A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Columbia River Gorge vs. Edmonton for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Columbia River Gorge or Edmonton?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Columbia River Gorge or Edmonton, 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: Columbia River Gorge or Edmonton?

Columbia River Gorge

Columbia River Gorge is a popular destination in the Cascade Mountains in the Pacific Northwest. The region's close proximity to Portland, which is just 30 minutes away, makes it a popular weekend destination.

The gorge is formed by the Columbia River, with an 80 mile stretch designated as a National Scenic Area. The area has many beautiful cliffs with a number of tall waterfalls and its protected status means that most new development must occur within one of the already established towns.

Edmonton

The capital of Alberta, Canada, Edmonton has a population of just over one million people in its metropolitan area. It is also North America's northernmost city of this large size. It's a beautiful place to visit because of the North Saskatchewan River Valley which has over one hundred kilometers of hiking trails, wildlife spotting, and overlooks. The valley has a string of parks which are wonderful to visit. In addition to the beautiful outdoor setting and activities, Edmonton also offers the largest shopping mall in North America, West Edmonton Mall. It's also a city with a lot of culture including a lively theater scene, many different festivals, and no shortage of sporting events that you could attend.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America, The Best Historical Tours in United States of America, The Best Contiki Tours to Canada, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Canada.


Which place is cheaper, Edmonton or Columbia River Gorge?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Columbia River Gorge is $179, while the average daily cost in Edmonton is $179. 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 Columbia River Gorge and Edmonton in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Columbia River Gorge $89
    Edmonton $101
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Columbia River Gorge $178
    Edmonton $202
Compare Hotels in Columbia River Gorge and Edmonton

Looking for a hotel in Columbia River Gorge or Edmonton? 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 Columbia River Gorge


Hotels in Edmonton


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: Edmonton Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Columbia River Gorge $78
    Edmonton $79

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Edmonton

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Edmonton:

  • Private Departure Transfer from Hotels to Edmonton Airport: $43
  • Edmonton to Edmonton Airport (YEG) - Departure Private Transfer: $43

Is it cheaper to fly into Columbia River Gorge or Edmonton?

Prices for flights to both Edmonton and Columbia River Gorge 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
    Columbia River Gorge $46
    Edmonton $16

Typical Food Prices in Edmonton

Some typical examples of dining costs in Edmonton are as follows:


  • Snacks
    $7.26

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Columbia River Gorge $20
    Edmonton $91

Tours and Activities in Edmonton

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Edmonton are as follows:

  • Discover the Early History of Strathcona with Historic Walking Tour: $4.46
  • Edmonton Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
  • Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Edmonton by Crazy Dash: $10
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
  • 1-Hour Segway Adventure in Louise McKinney Park: $44
  • Edmonton River Valley 60-Minute Segway Adventure: $45
  • Edmonton River Valley 90-Minute Segway Adventure: $63
  • The Best of Edmonton Walking Tour: $224
  • Romantic Tour Around Edmonton For Couples: $224

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Columbia River Gorge $12
    Edmonton -

Sample the Local Flavors in Edmonton

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Edmonton:

  • Edmonton Brewery Tour: $105


When comparing the travel costs between Columbia River Gorge and Edmonton, we can see that Edmonton is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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


Which is Bigger, Columbia River Gorge or Edmonton?

Edmonton has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Columbia River Gorge. When comparing the sizes of Columbia River Gorge and Edmonton, 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.

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