Which place is cheaper, Jasper National Park or Carmel-by-the-Sea?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Carmel-by-the-Sea or Jasper National Park?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Carmel-by-the-Sea and Jasper National Park 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: Carmel-by-the-Sea or Jasper National Park?
Carmel-by-the-Sea
A small, beach town on the Monterey Peninsula, Carmel-by-the-Sea is known for its idyllic natural scenery and artistic history. Carmel's village, just one square mile in size, is unlike any other in California with its picturesque views, European style and unusual laws.
Clint Eastwood served as mayor of Carmel from 1986-88. Without a single fast food or chain restaurants, visitors can easily feel that Carmel still preserves its slow and easy lifestyle, with all private-owned restaurants, coffee shops and pubs. This town is undoubtedly charming, even with its anti-high heel laws (though they aren't strictly enforced and permits are free at the City Hall), lack of street addresses and has been named the top destination for dog-friendly towns in the country. Grab your furry friends, leave your heels at home and get ready to explore this quaint and lovely town by the sea.
If you want to avoid the heat, Carmel is the perfect place to go, with year-round mild temperatures. Even during the summer seasons, you may not feel the heat through the fog and cool coastal weather. Peak seasons for travel are during summer months in August and September, (especially popular for weddings) and even then, the highs are still in the low 70s. Winter season lows dip only down to low 50s, with the Pacific Oceans maintaining moderate temperatures.
If you're driving to the city, keep in mind that the businesses do not have numbers in their addresses. To get directions or arrange a meeting, be sure to remember the name of the business and grab a map from the Carmel Chamber of Commerce.
Some famous artists who have resided in Carmel are Upton Sinclair, Jack London and Mary Austin. Carmel is known to be particularly dog-friendly, as almost all hotels allow guests to bring their dogs.
Jasper National Park
An UNESCO World Heritage Site, Jasper National Park, located in Canada's Alberta Province, is one of a few national and provincial parks that showcase the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage, The Best Luxury Tours to Canada, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCarmel-by-the-Sea $0.00Jasper National Park $82
The average daily cost (per person) in Carmel-by-the-Sea is $0.00, while the average daily cost in Jasper National Park is $82. 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 Carmel-by-the-Sea and Jasper National Park in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCarmel-by-the-Sea -Jasper National Park $45
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCarmel-by-the-Sea $0.00Jasper National Park $90
Compare Hotels in Carmel-by-the-Sea and Jasper National Park
Looking for a hotel in Carmel-by-the-Sea or Jasper National Park? 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: Carmel-by-the-Sea Hotel Prices and Jasper National Park Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Carmel-by-the-Sea $125Jasper National Park $19
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Jasper National Park
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Jasper National Park are as follows:
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Park Pass$14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jasper National Park
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Jasper National Park:
- Jasper Thermal Resorts to Calgary Airport YYC Departure Transfer: $170
- Jasper Thermal to Edmonton Airport (YEG) Departure Transfer: $170
Is it cheaper to fly into Carmel-by-the-Sea or Jasper National Park?
Prices for flights to both Jasper National Park and Carmel-by-the-Sea 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 dayCarmel-by-the-Sea $153Jasper National Park $23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Carmel-by-the-Sea
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
- Thai Cooking Class in Monterey: $99
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jasper National Park
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Jasper National Park.
- Half-Day Jasper Culture Food Tour: $107
- Peak Nic - A hike and an outdoor cooking lesson: $119
- 4-Hours E-Bike Food Tour : $201
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Carmel-by-the-Sea -Jasper National Park $7.75
Tours and Activities in Carmel-by-the-Sea
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Carmel-by-the-Sea are as follows:
- Fairy Tale Houses Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between San Francisco & Monterey: $7.99
- Carmel-by-the-Sea's Fairytale Houses: A Self-Guided Walking Tour: $7.99
- Downtown A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Off the Beaten Path in A Self-Guided Tour: $7.99
- Historic Cannery Row: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of John Steinbeck's Monterey: $7.99
- 17 Mile Drive: A Self-Guide Audio Tour of Pebble Beach’s Historical Highlights: $9.99
- Discover Enchanted Cottages: A Carmel-by-the-Sea Audio Tour: $11
- Scenic 17-Mile Drive Tour - Self Drive Audio Guide from Monterey & Carmel: $15
- Point Lobos - A Private Charming Ocean Tour: $15
- Big Sur Self-Driving Audio Tour: Highway 1, Pacific Coast Highway: $17
- Monterey: Ocean Paradise, Trolley and Walking Tour: $20
Tours and Activities in Jasper National Park
Here are a few actual costs in Jasper National Park for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Icefields Parkway Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $17
- Live Theater Show Ticket 'From Jasper with love': $24
- From Jasper: Jasper National Park Wildlife Discovery Tour: $53
- Planetarium and Telescope Combo Tour : $54
- Maligne Canyon Hiking Tour: $60
- Morning Jasper National Park Wildlife Tour: $64
- Jasper Evening Wildlife Tour: $64
- Winter Wildlife Discovery Tour: $64
- Jasper National Park Tour: Maligne Valley, Medicine Lake and Spirit Island: $64
- Maligne Lake Cruise: $67
- Jasper Wildlife and Waterfalls Tour with Maligne Lake Hike: $72
- Class 3 Sunwapta River Rafting Adventure in Jasper: $94
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCarmel-by-the-Sea -Jasper National Park $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Carmel-by-the-Sea
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Carmel-by-the-Sea:
- Wine Tasting and Walking Tour of Carmel-by-the-Sea: $149
- Wine Tasting and Walking Tour of Carmel-by-the-Sea: $149
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Carmel-by-the-Sea and Jasper National Park, we can see that Jasper National Park is more expensive. And not only is Carmel-by-the-Sea much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Carmel-by-the-Sea would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Carmel-by-the-Sea 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 Jasper National Park would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Jasper National Park than you might in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Carmel-by-the-Sea Expensive? and Is Jasper National Park Expensive?.
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.