Which place is cheaper, Banff or Clearwater?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Clearwater or Banff?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Clearwater and Banff. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Clearwater or Banff?
Clearwater
Clearwater is a city in Florida's Tampa Bay area known for its sunny weather and gulf coast beaches. Its most famous beach (Clearwater Beach) is located on a barrier island with white sands and crystal waters - a perfect setting for activities such as fishing, sailing, kayaking, jet skiing, dolphin and sunset tours, parasailing, and more.
Banff
Nestled in the pristine and gorgeous mountains of the Alberta Rockies is the popular town of Banff. This town sits right in Canada's Banff National Park and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.
While the surrounding nature may give the impression of a quiet, little town, Banff is typically crowded with tourists. The beauty of this area is irresistible for travelers from all over the world. This may not be the place for solitude or even an authentic, country experience, you'll still find an unforgettable vacation.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada, and The Best Camping Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayClearwater $309Banff $84
The average daily cost (per person) in Clearwater is $309, while the average daily cost in Banff is $84. 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 Clearwater and Banff in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personClearwater $141Banff $38
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomClearwater $282Banff $76
Compare Hotels in Clearwater and Banff
Looking for a hotel in Clearwater or Banff? 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: Clearwater Hotel Prices and Banff Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Clearwater $221Banff $5.18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Clearwater
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Clearwater:
- St. Petersburg to St. Pete–Clearwater Airport (PIE) - Departure Private Transfer: $63
- St. Pete–Clearwater Airport (PIE) to St. Petersburg - Arrival Private Transfer : $63
- Private Transfer from St Petersburg Clearwater Airport to St Pete Beach: $75
- Clearwater Beach to Tampa Airport (TPA) - Departure Private Transfer: $87
- Clearwater Beach to St.Pete–Clearwater Airport (PIE) -Departure Private Transfer: $102
- St. Pete–Clearwater Airport (PIE) to Clearwater Beach - Arrival Private Transfer: $102
- Private Airport Transfer to St. Petersburg or Clearwater Beach : $104
- Private Transfer from Clearwater to Tampa Airport: $120
- St. Pete–Clearwater Airport (PIE) to St. Petersburg - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $127
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Banff
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Banff:
- Private Transfer - Between YYC Calgary Airport and Banff: $234
- Private Airport Transfer to Banff: $289
- From Private One-Way Transfer to Calgary: $365
- From 1-Way Private Transfer to Calgary Airport (YYC): $511
- Private Banff National Park Tour with Hotel Transfers: $876
Is it cheaper to fly into Clearwater or Banff?
Prices for flights to both Banff and Clearwater 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 dayClearwater $46Banff $29
Typical Food Prices in Banff
Some typical examples of dining costs in Banff are as follows:
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Tea House Lunch for Two$33
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Hostel Breakfast$27
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McDonalds$4.63
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Banff
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Banff.
- Banff Food Tour: Eat the Castle: $153
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Clearwater -Banff $12
Tours and Activities in Clearwater
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Clearwater are as follows:
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Clearwater by Operation City Quest: $10
- St. Petersburg Jungle Prada Site History Tour: $14
- Clearwater; Aspirations Winery Tour and Tasting Experience: $21
- Daytime Yacht Sightseeing Cruise with Optional Dining : $27
- Clearwater Daytime Yacht Sightseeing Cruise with Optional Dining : $27
- Clearwater Beach: Dolphins and Donuts Morning Cruise: $28
- Mega Bite Dolphin Tour Boat in Clearwater Beach: $28
- 1-hour Dolphin Sightseeing Adventure Cruise from Madeira Beach: $28
- Shark Teeth and Shells, Dolphin and Shelling Tour Boat Clearwater Beach : $28
- Clearwater Beach: Dolphin and Sandbar Boat Cruise: $28
- Sunset and Harbor Lights Cruise: $28
- Tour with Dolphins and Sight Seeing: $29
Typical Entertainment Prices in Banff
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Banff are as follows:
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Hot Springs$5.31
Tours and Activities in Banff
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Banff are as follows:
- Banff self-guided tour App with multi-language audio guide: $2.14
- Tunnel Mountain Trail: Nature Tour with Audio Guide: $5.11
- Tunnel Mountain Trail: a Smartphone Audio Nature Tour : $5.19
- Calgary & Lake Louise: Smartphone Audio Driving Tour: $6.21
- The Sights of a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $6.21
- The Sights of Canmore: a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $6.31
- Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between Banff and Calgary: $6.31
- The Sights of a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $6.31
- Historic Cave & Basin Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $8.49
- Banff National Park: Self-Guided Scenic Driving Tour: $13
- Listen to a Tour Guide as You Drive & Walk with our Discover the Rockies Package: $15
- Banff National Park Self-Guided Driving Tour: $17
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayClearwater -Banff $9.34
Sample the Local Flavors in Clearwater
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Clearwater:
- The Tour and Wine Tasting Experience at Aspirations Winery: $20
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Clearwater and Banff, we can see that Clearwater is more expensive. And not only is Banff much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Banff would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Banff 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 Clearwater would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Clearwater than you might in Banff.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Clearwater Expensive? and Is Banff Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Clearwater or Banff?
Clearwater has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Banff. When comparing the sizes of Clearwater and Banff, 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.