Which place is cheaper, Whistler or Kamloops?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kamloops or Whistler?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Kamloops and Whistler 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: Kamloops or Whistler?
Kamloops
In British Columbia, Canada, Kamloops is perhaps most famous for the large number of tournaments it hosts, everything from the Strauss Canada Cup of Curling, to the World Fly Fishing Championships. It also hosts Skate Canada, Tim Horton's Olympic Qualifying Bike Race, and the World Junior Hockey Championships among others. The city is in the south central part of the province and it sits near the confluence of the two branches of the Thompson River near Kamloops Lake. The city has a population of about 85,000 and it's the largest community in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District.
Whistler
Located in the province of British Columbia in Canada, Whistler is most famous as the largest ski area in North America. It is also only a short distance from the city of Vancouver, and offers countless opportunities for snow boarding and other winter sports. The town has a permanent population of almost 10,000 and there is a larger seasonal population of workers that come from all over the world. Whistler is a major travel destination with more than two million people visiting the town yearly. As such, there are countless amenities available to visitors. Hotels can vary dramatically in price and quality. There are some budget options, including a couple of hostels in the area, but most people do not visit Whistler as a budget travel destination. It's usually an expensive vacation, but few would argue that it isn't worth the cost.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Train & Rail Tours in Canada, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada, The Best Camping Tours in Canada, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKamloops $81Whistler $125
The average daily cost (per person) in Kamloops is $81, while the average daily cost in Whistler is $125. 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 Kamloops and Whistler in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKamloops $44Whistler $65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKamloops $88Whistler $130
Compare Hotels in Kamloops and Whistler
Looking for a hotel in Kamloops or Whistler? 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: Kamloops Hotel Prices and Whistler Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kamloops $20Whistler $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Whistler
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Whistler:
- Vancouver: Seaplane Transfer between Vancouver & Whistler: $160
- Private Transfer from Whistler to Richmond BC: $630
- Private Transfer from Whistler to Downtown Vancouver: $567
Is it cheaper to fly into Kamloops or Whistler?
Prices for flights to both Whistler and Kamloops 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 dayKamloops $24Whistler $30
Typical Food Prices in Kamloops
For Kamloops, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Pastries$5.81
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Lunch for Two$25
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Coffee and Gelato$12
Typical Food Prices in Whistler
Some typical examples of dining costs in Whistler are as follows:
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Coffee at Starbucks$12
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Tim Hortons Breakfast$12
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Coffee at Timmy's$3.63
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Whistler
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Whistler.
- Finer Things: 4-Course Dinner Tour in Whistler: $130
- Finer Things Dinner Tour in Whistler: $145
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kamloops $13Whistler $78
Tours and Activities in Kamloops
For Kamloops, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Vancouver and Smartphone Audio Driving Tour: $6.17
- Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between Kamloops and Vancouver: $6.34
- Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between Kamloops & Revelstoke: $6.34
- Skip the Line: Kamloops BC Wildlife Park Admission Ticket: $14
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Kamloops by Zombie Scavengers: $21
Typical Entertainment Prices in Whistler
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Whistler are as follows:
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Driving Range$15
Tours and Activities in Whistler
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Whistler are as follows:
- 2 Hour Late Afternoon Winter Zipline Adventure: $112
- Audain Art Museum Admission Ticket: $16
- Call of the Wild ATV Tour: $156
- Callaghan Cruiser Snowmobile Tour : $211
- Fishing Adventure in Whistler: $141
- Full Day Fly Fishing Tour: $250
- Full Day Spin Fishing Tour: $250
- Glacier Sightseeing Experience by Seaplane from Whistler: $179
- Guided Lunch Tour in Whistler: $89
- Half Day Fly Fishing Tour: $195
- Half Day Spin Fishing Tour: $195
- Ice Fishing Adventure in Whistler: $141
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKamloops $6.77Whistler $8.72
Sample the Local Flavors in Whistler
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Whistler:
- Whistler Distillery Tour & Tasting Experience: $66
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kamloops and Whistler, we can see that Whistler is more expensive. And not only is Kamloops much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kamloops would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kamloops 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 Whistler would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Whistler than you might in Kamloops.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kamloops Expensive? and Is Whistler Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kamloops or Whistler?
Kamloops has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Whistler. When comparing the sizes of Kamloops and Whistler, 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 Kamloops or Whistler?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Kamloops or Whistler in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Kamloops as well as Whistler.
In July, Kamloops is generally a little warmer than Whistler. Daily temperatures in Kamloops average around 23°C (73°F), and Whistler fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
Kamloops usually gets less rain in July than Whistler. Kamloops gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Whistler receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKamloops 23°C (73°F)Whistler 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Kamloops or Whistler in the Autumn?
Both Whistler and Kamloops are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
Kamloops is around the same temperature as Whistler in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kamloops averages around 11°C (51°F) in October, and Whistler fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Whistler. In October, Kamloops usually receives less rain than Whistler. Kamloops gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Whistler receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKamloops 11°C (51°F)Whistler 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Kamloops or Whistler in the Winter?
Both Whistler and Kamloops during the winter are popular places to visit.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Whistler. It's quite cold in Kamloops in the winter. In the winter, Kamloops is much colder than Whistler. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kamloops in January average around -3°C (27°F), and Whistler averages at about 4°C (40°F).
Whistler gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Kamloops usually gets less rain in January than Whistler. Kamloops gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Whistler receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKamloops -3°C (27°F)Whistler 4°C (40°F)
Should I visit Kamloops or Whistler in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Kamloops and Whistler.
In April, Kamloops is generally a little warmer than Whistler. Daily temperatures in Kamloops average around 12°C (53°F), and Whistler fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).
Whistler receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Kamloops usually receives less rain than Whistler. Kamloops gets 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Whistler receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKamloops 12°C (53°F)Whistler 9°C (49°F)
Typical Weather for Whistler and Kamloops
| Kamloops | Whistler | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -3°C (27°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Feb | 2°C (35°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 179 mm (7.1 in) |
| Mar | 7°C (44°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (53°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| May | 16°C (61°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 17°C (63°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Nov | 4°C (39°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 234 mm (9.2 in) |
| Dec | -1°C (30°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) |
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.