Should you visit Calgary or Quebec City?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Calgary and Quebec City can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Calgary
Calgary is the largest city in Alberta and, located at the edge of the prairie and foothills, it is a gateway to the Rocky Mountains. If you're headed to Banff or Jasper, this is likely to be your first stop. It's also Canada's fourth largest city and worth a few days visit. Calgary's economy is diverse, but includes energy, financial services, film and television, transportation, technology, manufacturing, and much more.
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 Calgary?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Calgary is $140, while the average daily cost in Quebec City 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Calgary and Quebec City in more detail.
Accommodation
The average price for accommodation for two people in Calgary is $132. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
A hotel room in Quebec City is about $132 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Food
In Calgary travelers spend around $28 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 $33 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
Calgary $28
Quebec City $33
Typical Food prices in Calgary
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Calgary:
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Bread, Chips, Cheese
$9.24
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Calgary is $11 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 $15 per person, per day, on local transportation in Quebec City.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Calgary
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Calgary:
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Arrival Private Transfers: Calgary Airport YYC to Calgary City in Business Car:
$99
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Arrival Private Transfers: Calgary Airport YYC to Calgary City in Luxury SUV:
$131
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Arrival Private Transfers: Calgary Airport YYC to Calgary City in Luxury Van:
$124
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Banff Transfer in luxury:
$228
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Calgary Airport (YYC) to Calgary hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer:
$60
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Calgary Airport (YYC) to Calgary hotel or address - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$119
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Calgary Airport Transfer to Banff (Private):
$516
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Calgary Airport Transfers: Calgary Airport YYC to Calgary City in Business Car:
$99
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Calgary Airport Transfers: Calgary Airport YYC to Calgary City in Luxury SUV:
$124
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Calgary Airport Transfers: Calgary Airport YYC to Calgary City in Luxury Van:
$124
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Calgary Airport Transfers: Calgary City to Calgary Airport YYC in Business Car:
$99
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Calgary Airport Transfers: Calgary City to Calgary Airport YYC in Luxury SUV:
$124
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
$4.14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quebec City
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Quebec City:
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Private Airport Transfer: Quebec to Quebec City Jean Lesage Int. Airport (YQB):
$95
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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 Quebec City Transfer: Airport to Hotel:
$119
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Private Quebec City Transfer: Hotel to Airport:
$119
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Private Transfer: Quebec to Quebec City Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB):
$107
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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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Québec city to Québec Jean Lesage Airport (YUL) - Departure Private Transfer:
$90
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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
Entertainment
Calgary's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $14 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 $22 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 Calgary
Here are a few typical costs in Calgary for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Calgary
Here are a few actual costs in Calgary for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Discover Downtown Calgary GPS-Guided Audio Walking Tour:
$4.84
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Calgary's Beltline District GPS-Guided Audio Walking Tour:
$5.63
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Listen to a Tour Guide as You Drive between Calgary and Lake Louise:
$6.44
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Private Tour with a Local:
$29
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Mohkinstsis Winter Walking Tour of Calgary's Indigenous History:
$34
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Mohkinstsis Walking Tour - Explore Calgary's Indigenous History:
$34
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Winter Lake Louise/ Emerald Lake 1 Day Tour:
$104
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Winter Banff/ Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary 1 Day Tour:
$104
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Winter-Banff/ Sulphur Mountain One Day Tour:
$104
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Small Group Winter Lake Louise and Yoho Snowfun 1-Day Tour from Calgary or Banff:
$115
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Samll Group Winter Banff Discovery 1-Day Tour w/Hot Springs from Calgary/Banff:
$115
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Drumheller & Horseshoe Canyon 1-Day Tour:
$118
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
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Calgary may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $10 per day on alcoholic beverages.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Quebec City may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $17 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Calgary
Also in Calgary, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Calgary Bar Crawl: Cruisin' Calgary:
$12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Calgary and Quebec City, we can see that Calgary is more expensive. And not only is Quebec City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Quebec City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Quebec City 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 Calgary would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Calgary than you might in Quebec City.
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