A Travel Price Comparison for Canada Banff vs. Ottawa for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Banff or Ottawa?

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

Should I visit Banff or Ottawa? 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 Ottawa?

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.

Ottawa

Ottawa is the capital city of Canada, located on the Ontario side of the Ottawa River. A city of many ethnic populations, Ottawa is uniquely bilingual with English as the first language of the population's majority and French as a close second.  It is best known as the nation's capital, which is centered on Parliament Hill, an architectural landmark as well as the seat of government.

Which city is cheaper, Ottawa or Banff?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Banff is $69, while the average daily cost in Ottawa is $100. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Banff and Ottawa in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Banff $31
    Ottawa $15
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Banff $62
    Ottawa $30
Compare Hotels in Banff and Ottawa

Looking for a hotel in Banff or Ottawa? 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 Ottawa


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 Ottawa Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Banff $4.24
    Ottawa $5.91

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Banff

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Banff:

  • Private Transfer: Banff to Calgary by Sedan: $339
  • Private Transfer: Banff to Calgary International Airport (YYC): $340
  • Private Departure Transfer: Banff to Calgary International Airport: $433
  • Alberta Transfer: Banff, Jasper, Lake Louise, Calgary and Kananaskis: $63

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ottawa

Also for Ottawa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Airport Transfer: Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier Int. Airport (YOW) to Ottawa: $47
  • Private Airport Transfer: Ottawa to Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier Int. Airport (YOW): $47
  • Private Arrival Transfer from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Airport YOW: $55
  • Private Departure Transfer to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Airport YOW: $55
  • Ottawa to Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier Airport (YOW) - Departure Private Transfer: $62
  • Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier Airport (YOW) to Ottawa City - Arrival Private Transfer: $62
  • Private Departure Transfer from Ottawa City to YOW Ottawa Airport: $75
  • Private Arrival Transfer from YOW Ottawa Airport to Ottawa City: $75
  • Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier Airport (YOW) to Ottawa - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $124
  • Private Transfer: Ottawa International Airport (YOW) to Ottawa: $622
  • Private Transfer: Ottawa to Ottawa International Airport (YOW): $622

Is it cheaper to fly into Banff or Ottawa?

Prices for flights to both Ottawa 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 $23
    Ottawa $14
Typical Food prices in Banff

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


  • Tea House Lunch for Two
    $33
  • Hostel Breakfast
    $28
  • McDonalds
    $4.75

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Banff

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

  • Lake Louise & Moraine Lake Evening Tour with Dinner: $126
  • Deluxe Evening Tour to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake with Dinner: $129

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ottawa

For Ottawa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Oh Canada Eh Dinner Show Ottawa: $73

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Banff $10
    Ottawa $33
Typical Entertainment prices in Banff

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


  • Hot Springs
    $5.44

Tours and Activities in Banff

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

  • 2 Hour Banff Horseback Riding Adventure: $109
  • 2-Day Okanagan Chinook Tour from Banff finish Vancouver: $309
  • 3-Day Rocky Mountains Athabasca Tour from Banff: $418
  • 6-Day Rocky Mountains Wapiti Tour from Banff finish Vancouver: $728
  • Abraham Lake and Banff Winter Photography Tour: $463
  • Athabasca Glacier: Columbia Icefield Parkway Tour from Banff: $230
  • Banff At First Light Private Tour: $887
  • Banff City Sightseeing Tour - Roundtrip from Banff: $135
  • Banff Clue Solving Adventure - Treasures of Banff: $69
  • Banff National Park Tour with Lake Louise and Moraine Lake: $76
  • Banff National Park: Big Canoe River Explorer Tour: $49
  • Banff Photo Night Tour: $66

Tours and Activities in Ottawa

For Ottawa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Explore Canada Through Ottawa's Eyes with Walking Tours Through The City: $4.84
  • Pioneering Days: An audio tour of the captivating history of Ottawa's pioneers: $5.00
  • Haunted Night Walking Tour: $22
  • Ottawa River Tour: $26
  • Ottawa-Gatineau Experience Express: $28
  • Ottawa Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $29
  • Rideau Canal Cruise: $30
  • Boat Tour in the Ottawa River: $32
  • Hop-On Hop-Off Guided City Tour Day Ticket: $35
  • Ottawa Tourist Scavenger Hunt: $36
  • Ottawa Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour: $37
  • 2-Hour Ottawa Express City Bike Tour: $38

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Banff $7.65
    Ottawa $15

Sample the Local Flavors in Ottawa

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Ottawa:

  • Epic Ottawa Bar Crawl: By Let’s Roam: $12

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Banff and Ottawa, we can see that Ottawa 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 Ottawa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ottawa than you might in Banff.

Budget Your Trip

Budget Your Trip has average travel costs for thousands of cities around the world, all provided by other travelers. You can also register to organize your spending by category and location with graphs, maps, charts, and tables.
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Banff vs. Ottawa Travel Comparison

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