A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Miami vs. Calgary for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Miami or Calgary?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Miami and Calgary can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Miami or Calgary?

Miami

Miami is a popular tourist destination and a modern city in South Florida. It has beautiful white beaches, crystal blue waters, cosmopolitan neighborhoods, impressive shopping, and excellent dining opportunities. It is also a gateway to the Florida Keys, which is another popular destination in South Florida.

Miami is the second most populated city in Florida and the metropolitan area is the most populated in the state with more than 5.4 million people. It's also the 7th largest metro area in the country. The city sits between the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Everglades to the west. It covers 110 miles north to south but is a narrow 20 miles east to west.

Miami sits at a low latitude, giving it a subtropical savannah climate. There are two seasons; the warm and dry season between November and April and the hot and wet season between May and October. The coldest months are between December and March when highs are in the upper 70 or low 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The summer months have highs in the upper 80s or 90s and lows in the mid 70s with high humidity.

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 Luxury Tours to United States of America, The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Canada.


Which place is cheaper, Calgary or Miami?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Miami is $206, 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 Miami and Calgary in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Miami $132
    Calgary $73
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Miami $264
    Calgary $146
Compare Hotels in Miami and Calgary

Looking for a hotel in Miami 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.

Hotels in Miami


Hotels in Calgary


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: Miami Hotel Prices and Calgary Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Miami $38
    Calgary $12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Miami

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


  • Car Rental for a Day
    $18

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Miami

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Miami:

  • Miami Airport and Port of Miami transfers, Limo Service in Miami: $120
  • Door to Door Shuttle Transfer from Miami to Orlando: $80
  • Everglades Airboat, Wildlife Experience with roundtrip transfer: $66
  • Everglades National Park & Airboat tour with Roundtrip Transfer: $70
  • From Miami - Private Transfer from Miami Hotels to Airport: $265
  • From Miami Airport - Private Transfer to Hotels and Homes: $265
  • From Miami Beach: Roundtrip Bimini Ferry and Hotel Transfers: $289
  • From Everglades Airboat, Wildlife Show & Bus Transfer: $55
  • From Everglades Wildlife Show, Airboat & Bus Transfer: $40
  • MIA: Transfer to Miami Beach, Aventura, Coral Gables: $150
  • Miami & Key West: One-Way Transfer by Motor Coach Bus: $62
  • Miami Int'l Airport: Private 1-Way Transfer to Miami Port: $48

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Calgary

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Calgary:

  • Alberta Transfer: Banff, Jasper, Lake Louise, Calgary: $67
  • Arrival Private Transfer: Calgary Airport YYC to Calgary in Business Car: $108
  • Arrival Private Transfer: Calgary Airport YYC to Calgary in Luxury Van: $128
  • Banff To Calgary Airport - Private Transfer: $365
  • Calgary Air to Fairmont/Radium Hot Springs Round-Trip Transfer: $295
  • Calgary Airport (YYC) to Banff | Private Transfer: $185
  • Calgary Airport (YYC) to Lake Louise | Private Transfer: $235
  • Calgary Airport to Banff Thermal Resorts Private Arrival Transfer: $139
  • Calgary Airport to Fairmont/Radium Hot Springs Arrival Transfer: $147
  • Calgary Airport(YYC) to Lake Louise Round Trip Private Transfer: $229
  • Calgary Downtown Transfers: $88
  • Calgary Int Airport (YYC) to Fernie - Arrival Private Transfer: $76

Is it cheaper to fly into Miami or Calgary?

Prices for flights to both Calgary and Miami 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
    Miami $41
    Calgary $31
Typical Food Prices in Miami

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Miami:


  • Lunch with Drinks (for 2)
    $45
  • David's Cafe Lunch (for 1)
    $16

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Miami

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Miami.

  • The Ultimate Little Havana Food Tour: $64
  • Wynwood Street Art, Culture, Donuts & Walking Food Tour: $65
  • South Beach Food Tour: $70
  • A Taste of South Beach Food Tour: $70
  • Little Havana Walking Food Tour: $75
  • South Beach Miami Food & Fun Art Deco Food Tour : $79
  • Wynwood Walls Art District Food Tour: $80
  • Mango's Tropical Cafe Dinner & Show: $98
  • Mango's Dinner and Show Ticket: $98
  • Miami Dinner Party w/ Night Club Experience: $100
  • Guided Small Group Little Havana Food Tour: $124
  • Ukrainian cooking class in Miami: $125

Typical Food Prices in Calgary

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Calgary:


  • 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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Miami $31
    Calgary $15

Tours and Activities in Miami

Here are a few actual costs in Miami for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Haunted a Smartphone Audio Driving Tour : $5.94
  • Little Havana Smartphone guided Audio App Solo Walking Tour: $6.75
  • Miami Marlins Baseball Game Ticket at loandepot Park: $7.19
  • Miami Beach: Self-Guided Walking Tour With Audio Guide: $7.31
  • Haunted Self-Guided Smartphone Audio Driving Tour: $7.31
  • Sights of Downtown a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $7.99
  • Private Sightseeing Audio Walking Tour in Miami Beach: $7.99
  • Luggage Storage and Cruise Lounge Area: $8.00
  • Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Miami: $8.72
  • Miami Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour - Little Havana: $10
  • Audio Tour of Downtown, South Beach, and Wynwood: $11

Typical Entertainment Prices in Calgary

Here are a few typical costs in Calgary for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • 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
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Miami $22
    Calgary $11
Typical Alcohol Prices in Miami

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Miami are as follows:


  • Evening at a Bar
    $32

Sample the Local Flavors in Miami

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Miami:

  • Miami Bar Crawl: $25
  • Ghosts, Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
  • Small-Group Brewery Golf Cart Tour of Wynwood with a Local Guide: $59
  • Wynwood Graffiti Brewery Golf Cart Tour: $63
  • Wynwood Party Bike Bar Crawl: $64
  • Wynwood Party Bike Bar Crawl: $64
  • Wynwood Bar Crawl: $100

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 Miami and Calgary, we can see that Miami is more expensive. And not only is Calgary much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Calgary would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Calgary 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 Miami would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Miami than you might in Calgary.

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


Which is Bigger, Miami or Calgary?

Calgary has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Miami. When comparing the sizes of Miami and Calgary, 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.