Which place is cheaper, Banff or Cleveland?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Cleveland or Banff?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Cleveland or Banff, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Cleveland or Banff?
Cleveland
Located on the shores of Lake Erie of the Great Lakes, Cleveland is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. As a culturally diverse and thriving metropolitan area, the city is host to a vast range of sights and activities, such as world-class museums, cultural events, professional sports, and golf courses as well as plenty of dining, shopping, and entertainment opportunities.
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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America, The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada, and The Best Camping Tours in Canada.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCleveland $132Banff $84
The average daily cost (per person) in Cleveland is $132, 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 Cleveland and Banff in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCleveland $75Banff $38
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCleveland $150Banff $76
Compare Hotels in Cleveland and Banff
Looking for a hotel in Cleveland 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: Cleveland Hotel Prices and Banff Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cleveland $19Banff $5.18
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cleveland
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Cleveland are as follows:
-
Taxi to Airport$36
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cleveland
Also for Cleveland, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer to Cleveland Airport (CLE): $64
- Private Arrival Transfer from Cleveland Airprot (CLE): $64
- Cleveland to Cleveland Hopkins Airport (CLE) - Departure Private Transfer : $89
- Cleveland Hopkins Airport (CLE) to Cleveland - Arrival Private Transfer : $89
- CLE Airport Transfer to Downtown Cleveland: $135
- Cleveland Hopkins Airport (CLE) to Cleveland - Round-Trip Private Transfer : $179
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 Cleveland or Banff?
Prices for flights to both Banff and Cleveland 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 dayCleveland $36Banff $29
Typical Food Prices in Cleveland
For Cleveland, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Coffee$1.79
-
Sandwich$9.75
-
Large Pizza$15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cleveland
For Cleveland, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- West Side Market Food Tour: $49
- Little Italy Neighborhood Food Tour of Cleveland: $74
- Ohio City Neighborhood Food Tour of Cleveland: $91
Typical Food Prices in Banff
Some typical examples of dining costs in Banff are as follows:
-
Tea House Lunch for Two$33
-
Hostel Breakfast$27
-
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
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cleveland $40Banff $12
Tours and Activities in Cleveland
For Cleveland, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Cleveland by Wacky Walks: $10
- Skip the Line: Cleveland History Center Admission Ticket: $14
- Cleveland History Center General Admission Ticket: $15
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Cleveland by Zombie Scavengers: $20
- Experience the season with a scavenger hunt in Cleveland with Holly Jolly Hunt: $20
- Eerie Ghosts Haunted Walking Tour: $24
- Downtown Cleveland Public Art Walking Tour : $24
- Cleveland From the Inside Walking Tour: $24
- Guided Walking Tour: Downtown Highlights: $24
- Smartphone-Guided Walking Tour of Downtown Cleveland: $25
- Smartphone-Guided Walking Tour of University Circle: $25
- Smartphone-Guided Walking Tour of University Circle Sights & Stories: $28
Typical Entertainment Prices in Banff
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Banff are as follows:
-
Hot Springs$5.31
Tours and Activities in Banff
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Banff are as follows:
- Banff National Park Big Canoe Tour: $56
- Skybridge Adventure Golden BC from Canmore & Banff: $165
- 2 Hour Banff Horseback Riding Adventure: $144
- 4 Days Tour to Banff & Jasper National Park with Hotels: $2,595
- 4 Days Tour to Banff & Jasper National Park without Hotels: $1,462
- BANFF EVENING eBIKE WILDLIFE TOUR: $74
- Banff : Day Tour : Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and Peyto Lake: $186
- Banff Highlights & Wildlife | Award-Winning Small Group Adventure: $74
- Banff National Park Self-Guided Driving Tour: $17
- Banff National Park Tour with Lake Louise and Moraine Lake: $84
- Banff National Park: Big Canoe River Explorer Tour: $53
- Banff National Park: Self-Guided Scenic Driving Tour: $13
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayCleveland $45Banff $9.34
Typical Alcohol Prices in Cleveland
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Cleveland are as follows:
-
A Night of Shots$36
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cleveland and Banff, we can see that Cleveland 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 Cleveland would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cleveland 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 Cleveland Expensive? and Is Banff Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cleveland or Banff?
Cleveland has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Banff. When comparing the sizes of Cleveland 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.