Which place is cheaper, Halifax or Banff?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Banff or Halifax?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Banff or Halifax? 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 Halifax?
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.
Halifax
The quaint and charming coastal town of Halifax, Nova Scotia has an interesting personality. While it caters to travelers from all over the world, it maintains the pace and lifestyle of a small town.
Steeped in maritime history, Halifax is the capital of Nova Scotia, and one of the world's greatest natural harbors. This busy seaport serves as the economic and cultural hub of Eastern Canada.
When planning your trip keep in mind that this city has a climate like other coastal cities. Summers are nice with the occasional humidity. Winters are mild, but still full of snow and wind. The best time of year to visit is most certainly the fall.
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 $84Halifax $114
The average daily cost (per person) in Banff is $84, while the average daily cost in Halifax is $114. 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 Halifax in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBanff $38Halifax $65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBanff $76Halifax $130
Compare Hotels in Banff and Halifax
Looking for a hotel in Banff or Halifax? 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 Halifax Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Banff $5.18Halifax $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Banff
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Banff:
- Private Transfer - Between YYC Calgary Airport and Banff: $233
- Private Airport Transfer to Banff: $287
- From Private One-Way Transfer to Calgary: $363
- From 1-Way Private Transfer to Calgary Airport (YYC): $508
- Private Banff National Park Tour with Hotel Transfers: $872
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Halifax
Also for Halifax, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Halifax Stanfield Airport (YHZ) to Halifax Port-Arrival Transfer: $34
- Halifax Stanfield Airport(YHZ) to Halifax Port - Arrival Transfer: $34
- Private Transfer from Halifax Stanfield Airport to Halifax: $36
- Transfer to/from Stanfield International Airport: $44
- Halifax Airport (YHZ) to Halifax Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $68
- From Peggy’s Cove Small-Group Tour with Transfers: $79
- Private Arrival Transfer from Halifax Stanfield Airport YHZ: $85
- Halifax Cruise Port: Private Transfer to Halifax hotels: $132
- Halifax Stanfield Airport (YHZ): Transfer to Halifax Port: $208
Is it cheaper to fly into Banff or Halifax?
Prices for flights to both Halifax 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 $29Halifax $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 Halifax
For Halifax, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Bluenose II Restaurant$45
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Halifax
For Halifax, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Peggy's Cove Small Group Night Tour with Dinner: $159
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Banff $12Halifax $28
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 National Park Big Canoe Tour: $57
- Skybridge Adventure Golden BC from Canmore & Banff: $166
- 2 Hour Banff Horseback Riding Adventure: $145
- 4 Days Tour to Banff & Jasper National Park with Hotels: $2,581
- 4 Days Tour to Banff & Jasper National Park without Hotels: $1,454
- BANFF EVENING eBIKE WILDLIFE TOUR: $73
- Banff : Day Tour : Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and Peyto Lake: $185
- Banff Highlights & Wildlife | Award-Winning Small Group Adventure: $74
- Banff National Park Self-Guided Driving Tour: $17
- Banff National Park Snowshoeing Adventure | Small Group Guided Tour: $77
- Banff National Park Tour with Lake Louise and Moraine Lake: $84
- Banff National Park: Big Canoe River Explorer Tour: $52
Tours and Activities in Halifax
For Halifax, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Discover the Halifax Explosion Audio Walking Tour: $5.08
- Churches, Gardens, & Graveyards Smartphone Tour: $5.08
- Halifax Boardwalk and Seaport: Smartphone Audio Tour: $5.08
- Exlore Halifax with 3 Unique Smartphone Audio Walking Tours: $13
- Halifax self-guided walking tour and scavenger hunt: $38
- From City and Peggy's Cove Sunset Guided Tour: $65
- City Segway Tour: $67
- Small-Group Tour with Citadel and Peggy's Cove: $94
- Small Group Walking Tour with Citadel & Museum: $101
- From Small Group Lunenberg Express Tour: $119
- Guided Harbourfront Food Walking Tour: $119
- Three Sisters Sea Kayaking Day Tour: $137
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBanff $9.34Halifax $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Banff and Halifax, we can see that Halifax 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 Halifax would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Halifax 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 Halifax Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Banff or Halifax?
Halifax has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Banff. When comparing the sizes of Banff and Halifax, 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.