A Travel Price Comparison for Canada Calgary vs. Victoria for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Calgary or Victoria?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Calgary and Victoria 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: Calgary or Victoria?

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.

Victoria

The capital city of British Columbia, Canada, Victoria is positioned near the southern edge of Vancouver Island. It's a wonderfully pleasant city and has been nicknamed the Garden City because of its vast green space and public gardens. There is a population of just over 80,000 in the city proper and almost 350,000 in the greater metropolitan area. Dating back to 1843, it's also one of the oldest cities in the Pacific Northwest. As such, it has many historic buildings and beautiful architecture. It also has the second oldest Chinatown in North America, following San Francisco's.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Canada, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Canada, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Canada.


Which place is cheaper, Victoria or Calgary?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Calgary is $156, while the average daily cost in Victoria is $184. 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 Calgary and Victoria in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Calgary $74
    Victoria $114
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Calgary $148
    Victoria $228
Compare Hotels in Calgary and Victoria

Looking for a hotel in Calgary or Victoria? 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 Calgary


Hotels in Victoria


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: Calgary Hotel Prices and Victoria Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Calgary $13
    Victoria $37

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Calgary

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Calgary:

  • Transfer in private minivan from Calgary Airport (YYC) - Calgary Downtown: $91
  • Transfer in Private Vehicle from Calgary Downtown - Calgary Airport (YYC): $61
  • Transfer in Private Vehicle from Calgary Airport (YYC) - Calgary Downtown: $61
  • Roundtrip Transfer Private Vehicle Calgary Airport (YYC) -Calgary Downtown: $121
  • Roundtrip Transfer Private Minivan Calgary Airport (YYC) -Calgary: $181
  • Private Transfer: Calgary Airport to Downtown: $113
  • Private Transfer from YYC Airport to Kicking Horse or Panorama: $77
  • Private Transfer from Fernie to Calgary International Airport: $77
  • Private Transfer from Calgary to Calgary Airport YYC in Luxury Van: $130
  • Private Transfer from Calgary Airport to Sunshine Village : $61
  • Lake Louise: Calgary to Lake Louise Private Transfer 1 Way: $476
  • From Private Transfer to Lake Louise: $586

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Victoria

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

  • Vancouver: Floatplane Transfer between Vancouver & Victoria: $207
  • Victoria to Vancouver - Coach Bus Transfer: $74
  • Victoria to Vancouver - Vancouver Airport (YVR) Drop Off - Coach Bus Transfer: $88
  • Victoria to Vancouver - Vancouver Cruise Terminal Drop Off - Coach Bus Transfer: $89
  • Victoria to Vancouver Ferry with Bus Transfer: $72
  • Floatplane Transfer between Victoria and Whistler: $219

Is it cheaper to fly into Calgary or Victoria?

Prices for flights to both Victoria and Calgary 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
    Calgary $31
    Victoria $27
Typical Food Prices in Calgary

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Calgary:


  • Bread, Chips, Cheese
    $8.19

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Calgary

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

  • Light Brunch & Food Tour at Calgary Farmers' Market WEST: $81

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Victoria

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

  • Chocolate Lovers Food Tour: $40
  • Chinatown and Old Town Food Tour with Tastings: $59
  • Victoria Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $60
  • Hip & Hidden Chinatown + Old Town Food Tour Victoria: $61
  • Sip, Savor, Stroll Evening Food Tour: $132

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Calgary $16
    Victoria $46
Typical Entertainment Prices in Calgary

Here are a few typical costs in Calgary for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Stampede Admission (for 2)
    $22

Tours and Activities in Calgary

Here are a few actual costs in Calgary for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 2-Hour Private Walking Tour of Calgary's Highlights: $242
  • 2-Hour Scooter Tour of Calgary's City Highlights: $70
  • 3-Hour Bike Tour of Calgary, E-Bike Upgrade Options Available: $103
  • 3-Hour Street Art Tour of Calgary with Craft Beer Tastings: $103
  • Banff & Jasper National Parks | Columbia Icefield | Private Tour: $242
  • Banff Area & Johnston Canyon 1-Day Tour from Calgary or Banff: $117
  • Banff Deep 1 Day Tour in Banff National Park: $173
  • Banff Hot Springs - Gondola - Wildlife Tour from Calgary/Banff: $116
  • Banff National Park Adventure from Calgary /Small group : $121
  • Banff National Park Tour with Pick up from Calgary/small group : $123
  • Calgary City Sightseeing Tour: $166
  • Calgary City Tour : $181

Tours and Activities in Victoria

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

  • Victoria self-guided tour App - multilingual AudioGuide: $4.34
  • Victoria Harbor: Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.13
  • 2.5-Hour Tips-Based Walking Tour of Victoria : $5.57
  • 2.5-hour Tips-Based City Walking Tour: $6.61
  • Victoria, BC: Murder Mystery Detective Experience: $11
  • Scavenger Hunt and City Highlights Walking Tour: $13
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
  • Butterfly Gardens Admission Ticket: $15
  • Ghostly Walking Tour in Victoria: $16
  • Cultural & Historical Victoria Walking Tour: $16
  • Mystical Rainforest Tour - Forest Magick: $39
  • 2-Hour History and Highlights Bike Tour: $50

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Calgary $11
    Victoria $16

Sample the Local Flavors in Calgary

Also in Calgary, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Calgary Brewery and Wine Tours at Award Winning Venues: $84
  • Calgary Brewery Tour: $91

Sample the Local Flavors in Victoria

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

  • Pickle Pub Crawl: $48
  • 3-Hour Street Art & Craft Beer Tour of Victoria, Brewery Tour & Tasting included: $103
  • From Private Cowichan Wine Tour with Lunch: $440


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Calgary and Victoria, we can see that Victoria is more expensive. And not only is Calgary much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Calgary would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Calgary 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 Victoria would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Victoria than you might in Calgary.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Calgary Expensive? and Is Victoria Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Calgary or Victoria?

Calgary has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Victoria. When comparing the sizes of Calgary and Victoria, 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.