Which place is cheaper, Ottawa or Berkshires?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Berkshires or Ottawa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Berkshires and Ottawa can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Berkshires or Ottawa?
Berkshires
The Berkshires are a popular highland destination in the western part of Massachusetts and northwest Connecticut. The region has scenic landscape, hiking, lakes, recreational opportunities and other outdoor experiences. The Berkshires also has an impressive cultural scene with music, arts, museums, and live theaters.
The Berkshires can be a bit expensive to visit if you stay at a luxury resort and take advantage of the award winning restaurants in the area. Alternatively, the experience can be equally rewarding by camping, picnicking, and spending your time hiking and enjoying the beautiful natural setting.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Photography Tours in United States of America, The Best Camping Tours in United States of America, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Canada, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBerkshires $244Ottawa $122
The average daily cost (per person) in Berkshires is $244, while the average daily cost in Ottawa is $122. 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 Berkshires and Ottawa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBerkshires $141Ottawa $18
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBerkshires $282Ottawa $36
Compare Hotels in Berkshires and Ottawa
Looking for a hotel in Berkshires 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.
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: Berkshires Hotel Prices and Ottawa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Berkshires $47Ottawa $7.21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ottawa
Also for Ottawa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Airport YOW Private Arrival/Departure Shuttle Transfer : $52
- Ottawa to Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier Airport (YOW) - Departure Private Transfer: $66
- Private Arrival Transfer from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Airport YOW: $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Berkshires or Ottawa?
Prices for flights to both Ottawa and Berkshires 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 dayBerkshires $73Ottawa $17
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 Musical : $71
- Taste of the ByWard Market Food Tour: $79
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Berkshires $25Ottawa $40
Tours and Activities in Berkshires
Here are a few actual costs in Berkshires for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2-Hour Guided Private Forest Bathing Experience Lenox: $40
Tours and Activities in Ottawa
For Ottawa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.42
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $6.42
- Ottawa Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- Explore Canada Through Ottawa's Eyes with Walking Tours Through The City: $6.68
- Ottawa's Hidden History: A Self Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- A Self Guided Audio Tour of Ottawa's Hidden History: $6.99
- Ottawa Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Ottawa by Wacky Walks: $10
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Ottawa by Operation City Quest: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Ottawa by Crazy Dash: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBerkshires $31Ottawa $18
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Berkshires and Ottawa, we can see that Berkshires is more expensive. And not only is Ottawa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ottawa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ottawa 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 Berkshires would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Berkshires than you might in Ottawa.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Berkshires Expensive? and Is Ottawa Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Berkshires or Ottawa?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Berkshires or Ottawa in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Berkshires as well as Ottawa.
In the summer, Berkshires is around the same temperature as Ottawa. Typically, the summer temperatures in Berkshires in July average around 72°F (22°C), and Ottawa averages at about 21°C (71°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ottawa. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Berkshires this time of the year. In the summer, Berkshires often gets more sunshine than Ottawa. Berkshires gets 289 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 268 hours of full sun.
Berkshires usually gets less rain in July than Ottawa. Berkshires gets 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBerkshires 72°F (22°C)Ottawa 21°C (71°F)
Should I visit Berkshires or Ottawa in the Autumn?
Both Ottawa and Berkshires are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
In October, Berkshires is generally a little warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Berkshires average around 51°F (11°C), and Ottawa fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
Berkshires usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during autumn. Berkshires gets 162 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 116 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Berkshires usually receives less rain than Ottawa. Berkshires gets 2.6 inches (67 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBerkshires 51°F (11°C)Ottawa 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Berkshires or Ottawa in the Winter?
Both Ottawa and Berkshires during the winter are popular places to visit.
The weather in Ottawa can be very cold. Berkshires can be very cold during winter. Berkshires is much warmer than Ottawa in the winter. The daily temperature in Berkshires averages around 22°F (-6°C) in January, and Ottawa fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).
In the winter, Berkshires often gets more sunshine than Ottawa. Berkshires gets 138 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 93 hours of full sun.
Berkshires usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Ottawa. Berkshires gets 1.9 inches (49 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBerkshires 22°F (-6°C)Ottawa -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Berkshires or Ottawa in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Berkshires and Ottawa.
In the spring, Berkshires is a little warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the spring temperatures in Berkshires in April average around 47°F (9°C), and Ottawa averages at about 6°C (44°F).
In Berkshires, it's very sunny this time of the year. Berkshires usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during spring. Berkshires gets 223 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Berkshires usually receives around the same amount of rain as Ottawa. Berkshires gets 2.6 inches (66 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBerkshires 47°F (9°C)Ottawa 6°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Ottawa and Berkshires
| Berkshires | Ottawa | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 22°F (-6°C) | 1.9 inches (49 mm) | -10°C (14°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 24°F (-4°C) | 2 inches (51 mm) | -9°C (16°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | 35°F (2°C) | 2.5 inches (63 mm) | -2°C (28°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 47°F (9°C) | 2.6 inches (66 mm) | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| May | 59°F (15°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 13°C (56°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 67°F (20°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 19°C (65°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 72°F (22°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) | 21°C (71°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 70°F (21°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) | 20°C (68°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 62°F (17°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) | 15°C (59°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Oct | 51°F (11°C) | 2.6 inches (67 mm) | 9°C (48°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Nov | 41°F (5°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) | 2°C (36°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 28°F (-2°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) | -7°C (20°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
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.