Which place is cheaper, Banff or Death Valley National Park?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Death Valley National Park or Banff?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Death Valley National Park and Banff can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Death Valley National Park or Banff?
Death Valley National Park
With over 3.4 million acres of desert and mountains, the sights of Death Valley encompass sweeping viewpoints, scenic drives, dunes, craters, and colors that change with the course of the sun. Historically, a few Native American cultures are known to have lived in the area, mostly nomadic. The first Europeans to stumble upon the area were a group drawn by the California Gold Rush. Forced to abandon their wagons, they were eventually able to hike out of the valley. Upon leaving, one traveler called it Death Valley and the name stuck.
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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America, The Best Historical 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 dayDeath Valley National Park $87Banff $84
The average daily cost (per person) in Death Valley National Park is $87, 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 Death Valley National Park and Banff in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDeath Valley National Park $37Banff $38
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDeath Valley National Park $74Banff $76
Compare Hotels in Death Valley National Park and Banff
Looking for a hotel in Death Valley National Park 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: Banff Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Death Valley National Park $41Banff $5.18
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 Death Valley National Park or Banff?
Prices for flights to both Banff and Death Valley National Park 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 dayDeath Valley National Park $20Banff $29
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.Death Valley National Park $36Banff $12
Tours and Activities in Death Valley National Park
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Death Valley National Park are as follows:
- Death Valley Self Guided Audio Driving Tour: $15
- Death Valley on Mojave Desert VIP Small Group Tour from Las Vegas: $219
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 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
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayDeath Valley National Park $8.57Banff $9.34
When comparing the travel costs between Death Valley National Park and Banff, we can see that Death Valley National Park 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 Death Valley National Park Expensive? and Is Banff 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.