A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Jacksonville vs. Vancouver for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Jacksonville or Vancouver?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Jacksonville and Vancouver. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Jacksonville or Vancouver?

Jacksonville

As the sky above you darkens, the city around you glows with a vividness of a thousand colors as you hear the soft swell of waves upon the shore. Such an urban paradise is none other than Jacksonville, Florida. Located on the northeastern side of the sunshine state, Jacksonville stands where the St. John's River meets the Atlantic Ocean. Estimated to be the 12th most populous city in the United States, Jacksonville works as the cultural, commercial and financial hive of north Florida. The large city is known for its exquisite beaches, interactive museums, and golf course areas. Surf, shop, and socialize in one of Florida's most popular metropolitan areas.

Vancouver

Vancouver is a beautiful and cosmopolitan city in Western Canada. It is also the largest city in British Columbia, and is dramatically positioned between the coast and mountains. It's a very international city, with a high level of energy and countless activites that you can enjoy while you're in town. In addition to offering all of the activities and entertainment of a modern city, it is also in jumping off distance to any number of outdoor activities.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America, The Best Walking Tours in United States of America, The Best 10-Day Tours from Vancouver, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada.


Which place is cheaper, Vancouver or Jacksonville?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Jacksonville is $220, while the average daily cost in Vancouver is $141. 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 Jacksonville and Vancouver in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Jacksonville $92
    Vancouver $87
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Jacksonville $184
    Vancouver $174
Compare Hotels in Jacksonville and Vancouver

Looking for a hotel in Jacksonville or Vancouver? 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.

Hotels in Jacksonville


Hotels in Vancouver


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: Jacksonville Hotel Prices and Vancouver Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Jacksonville $53
    Vancouver $12

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jacksonville

Also for Jacksonville, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Carnival Cruise Port Transfer to Jacksonville: $336
  • JAX Airport Transfer to Amelia Island: $195
  • JAX Airport Transfer to Hyatt Place/ St. Johns Town Center: $164
  • Jacksonville Airport (JAX) to Jacksonville City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $123
  • Jacksonville Airport (JAX) to Jacksonville City - Arrival Private Transfer: $61
  • Carnival Cruise Port to Jacksonville Airport (JAX) - Departure Private Transfer: $55
  • Jacksonville Airport (JAX) to Jacksonville Cruise Port -Arrival Private Transfer: $55

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vancouver

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vancouver are as follows:


  • SkyTrain from Airport
    $6.35
  • Taxi from Airport to Downtown
    $21
  • 15 min Taxi Ride
    $8.71
  • SkyTrain DayPass
    $6.53

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vancouver

Also for Vancouver, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Yvr Airport to Whistler and Whistler to Yvr Airport transfers: $111
  • White Rock to Vancouver Airport (YVR) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
  • Seaplane Transfer between Vancouver & Nanaimo: $206
  • Private Transfer from YVR Airport To Whistler: $511
  • City Highlights Tour with Hotel Transfers: $61
  • Vancouver, BC: Scenic Seaplane Transfer to Seattle, WA: $283
  • Vancouver to Victoria: Ferry with Bus Transfer: $73
  • Vancouver to Victoria, Coach Bus Transfer: $74
  • Vancouver to Victoria - Vancouver Hotel Pickup - Coach Bus Transfer: $83
  • Vancouver to Victoria - Vancouver Cruise Terminal Pickup - Coach Bus Transfer: $87
  • Vancouver hotels to Canada Place Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $93
  • Vancouver Cruise ship Transfer to Airport/City Hotel: $135

Is it cheaper to fly into Jacksonville or Vancouver?

Prices for flights to both Vancouver and Jacksonville 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 day
    Jacksonville $96
    Vancouver $31

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jacksonville

For Jacksonville, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • 1 Hour of Chocolate Pizza Making Class in Jacksonville: $18

Typical Food Prices in Vancouver

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Vancouver:


  • All You Can Eat Sushi Lunch
    $8.80

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vancouver

For Vancouver, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • A Wok Around Food Tour of the Granville Island Public Market: $84
  • The Gastown Experience Walking Food Tour: $85
  • Gastown Historic Walking Food Tour: $100
  • Vancouver Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $100
  • North Vancouver Shipyards Food Tour: $108
  • Vancouver Authentic Chinese Food Tour: $134
  • VIP Granville Island Market Vancouver - Walking Food Tour: $138
  • Authentic Asian Eats Walking Food Tour: $142
  • 3-Hour Bowen Island Boat Cruise with Dinner: $153
  • Vancouver Evening Dinner Cruise: $157
  • Granville Island Uncorked Walking Food Tour: $161
  • Bowen Island Dinner and Zodiac Boat Tour by Vancouver Water Adventures: $163

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Jacksonville $20
    Vancouver $36

Tours and Activities in Jacksonville

For Jacksonville, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Jacksonville Ghosts and Ghouls Tour By US Ghost Adventures: $30
  • 2-Flights Indoor Skydiving Experience in Jacksonville: $91
  • 20 Minutes Chocolate & Candy Factory Tour in Jacksonville: $6.00
  • 90 Minute Self-Guided Arcimoto FUV Adventure: $125
  • Amelia Island Area Kayak Rental on Lofton Creek with Adventures Up The Creek: $36
  • Amelia Island Guided Kayak Tour of Lofton Creek : $60
  • Big Talbot Island Self Guided Tour with Smart Helmets: $115
  • CraigCat Boat Tour from Fernandina Beach: $145
  • Downtown Fernandina Historical Walking Tour: $30
  • Eight Flags Road Tour: $50
  • Electric Bike Art and Architecture Guided Tour in Jacksonville : $60
  • Electric Bike Tour with Free Application for Navigation: $50

Tours and Activities in Vancouver

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vancouver.

  • Guided Bike /E-bike Tour in Whistler From Vancouver: $219
  • Sunshine Coast Escape (Around Vancouver) Small Group Tour: $145
  • $99 Vancouver 2 Hours City Tour Private: $102
  • 2 Days Leavenworth Christmastown Tour from Vancouver (Chn&Eng): $192
  • 2-in-1 Vancouver city Tour: $234
  • 3-Day Vancouver City Tour Package With Whistler & Victoria: $2,411
  • 3hr Private Sightseeing Tour Vancouver (from Vancouver City): $456
  • 3hr Private Sightseeing Tour-Vancouver City (fr YVR/Cruise): $583
  • 4-Hour Private Tour of Vancouver's Gardens: $334
  • 5 Days in Vancouver Multiactivity Adventure Tour: $2,411
  • 5hr Private Sightseeing Tour-Vancouver (from Vancouver City): $709
  • 5hr Private Sightseeing Tour-Vancouver City (fr YVR/Cruise): $836

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Jacksonville $20
    Vancouver $16

Sample the Local Flavors in Jacksonville

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Jacksonville:

  • Jax Brewery Tour (Drinks Included): $135

Sample the Local Flavors in Vancouver

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Vancouver:

  • Vancouver - Granville Pub Crawl ROUTE B: $18
  • Gastown Pub Crawl: $22
  • Vancouver - Granville Pub Crawl: $26
  • 3.5-Hour Craft Brewery Tour: $84
  • Fraser Valley Wine Tour with a light Lunch from Vancouver: $134
  • Vancouver Wine Tour (Fraser Valley): $134
  • From Half-Day Fraser Valley Wine Tour: $138
  • Taste of the Valley Wine Tour: $148
  • Stawamus Chief Hike and Local Brewery Tasting: $164
  • Fraser Valley & White Rock Premium Public Wine Tour: $166
  • Stawamus Chief Hike & Local Brewery Tasting : $167
  • Full-Day Private Fraser Valley Wine Tour from Vancouver: $189


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

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


Which is Bigger, Jacksonville or Vancouver?

Vancouver has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Jacksonville. When comparing the sizes of Jacksonville and Vancouver, 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.


When is the best time to visit Jacksonville or Vancouver?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Jacksonville or Vancouver in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Jacksonville and Vancouver. The summer months attract visitors to Jacksonville because of the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Jacksonville is much warmer than Vancouver. Typically, the summer temperatures in Jacksonville in July average around 82°F (28°C), and Vancouver averages at about 18°C (64°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vancouver this time of the year. In Jacksonville, it's very sunny this time of the year. Jacksonville usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Vancouver during summer. Jacksonville gets 286 hours of sunny skies, while Vancouver receives 296 hours of full sun in the summer.

Jacksonville gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Jacksonville usually receives more rain than Vancouver. Jacksonville gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while Vancouver receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Jacksonville 82°F (28°C) 
    Vancouver 18°C (64°F)

Should I visit Jacksonville or Vancouver in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Jacksonville as well as Vancouver. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Jacksonville this time of year.

In October, Jacksonville is generally much warmer than Vancouver. Daily temperatures in Jacksonville average around 70°F (21°C), and Vancouver fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Jacksonville this time of the year. In the autumn, Jacksonville often gets more sunshine than Vancouver. Jacksonville gets 214 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vancouver receives 124 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Vancouver. Jacksonville usually gets less rain in October than Vancouver. Jacksonville gets 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain, while Vancouver receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, June to November in Jacksonville is the hurricane season.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Jacksonville 70°F (21°C) 
    Vancouver 11°C (51°F)

Should I visit Jacksonville or Vancouver in the Winter?

Both Vancouver and Jacksonville are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Jacksonville for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Vancouver can get quite cold in the winter. Jacksonville is much warmer than Vancouver in the winter. The daily temperature in Jacksonville averages around 53°F (12°C) in January, and Vancouver fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).

Jacksonville usually receives more sunshine than Vancouver during winter. Jacksonville gets 191 hours of sunny skies, while Vancouver receives 55 hours of full sun in the winter.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Vancouver. In January, Jacksonville usually receives less rain than Vancouver. Jacksonville gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Vancouver receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Jacksonville 53°F (12°C) 
    Vancouver 4°C (40°F)

Should I visit Jacksonville or Vancouver in the Spring?

Both Vancouver and Jacksonville during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Jacksonville in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city.

In the spring, Jacksonville is much warmer than Vancouver. Typically, the spring temperatures in Jacksonville in April average around 68°F (20°C), and Vancouver averages at about 9°C (49°F).

It's quite sunny in Jacksonville. In the spring, Jacksonville often gets more sunshine than Vancouver. Jacksonville gets 285 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vancouver receives 172 hours of full sun.

Vancouver gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Jacksonville usually gets less rain in April than Vancouver. Jacksonville gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while Vancouver receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, the hurricane season in Jacksonville is June to November.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Jacksonville 68°F (20°C) 
    Vancouver 9°C (49°F)

Typical Weather for Vancouver and Jacksonville

Jacksonville Vancouver
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 53°F (12°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm) 4°C (40°F) 167 mm (6.6 in)
Feb 56°F (13°C) 3.9 inches (100 mm) 6°C (42°F) 179 mm (7.1 in)
Mar 62°F (17°C) 3.7 inches (93 mm) 7°C (45°F) 142 mm (5.6 in)
Apr 68°F (20°C) 2.8 inches (72 mm) 9°C (49°F) 110 mm (4.3 in)
May 74°F (24°C) 3.7 inches (93 mm) 13°C (55°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Jun 80°F (27°C) 5.7 inches (146 mm) 16°C (60°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)
Jul 82°F (28°C) 5.4 inches (137 mm) 18°C (64°F) 54 mm (2.1 in)
Aug 82°F (28°C) 7.8 inches (199 mm) 18°C (64°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Sep 79°F (26°C) 7.1 inches (180 mm) 15°C (59°F) 73 mm (2.9 in)
Oct 70°F (21°C) 2.9 inches (73 mm) 11°C (51°F) 164 mm (6.5 in)
Nov 62°F (17°C) 2.2 inches (55 mm) 7°C (44°F) 234 mm (9.2 in)
Dec 56°F (13°C) 2.7 inches (69 mm) 4°C (40°F) 198 mm (7.8 in)