Which place is cheaper, Banff or Honolulu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Honolulu or Banff?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Honolulu and Banff can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Honolulu or Banff?
Honolulu
Hawaii's capital city of Honolulu, on the island of Oahu, is the state's center for government, finance, and transportation. It's also the home of Waikiki Beach, one of the most famous beaches in the state of Hawaii. Nearly one million people live in this Honolulu metropolitan area. This is almost 80% of the state's population. The city is not the relaxed Hawaiian destination that you might be searching for, but is instead a fast paced, cosmopolitan city. In addition to attracting many tourists every year, you'll also find international businesses, military defense and a diverse culture and population.
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 Wildlife Tours to United States of America, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada, and The Best Camping Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHonolulu $284Banff $84
The average daily cost (per person) in Honolulu is $284, 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 Honolulu and Banff in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHonolulu $183Banff $38
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHonolulu $366Banff $76
Compare Hotels in Honolulu and Banff
Looking for a hotel in Honolulu 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: Honolulu Hotel Prices and Banff Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Honolulu $26Banff $5.18
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Honolulu
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Honolulu are as follows:
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Rental Car for One Day$35
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Airport Shuttle for Two$30
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Hilton Parking$24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Honolulu
Also for Honolulu, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Honolulu Airport to Hotel or Cruise Terminal: $20
- Honolulu Airport Private Transfer to or from Waikiki: $32
- Airport Private Transfer with Arrival Lei Greeting: $35
- Honolulu Airport -Waikiki Arrival Private Transfer W/Lei Greeting: $35
- Oahu: Honolulu Shuttle Bus Transfer to Pearl Harbor: $37
- Private Transfer from Honolulu Airport (HNL) to Honolulu Port: $37
- Shared Round-Trip Transfer: Honolulu Airport to Hotel or Cruise Terminal: $39
- Oahu: Diamond Head Crater Trailhead Transfer & Entry Fee: $50
- Private Transfers between HNL Airport and Honolulu City: $56
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service Honolulu HTL-APT (HNL): $81
- Honolulu Airport & Waikiki Hotels Private Transfer by SUV(up to 6 people): $100
- Private Transfer: Honolulu Airport HNL to Honolulu in Sedan Car: $108
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Banff
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Banff:
- Private Banff National Park Tour with Hotel Transfers: $876
- From 1-Way Private Transfer to Calgary Airport (YYC): $511
- From Private One-Way Transfer to Calgary: $365
- Private Airport Transfer to Banff: $289
- Private Transfer - Between YYC Calgary Airport and Banff: $234
- From Banff/Canmore: Moraine Lake and Lake Louise Shared Transfer: $81
Is it cheaper to fly into Honolulu or Banff?
Prices for flights to both Banff and Honolulu 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 dayHonolulu $53Banff $29
Typical Food Prices in Honolulu
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Honolulu:
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Dinner for Two$73
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Lapperts Hawaii Ice Cream$5.55
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Chai's Island Bistro (for 2)$53
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Cheeseburger Waikiki (for 2)$34
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Matsumoto Shave Ice (for 2)$7.50
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Hot Dog with the Fixins'$8.30
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Sushi Dinner for Two$73
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Honolulu
For Honolulu, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Lanai Tabura curated Private Aloha Plate Food Tour from Honolulu: $239
Typical Food Prices in Banff
Some typical examples of dining costs in Banff are as follows:
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Tea House Lunch for Two$33
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Hostel Breakfast$27
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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: $154
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Honolulu $40Banff $12
Typical Entertainment Prices in Honolulu
For Honolulu, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Parking for Hike$5.00
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Pearl Harbor Audio Tour for Two$12
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2 hr Dinner Cruise$85
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1 Day Kayak Rental$36
Tours and Activities in Honolulu
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Honolulu.
- Heart of Waikiki Walking Tour: Audio Tour Guide: $4.99
- Historic Downtown Honolulu Tour: Audio Tour Guide: $4.99
- Hawaii‘s Historic Kingdom: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Downtown Honolulu Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $7.99
- Waikīkī's Beaches and Royalty: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Military and Entertainment in Waikiki: A Self-Guided Tour: $7.99
- Oahu: USS Arizona Memorial Chief's Narrated Multimedia Tour: $7.99
- Honolulu In-App Audio Tour: Historical & Cultural Treasures: $9.00
- Honolulu's Backyard Rainforest Tour: Audio Tour Guide: $9.99
- Waikiki Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $9.99
- USS Arizona Commander's Narrated Multimedia Tour - 23 Stops: $11
- Oahu: Grand Circle Island Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour: $14
Typical Entertainment Prices in Banff
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Banff are as follows:
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Hot Springs$5.31
Tours and Activities in Banff
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Banff are as follows:
- Banff National Park Big Canoe Tour: $57
- Skybridge Adventure Golden BC from Canmore & Banff: $165
- 2 Hour Banff Horseback Riding Adventure: $145
- 4 Days Tour to Banff & Jasper National Park with Hotels: $2,595
- 4 Days Tour to Banff & Jasper National Park without Hotels: $1,462
- BANFF EVENING eBIKE WILDLIFE TOUR: $74
- Banff : Day Tour : Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and Peyto Lake: $186
- Banff Highlights & Wildlife | Award-Winning Small Group Adventure: $74
- Banff National Park Self-Guided Driving Tour: $17
- Banff National Park Snowshoeing Adventure | Small Group Guided Tour: $77
- Banff National Park Tour with Lake Louise and Moraine Lake: $84
- Banff National Park: Big Canoe River Explorer Tour: $53
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHonolulu $6.47Banff $9.34
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Honolulu and Banff, we can see that Honolulu is more expensive. And not only is Banff much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Banff would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Banff 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 Honolulu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Honolulu than you might in Banff.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Honolulu Expensive? and Is Banff Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Honolulu or Banff?
Honolulu has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Banff. When comparing the sizes of Honolulu and Banff, 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.