Should you visit Banff or Quebec City?
Should I visit Banff or Quebec City? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Quebec City or Banff?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Banff is $74, while the average daily cost in Quebec City is $110. 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. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Banff and Quebec City in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $34. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Banff the cost is $68 on average.
A hotel room in Quebec City is about $126 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Food
In Banff travelers spend around $25 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
While meal prices in Quebec City can vary, the average travelers spends about $32 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Quebec City should cost around $13 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Quebec City is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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Food
Meals for one day
Banff $25
Quebec City $32
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
$36
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Hostel Breakfast
$29
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McDonalds
$5.09
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Banff
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Banff.
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Lake Louise & Moraine Lake Evening Tour with Dinner:
$123
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Deluxe Evening Tour to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake with Dinner:
$129
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Banff is $4.55 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
The cost of a taxi ride in Quebec City is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $14 per person, per day, on local transportation in Quebec City.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Banff
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Banff:
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Alberta Transfer: Banff, Jasper, Lake Louise, Calgary and Kananaskis:
$63
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Private Departure Transfer: Banff to Calgary International Airport:
$433
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Private Transfer: Banff to Calgary International Airport (YYC):
$340
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Private Transfer: Banff to Calgary by Sedan:
$339
Typical Local Transportation prices in Quebec City
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Quebec City are as follows:
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Parking in Quebec City
$3.98
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quebec City
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Quebec City:
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Transfer in Private Car from Quebec City Center to Jean Lesage Airport (YQB):
$54
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Transfer in private minivan from Quebec City Center to Jean Lesage Airport (YQB):
$84
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Québec city to Québec Jean Lesage Airport (YUL) - Departure Private Transfer:
$90
-
Private Airport Transfer: Quebec to Quebec City Jean Lesage Int. Airport (YQB):
$95
-
Private arrival transfer from Quebec City airport (YQB) to downtown:
$103
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Private transfer from Quebec City downtown to YQB airport:
$103
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Private Arrival Transfer from Quebec Airport YQB:
$104
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Private Departure Transfer to Quebec Airport YQB:
$104
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Private Transfer: Quebec to Quebec City Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB):
$107
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Private Quebec City Transfer: Airport to Hotel:
$119
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Private Quebec City Transfer: Hotel to Airport:
$119
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.
Entertainment
Banff's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $11 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Entertainment and activities in Quebec City typically cost an average of $21 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Typical Entertainment prices in Banff
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Banff are as follows:
Tours and Activities in Banff
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Banff are as follows:
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The Sights of Banff GPS-Guided Audio Walking Tour:
$4.84
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Listen to a Tour Guide as you Drive between Banff and Calgary:
$4.84
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Listen to a Tour Guide as You Drive between Sunshine Village and Calgary:
$6.44
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Listen to a Tour Guide as You Drive & Walk with our Discover the Rockies Package:
$8.86
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Returning in 2021 is the Banff Guided Walking Tours:
$32
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Wildlife on the Bow River Big Canoe Tour:
$43
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Winter Tour: Banff and Its Wildlife:
$63
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Summer Tour: Banff and its Wildlife:
$64
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Banff Photo Night Tour:
$66
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Snowshoeing Tour to the Paint Pots:
$69
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From Lake Louise and Moraine Lake Sightseeing Tour:
$69
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Banff Clue Solving Adventure - Treasures of Banff:
$69
Tours and Activities in Quebec City
Here are a few actual costs in Quebec City for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Old-Quebec Photo Tour with a Professional Photographer:
$48
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Private Blue Hour Photo Tour with a Professional Photographer:
$56
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Jacques-Cartier National Park Snowshoeing Tour:
$61
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Extended Private Photo Tour with a Professional Photographer:
$64
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Quebec City Shore Excursion: Private Guided Quebec City Walking Tour:
$79
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Private Guided Quebec City Walking Tour:
$79
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Private Walking Tour of Quebec with licensed tour guide:
$124
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Private Walking Tour for American Visitors - 1776 Canada's Road to Independence:
$181
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Private 3-hour City Tour of Quebec with driver and guide - Hotel pick up:
$361
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Tours guide:
$495
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Private Full Day Tour to Montreal from Quebec with driver and licensed guide:
$1,616
Alcohol
The average person spends about $8.20 on alcoholic beverages in Banff per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Quebec City may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $16 per day on alcoholic beverages.
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.
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