A Travel Price Comparison for Canada Edmonton vs. Winnipeg for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Edmonton or Winnipeg?

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 Edmonton and Winnipeg can help you decide which place is right for you.

Edmonton

Edmonton is a authentic, friendly, and cultural city. Visitors also love the shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Edmonton travel costs.

Winnipeg

Winnipeg is a friendly, welcoming, and cultural city. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping. See Winnipeg travel costs.

Edmonton and Winnipeg: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Edmonton or Winnipeg?

Both Winnipeg and Edmonton have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Edmonton is very popular for its shopping, while Winnipeg attracts visitors for its food. Edmonton is famous for its many festivals and lively personality. Winnipeg is famous for its festivals, culture, and railway connections.

How is Edmonton different from Winnipeg?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Winnipeg and Edmonton. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Edmonton or Winnipeg?

Both Edmonton and Winnipeg have superb landmarks and museums for visitors.

Many visitors head to Edmonton specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. You'll find a number of good museums around town such as the Royal Alberta Museum, Muttart Conservatory, the Alberta Aviation Museum, and the Art Gallery of Alberta.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Winnipeg can be an interesting and educational experience. There are some unique museums around town including the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Other popular museums are the Manitoba Museum and the Manitoba Children's Museum.

Is the Food Better in Edmonton or Winnipeg? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Winnipeg is very good for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Edmonton is not a good city for its restaurants.

Winnipeg offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. You'll find a wide variety of restaurants around town that serve a mix of local dishes and international cuisines. A must-see part of the city is the historic Forks Market.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Edmonton. You'll find a mix of casual cafes, international eateries, and more upscale dining options.

Is Edmonton or Winnipeg Better for Nightlife?

Both Edmonton and Winnipeg are nice when it comes to partying.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Edmonton. There's a mix of nightclubs, bars, and breweries around town. Head to Jasper Avenue for the high end clubs or check out a live show at one of the active theaters around town.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Winnipeg. The city has an active nightlife, even during the winter months. You'll find dance clubs, bars, and pubs around town that are popular with locals and visitors alike.

Is the Shopping Better in Edmonton or Winnipeg?

Edmonton is great for its shopping opportunities. Also, Winnipeg is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its shopping areas.

Edmonton is well-known for its shopping. The city is home to the West Edmonton Mall, which is the largest shopping mall in Canada, and among the largest in the world. The mall includes hundreds of shops, restaurants, a hotel, ice rink, movie theaters, an aquarium, and Galaxyland, which is one of the largest indoor amusement parks in the world. The mall is divided into themed sections that represent iconic places from around the world such as Europa Boulevard and Bourbon Street.

Many visitors go to Winnipeg to go shopping. You'll find all of the standard shopping options around town, from boutiques to big box shops and even some outlets.

Is Edmonton or Winnipeg Better for Families?

You'll find nice kid-friendly activities in either Edmonton or Winnipeg.

Edmonton is a family-friendly place to visit. Many families live in town so if you're visiting for a few days you'll find plenty to do with kids. Most of the activities are concentrated in the downtown areas and along the south side of the North Saskatchewan River. The whole family will enjoy a visit to Telus World of Science. There's also the Edmonton Valley Zoo, the Alberta Aviation Museum, and Galaxyland, as well as many other activities.

Winnipeg is a family-friendly city. Kids will love a visit to the Assiniboine Park Zoo or the Manitoba Children's Museum. There are a number of parks and playgrounds around town as well as the Prairie Dog Central Railway. There are many kid-friendly restaurants in the city as well.

Is Edmonton or Winnipeg Better for Couples?

Both Edmonton and Winnipeg are nice destinations to visit as a couple.

Edmonton is a nice destination for couples. There's a good theater scene, so you can enjoy dinner and a show. There are also quaint cafes, mellow breweries, and plenty of cultural activities like art museums.

Winnipeg makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Many couples enjoy wandering through Assiniboine Park. There are also many romantic restaurants and spas for couples.

Is Edmonton or Winnipeg Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Winnipeg is very good for backpackers. However, Edmonton is not a good city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Winnipeg is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. While it's often overlooked by backpackers, there are a couple of hostels around town.

Edmonton is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Most backpackers overlook this city, but there is a hostel in town where you can stay.

Is Edmonton or Winnipeg Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Edmonton is a city with good options for times when you don't have a car. However, Winnipeg is not a good destination for its public transit.

While Edmonton offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. The city has both bus and light rail systems.

Public transit is generally limited in Winnipeg. There's a bus system around town, but many visitors prefer to have a vehicle.

Is Edmonton or Winnipeg a more walkable city?

Edmonton is a city with good options for its high level of walkability. However, Winnipeg is not a good destination for its ease of walking around.

Edmonton is a somewhat walkable place. There are parts of the city that are very walkable.

Winnipeg is generally not very walkable. While there are a few walkable neighborhoods, the city itself is not particularly walkable, particularly during the cold winter months.

For even more information, also check out Is Edmonton Worth Visiting? and Is Winnipeg Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Winnipeg or Edmonton?

How long in Edmonton or Winnipeg?

It's fun to spend time in either Edmonton or Winnipeg. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Winnipeg due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Edmonton, and 2-4 days is enough time in Winnipeg.

Couples should spend more time in Edmonton than Winnipeg. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Edmonton that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Winnipeg than Edmonton if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Winnipeg.

One day in Edmonton or Winnipeg?

The city of Edmonton offers nightlife and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

The city of Winnipeg offers food and shopping. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Edmonton or Winnipeg?

Edmonton is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Edmonton, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Winnipeg is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Winnipeg, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Edmonton or Winnipeg?

Edmonton is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Winnipeg is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Edmonton or Winnipeg?

Edmonton is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

Winnipeg is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to Canada, The Best G Adventures Tours to Canada, The Best 3-Day Tours from Vancouver, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Vancouver.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Edmonton and Winnipeg, we can see that Winnipeg is more expensive. And not only is Edmonton much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Edmonton would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Edmonton 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 Winnipeg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Winnipeg than you might in Edmonton.

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

Which is Bigger, Edmonton or Winnipeg?

Edmonton has a larger population, and is about 13% larger than the population of Winnipeg. When comparing the sizes of Edmonton and Winnipeg, 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.