Which place is cheaper, Calgary or Glacier National Park?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Glacier National Park or Calgary?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Glacier National Park or Calgary? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Glacier National Park or Calgary?
Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park is a large park situated in the far north of Montana, bordering Canada. The park borders the Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada and both share UNESCO World Heritage Site and are biosphere reserves. Glacier National Park offers over 700 miles of trails and countless activities, including hiking, biking, canoeing, and fishing. As the park is split by the Continental Divide, the east and west sides of the park experience fairly different weather. The western side of the park gets the most rainfall while the eastern side offers more sunshine, but also more wind. During summer months, temperatures can get into the 90's Fahrenheit during the day while winter sees temperatures in the 20's and plenty of snowfall. The high season for the park is June-September, which is also when the majority of hiking trails, hotels, and shops are open.
Calgary
Calgary is the largest city in Alberta and, located at the edge of the prairie and foothills, it is a gateway to the Rocky Mountains. If you're headed to Banff or Jasper, this is likely to be your first stop. It's also Canada's fourth largest city and worth a few days visit. Calgary's economy is diverse, but includes energy, financial services, film and television, transportation, technology, manufacturing, and much more.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America, The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGlacier National Park $127Calgary $154
The average daily cost (per person) in Glacier National Park is $127, while the average daily cost in Calgary is $154. 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 Glacier National Park and Calgary in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGlacier National Park $56Calgary $73
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGlacier National Park $112Calgary $146
Compare Hotels in Glacier National Park and Calgary
Looking for a hotel in Glacier National Park or Calgary? 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: Calgary Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Glacier National Park $69Calgary $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Calgary
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Calgary:
- Private Transfer from Calgary Airport to Sunshine Village : $60
- Private Transfer from Calgary Airport to Calgary Hotels: $63
- Alberta Transfer: Banff, Jasper, Lake Louise, Calgary: $67
- Calgary Int Airport (YYC) to Fernie - Arrival Private Transfer: $76
- Calgary Downtown Transfers: $88
- Transfer in private minivan from Calgary Airport (YYC) - Calgary Downtown: $91
- Transfer in private minivan from Calgary Downtown - Calgary Airport (YYC): $91
- Arrival Private Transfer: Calgary Airport YYC to Calgary in Business Car: $108
- Private Transfer: Calgary Airport to Downtown: $111
- Calgary hotel or address to Calgary Airport (YYC) - Departure Private Transfer: $115
- Private Transfer: Calgary Airport YYC to Calgary by Luxury SUV: $119
- Roundtrip Transfer Private Vehicle Calgary Airport (YYC) -Calgary Downtown: $121
Is it cheaper to fly into Glacier National Park or Calgary?
Prices for flights to both Calgary and Glacier 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
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Food Meals for one dayGlacier National Park $28Calgary $31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Glacier National Park
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Glacier National Park.
- Half Day Whitewater Rafting with Riverside Dinner: $113
Typical Food Prices in Calgary
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Calgary:
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Bread, Chips, Cheese$8.10
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Calgary
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Calgary.
- Light Brunch & Food Tour at Calgary Farmers' Market WEST: $81
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Glacier National Park $34Calgary $15
Tours and Activities in Glacier National Park
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Glacier National Park are as follows:
- Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Glacier National Park: $12
- Glacier National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $17
- Self Guided Bike Tour in Glacier National Park : $65
- Half-Day Glacier National Park Whitewater Rafting Adventure: $87
- Full Day Glacier National Park Whitewater Rafting Adventure - With Lunch!: $152
- Full Day Whitewater Adventure Trip with Included Lunch: $157
- Half Day Bike and Hike Tour in around Whitefish: $175
- Driving Tour in Glacier National Park: $220
- Combo Tour: Driving and Snowshoe Trek of Glacier National Park: $220
Typical Entertainment Prices in Calgary
Here are a few typical costs in Calgary for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Stampede Admission (for 2)$22
Tours and Activities in Calgary
Here are a few actual costs in Calgary for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Bow River Trail Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.11
- Downtown Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.11
- Downtown Calgary a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.19
- 3-Hour Tips Based Walking Tour of Calgary: $5.46
- 3-hour Tips-Based City Walking Tour: $6.58
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Rocky Mountains: Smartphone Driving and Walking Audio Tours: $15
- Calgary Downtown: 2-Hour Introductory Walking Tour: $21
- Heritage Park Historical Village Admission Ticket: $26
- Calgary self-guided walking tour and scavenger hunt: $38
- Sheep & Spirits: Diamond Valley Hiking Experience: $39
- 3-Hour Sightseeing Bus Tour: $45
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGlacier National Park $8.41Calgary $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Calgary
Also in Calgary, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Calgary Brewery and Wine Tours at Award Winning Venues: $83
- Calgary Brewery Tour: $89
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Glacier National Park and Calgary, we can see that Calgary is more expensive. And not only is Glacier National Park much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Glacier National Park would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Glacier National Park 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 Calgary would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Calgary than you might in Glacier National Park.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Glacier National Park Expensive? and Is Calgary 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.