Which place is cheaper, Quebec City or Banff?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Banff or Quebec City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Banff or Quebec City? 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 Quebec City?
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.
Quebec City
Quebec City is the capital of the Quebec province. It has a dramatic location on the cliffs by St. Lawrence Seaway and the city's Old Town has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Quebec is a mid sized city with a population of about 700,000. Most of the economy is administrative and bureaucratic, but the city has a very impressive history as the fortress capital of New France. French is the official language of the entire province, but most people in the tourist areas of Quebec City speak English.
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.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBanff $84Quebec City $126
The average daily cost (per person) in Banff is $84, while the average daily cost in Quebec City is $126. 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 Quebec City in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBanff $38Quebec City $73
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBanff $76Quebec City $146
Compare Hotels in Banff and Quebec City
Looking for a hotel in Banff or Quebec City? 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 Quebec City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Banff $5.18Quebec City $16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Banff
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Banff:
- Banff Thermal Resorts to Calgary Airport (YYC) Departure Transfer: $139
- Private Banff National Park Tour with Hotel Transfers: $876
- From Banff/Canmore: Moraine Lake and Lake Louise Shared Transfer: $81
- 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
- Sunshine Village to Calgary Airport (YYC): Departure Transfer: $60
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Quebec City
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Quebec City are as follows:
-
Parking in Quebec City$3.63
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quebec City
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Quebec City:
- Private Transfer from Jean Lesage Airport to Québec City: $51
- Québec city to Québec Jean Lesage Airport (YQB) - Departure Private Transfer: $51
- Private Transfer from Québec City to Jean Lesage Airport: $51
- Québec Airport (YQB) to Le Terminal Cruise Port -Arrival Transfer: $57
- Le Terminal Quebec Port to Québec Airport (YQB) - Departure Private Transfer: $57
- Québec Airport (YQB) to Le Terminal Quebec Cruise Port- Arrival Private Transfer: $57
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Quebec City Center - Quebec Airport (YQB): $71
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Quebec Airport (YQB) - Quebec City Center: $71
- Transfer in private Minivan from Quebec City Center - Quebec Airport (YQB): $81
- Transfer in private Minivan from Quebec Airport (YQB) - Quebec City Center: $88
- Private Transfer from Quebec City Airport (YQB) to Saguenay Port: $93
- Private Transfer from Quebec City Hotels to Saguenay Cruise Port: $93
Is it cheaper to fly into Banff or Quebec City?
Prices for flights to both Quebec City 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 dayBanff $29Quebec City $37
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.
- Take a Bite out of Banff ~ Rocky Mountain Banff Food Tour: $94
- Banff Food Tour: Eat the Castle: $153
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quebec City
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Quebec City.
- 5-Course Dinner Cruise with Music & VIP Option: $160
- Old Quebec 5-Course Gourmet Food Tour: $189
- Combo Historical and Food Tour of the Old Quebec City: $192
- Evening Gourmet Tour 5 Course Dinner - History and Food in Old Quebec City: $192
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Banff $12Quebec City $24
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 self-guided tour App with multi-language audio guide: $2.14
- Tunnel Mountain Trail: Nature Tour with Audio Guide: $5.11
- Tunnel Mountain Trail: a Smartphone Audio Nature Tour : $5.19
- Calgary & Lake Louise: Smartphone Audio Driving Tour: $6.21
- The Sights of a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $6.21
- The Sights of a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $6.31
- The Sights of Canmore: a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $6.31
- Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between Banff and Calgary: $6.31
- Historic Cave & Basin Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $8.49
- Banff Cave and Hot Springs Self-Guided Walking Tour: $9.99
- 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
Tours and Activities in Quebec City
Here are a few actual costs in Quebec City for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Old Québec: First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $4.28
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $4.28
- Old Quebec Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $4.37
- Québec City: Artillery Park Tour: $6.58
- Walking Tour - Quebec City - The Heart of New France: $6.68
- APP Self-Guided Tours Quebec with Audioguide: $8.73
- Québec City: Saint-Louis Forts and Châteaux Guided Site Tour: $8.77
- Uncover History of In-App Audio Tour: $11
- Uncover History of In-App Audio Tour: $11
- Observatoire de la Capitale Entry Ticket: $11
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayBanff $9.34Quebec City $18
Sample the Local Flavors in Quebec City
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Quebec City:
- Honey and Distillery Tour with Tasting: $21
- Craft Brewery and Beer Tasting Tour: $50
- Island of Orleans Wine Tour: $91
- Wine Tasting on Ile d'Orleans: $93
- Quebec City : eTandem Rental on Ile d'Orleans-wine tasting: $116
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Banff and Quebec City, we can see that Quebec City 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 Quebec City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Quebec City 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 Quebec City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Banff or Quebec City?
Quebec City has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Banff. When comparing the sizes of Banff and Quebec City, 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.