampede Admission (for 2)$22
Tours and Activities in Calgary
Here are a few actual costs in Calgary for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Ottawa: First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.20
- Bow River Trail Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.08
- Downtown Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.08
- Downtown Calgary a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.22
- 3-hour Tips-Based City Walking Tour: $6.54
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Rocky Mountains: Smartphone Driving and Walking Audio Tours: $15
- Experience the season with a scavenger hunt in Calgary with Holly Jolly Hunt: $21
- Calgary Downtown: 2-Hour Introductory Walking Tour: $21
- Heritage Park Historical Village Admission Ticket: $25
- Calgary self-guided walking tour and scavenger hunt: $38
- Big Boat Canoe Tour: $44
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBanff $9.34Calgary $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Calgary
Also in Calgary, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Calgary Brewery and Wine Tours at Award Winning Venues: $83
- Calgary Brewery Tour: $90
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Banff and Calgary, we can see that Calgary 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 Calgary would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Calgary 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 Calgary Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Banff or Calgary?
Calgary has a larger population, and is about 140 times larger than the population of Banff. When comparing the sizes of Banff and Calgary, 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.