Which place is cheaper, Calgary or Cardiff?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cardiff or Calgary?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cardiff or Calgary? 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: Cardiff or Calgary?
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital city of Wales, and a major port on the country's southern coast. Though Cardiff boomed with the coal industry during the Industrial Revolution, the city began its history as a Roman fort on the River Taff-perhaps taking its name from a combination of the Welsh word for fort (caer) and the name of the river (Taff). The fort still stands today along with many other landmarks that attract tourists each year.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United Kingdom, The Best Coach Bus Tours in United Kingdom, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCardiff £156Calgary £124
The average daily cost (per person) in Cardiff is £156, while the average daily cost in Calgary is £124. 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 Cardiff and Calgary in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCardiff £93Calgary £59
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCardiff £186Calgary £118
Compare Hotels in Cardiff and Calgary
Looking for a hotel in Cardiff or Calgary? 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: Cardiff Hotel Prices and Calgary Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cardiff £21Calgary £10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cardiff
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cardiff:
- Arrival Private Transfer from Cardiff Airport CWL to Cardiff by Luxury Vehicle: $96
- Barry Accommodation to Cardiff Airport (CWL) - Departure Private Transfer: $33
- Bristol Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Cardiff: $13
- Cardiff Airport (CWL): Transfer to Cardiff Accommodation: $140
- Cardiff Private Transfer from Cardiff Airport to City centre: $79
- Cardiff to Cardiff Airport (CWL) - Departure Private Transfer: $38
- Departure Private Transfer from Cardiff to Cardiff Airport CWL by Luxury Vehicle: $96
- Heathrow Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Cardiff: $16
- Newport Accommodation to Cardiff Airport (CWL) - Departure Private Transfer: $60
- Private Cardiff Arrival Transfer- Airport to Hotel / Accommodation : $58
- Private Cardiff Departure Transfer - Hotel / Accommodation to Airport: $58
- Private Transfer from Holyhead Port to Manchester Airport (MAN): $102
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Calgary
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Calgary:
- Alberta Transfer: Banff, Jasper, Lake Louise, Calgary: $67
- Arrival Private Transfer: Calgary Airport YYC to Calgary in Business Car: $108
- Arrival Private Transfer: Calgary Airport YYC to Calgary in Luxury Van: $129
- Banff To Calgary Airport - Private Transfer: $365
- Banff to Calgary Airport | Private Transfer: $190
- Calgary Air to Fairmont/Radium Hot Springs Round-Trip Transfer: $296
- Calgary Airport (YYC) to Banff | Private Transfer: $185
- Calgary Airport (YYC) to Jasper Thermal Resorts Arrival Transfer: $170
- Calgary Airport (YYC) to Lake Louise | Private Transfer: $235
- Calgary Airport to Banff Thermal Resorts Private Arrival Transfer: $139
- Calgary Airport to Banff | Private Transfer: $190
- Calgary Airport to Canmore | Private Transfer: $177
Is it cheaper to fly into Cardiff or Calgary?
Prices for flights to both Calgary and Cardiff 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 dayCardiff £44Calgary £25
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£6.52
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cardiff £25Calgary £12
Tours and Activities in Cardiff
Here are a few actual costs in Cardiff for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Ghosts of Llandaff Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Cardiff’s Bay and Waterfront: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of Bay and Barrage: $5.99
- A Journey through Tudor A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Cardiff's Civic Centre: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- The Ghosts of Llandaff: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Essential Caerphilly: Explore the town’s history on a self-guided audio tour: $6.22
- Uncover Ghostly Chester: In-App Audio Tour of Eerie Tales: $11
- Uncover Spectral Secrets with the Llandaff Ghosts Audio Tour: $11
- Discover Cardiff's Waterfront: In-App Audio Tour: $11
- Cardiff Bay Private Self-Guided Tour: $11
- Llanberis, Conwy and Caernarfon Castle: A Self-Guided Driving Tour of Snowdonia: $15
Typical Entertainment Prices in Calgary
Here are a few typical costs in Calgary for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Stampede Admission (for 2)£18
Tours and Activities in Calgary
Here are a few actual costs in Calgary for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Downtown Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.11
- Bow River Trail Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.11
- Downtown Calgary a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.20
- Bow River Trail: a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.20
- 3-Hour Tips Based Walking Tour of Calgary: $5.47
- 3-hour Tips-Based City Walking Tour: $6.58
- Explore the Stampede City with Walking Tours in Calgary: $6.69
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Discover Calgary with 3 Unique Smartphone Audio Walking Tours: $13
- Rocky Mountains: Smartphone Driving and Walking Audio Tours: $15
- Experience the season with a scavenger hunt in Calgary with Holly Jolly Hunt: $21
- Calgary Downtown: 2-Hour Introductory Walking Tour: $22
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCardiff £13Calgary £8.83
Sample the Local Flavors in Cardiff
Also in Cardiff, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Gin Tour at Hensol Castle Distillery: $32
- Cardiff Bar Maid-led Pub Crawl for Special Events: $44
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: $83
- Calgary Brewery Tour: $89
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cardiff and Calgary, we can see that Cardiff is more expensive. And not only is Calgary much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cardiff is in Europe and Calgary is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Cardiff would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cardiff 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 Cardiff Expensive? and Is Calgary Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cardiff or Calgary?
Calgary has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Cardiff. When comparing the sizes of Cardiff and Calgary, 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.