Which place is cheaper, Alberta or Hawaii?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Hawaii or Alberta?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Hawaii or Alberta? 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: Hawaii or Alberta?
Hawaii
Located towards the center of the Pacific Ocean and the northeast corner of Polynesia, Hawai'i is the 50th state of the United States of America. It is a major tourist destination for travelers from around the world and as such, its economy is very dependent on the tourist dollar. Historically, the state had strong whaling, sugar and pineapple industries, but today tourism and the military make up a significant part of the economy. The state includes many islands that spread over 1,500 miles, but there are eight main islands which have a diversity of natural beauty and interesting landscapes. The islands offer visitors many impressive features from the beautiful beaches to the lush interior. There is a lot of hiking, snorkeling and scuba diving available throughout the islands. The capital of the state is Honolulu, which is also the largest city. Both Hawaiian and English are spoken throughout.
Alberta
If you ever wanted to visit a place where all the beauty of nature is centrally located, you will want to make a trip to Alberta, Canada. With part of the Canadian Rockies, the prairies and the wilderness of forests, Alberta has something for everyone. As the home to Canada's oil industry, this is also the richest province in the country.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Camping Tours in United States of America, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, The Best 3-Day Tours from Vancouver, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Vancouver.
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Hawaii Prices
USA PricesAlberta Prices
Canada Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHawaii $393Alberta $20,492
The average daily cost (per person) in Hawaii is $393, while the average daily cost in Alberta is $20,492. 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 Hawaii and Alberta in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHawaii $214Alberta $8,899
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHawaii $428Alberta $
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Compare Hotels in Hawaii and Alberta
Looking for a hotel in Hawaii or Alberta? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hawaii $37Alberta $2,472
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hawaii
Also for Hawaii, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arrival - Private Transfer Honolulu Airport to Waikiki Hotel: $53
- Arrival Transfer: Airport Shuttle Honolulu and Waikiki or Cruise Terminal: $18
- Departure - Private Transfer Waikiki Hotel to Airport: $50
- Departure Transfer from Hotels to Kona International Airport: $15
- Departure Transfer: Airport Shuttle From Ko'olina To Honolulu Airport: $53
- Explore Waikiki: Self Guided tour from Ko Olina with transfers: $42
- Honolulu / Waikiki to Honolulu Airport (HNL) - Departure Private Transfer: $24
- Honolulu / Waikiki to Honolulu Airport (HNL) - Departure Transfer: $50
- Honolulu Airport & Cruise Port Private Luxury SUV Transfer: $160
- Honolulu Airport & Ko Olina Hotels Private Transfer by Minivan (up to 5 people): $100
- Honolulu Airport & Ko Olina Hotels Private Transfer by Passenger Van(14 ppl): $170
- Honolulu Airport & Waikiki Hotels Private Transfer by Passenger Van(up to 14ppl): $140
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alberta
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Alberta:
- Transfer Calgary Airport (YYC) to Calgary, Banff and Lake Louise: $71
- Private transfer from Banff and surrounding area: $250
- Private Transfer: Calgary Airport to Downtown: $107
- Private Transfer: Calgary Airport YYC to Calgary by Luxury SUV: $132
- Private Transfer to Banff from Calgary or Airport: $161
- Private Transfer from Edmonton to Edmonton Airport (YEG): $115
- Private Transfer from Edmonton Airport (YEG) to Edmonton Hotels: $115
- Private Transfer from Calgary to Calgary Airport YYC in Luxury Van: $135
- Private Transfer from Calgary to Calgary Airport YYC in Luxury SUV: $135
- Private Transfer from Calgary to Calgary Airport YYC in Business Car: $113
- Private Transfer from Calgary Airport YYC to Calgary in Luxury SUV: $135
- Private Transfer from Calgary Airport (YYC) to Calgary Hotels: $95
Is it cheaper to fly into Hawaii or Alberta?
Prices for flights to both Alberta and Hawaii 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 dayHawaii $128Alberta $8,321
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hawaii
For Hawaii, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Downtown Honolulu Food Tour with 5 Local Favorites Tastings: $107
- Honolulu: Pacific Star Sunset Dinner Cruise and Show: $139
- Maui Ma'alaea Sunset Prime Rib or Fresh Island Fish Dinner Cruise: $150
- Honolulu: Off The Beaten Path Food Tour: $150
- Honolulu's Walking Food Tour: $159
- Maui: Coast of Ka'anapali Beach Sunset Dinner Sail: $168
- Maui: Afternoon Whale Watching Tour with Dinner: $168
- Kona Walking Food Tour: $169
- Friday Fireworks Dinner Sail from the Hilton Hawaiian Village: $170
- Craft Cocktail and Dinner Experience: $175
- Maui Premium Sunset Dinner Cruise from Ka’anapali Beach: $180
- Kauai: Luau Ka Hikina Admission with Dinner and Lei Greeting: $183
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Alberta
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Alberta.
- Refined Indian Cooking Class in Edmonton (Includes 4-Course Meal): $83
- Banff's Best Breakfast Food Tour: $93
- Banff's Canadian Rocky Mountain Food Tour: $104
- Jasper SkyTram and Astronomy Experience with Dinner options: $106
- The Banff Food Tour and So Much More: $108
- Half-Day Jasper Culture Food Tour: $116
- Iconic Eats of Calgary Food Tour: $127
- Edmonton's #1 Food Bike Tour: The Best Local Food Tour on E-Bikes: $143
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hawaii $38Alberta $5,168
Tours and Activities in Hawaii
For Hawaii, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Honolulu Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $4.57
- Legends of Waikiki Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour of Honolulu: $6.99
- Explore the USS Arizona Today Virtual Reality Experience: $7.00
- Official Pearl Harbor Chief's Self-Guided Multimedia Tour: $10
- Official Diamond Head Self-Guided Narrated Hiking Tour: $11
- Historic Walking Tour in Kihei Maui with Local Guide: $12
- Maui Beach Parks Self-Guided Driving Tour: $15
- Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour in Honolulu: $15
- Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour of Waikiki: $15
- Kona Manta Ray Snorkel Tour: Guaranteed or come again free: $15
- Downtown Honolulu and Chinatown: A Self-Guided Walking Tour: $16
- Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $17
Tours and Activities in Alberta
Here are a few actual costs in Alberta for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Day Tour Drumheller Royal Tyrrell Museum from Calgary: $111
- 1-Hour Edmonton River Valley Segway Tour: $43
- 12 Iconic Stops: Banff & Yoho Premium Small Group Guided Tour: $150
- 2 Days Banff, Lakes, Gondola, Jasper Columbia Icefield Tour: $215
- 4 hour Moraine Lake Tour from Banff and Canmore: $68
- 4WD Tour from Calgary to Bow Lake Banff: $179
- 5 Lakes Tour Louise and Moraine Emerald Peyto Takakkaw Falls: $111
- 90-Minute Boeing 737 Full Flight Simulator Experience in Calgary: $205
- BANFF: Moraine Lake & Lake Louise | 6 HOURS SIGHTSEEING: $49
- Badlands Tour: Drumheller with Museum, Hoodoos & Dinosaurs: $93
- Banff & Jasper: Ultimate Canadian Rockies Experience: $108
- Banff Area & Johnston Canyon 1-Day Tour from Calgary or Banff: $64
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHawaii $19Alberta $2,039
Sample the Local Flavors in Hawaii
Also in Hawaii, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Koʻolau Distillery Whiskey Tour in Kailua, Hawai'i: $25
- Oahu: Kō Hana Agricole Rum Distillery Tour and Tasting: $35
- Winery Oeno Island Style Wine Tasting: $39
- Ola Distillery Tour and Spirit Tasting in Hawaii: $50
- Hawaiian Style Paint Party at Koʻolau Distillery, Paint & Sip: $55
- Twilight Wine Tasting by Sea and Sunset Cruise in Honolulu: $119
- Oahu: Kō Hana Rum Deep Dive Distillery Tour with Tasting: $150
Sample the Local Flavors in Alberta
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Alberta:
- An Epic Bar Crawl: Cruisin' Calgary: $12
- Edmonton Brewery Tour (10 person minimum group): $101
- Calgary to Banff Brewery Tour and Lunch: $143
- Cask Blending Class at Burwood Distillery: $144
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hawaii and Alberta, we can see that Alberta is more expensive. And not only is Hawaii much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hawaii would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hawaii 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 Alberta would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Alberta than you might in Hawaii.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hawaii Expensive? and Is Alberta Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, Hawaii or Alberta?
Alberta has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Hawaii. When comparing the sizes of Hawaii and Alberta, 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.