Which place is cheaper, British Columbia or Michigan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Michigan or British Columbia?
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 Michigan and British Columbia. 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: Michigan or British Columbia?
Michigan
Surrounded by four of the five great lakes, the U.S. state of Michigan consists of two peninsulas, the Upper Peninsula and Lower Peninsula. The Lower Peninsula is the portion shaped like a mitten and is a center of manufacturing and high-tech industry. It is also home to the country's three major automobile companies-General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler-whose headquarters are in the Detroit metropolitan area. The Upper Peninsula is separated from the Lower by the Straits of Mackinac, a five-mile channel that joins Lake Huron to Lake Michigan. In contrast, the Upper Peninsula is sparsely populated and is economically important for its status as a tourist destination and its abundance of natural resources.
British Columbia
The westernmost province in Canada, British Columbia, is four times the size of Great Britain with less than one tenth of the population. This is due to the vast mountain ranges just ready to be tackled including the Rockies, Selkirks and the Coastal Range. With vibrant cities and ambitious outdoor activities, British Columbia is ready for any traveler.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Canada, and The Best Adventure Tours to Canada.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMichigan $120British Columbia $139
The average daily cost (per person) in Michigan is $120, while the average daily cost in British Columbia is $139. 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 Michigan and British Columbia in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMichigan $63British Columbia $80
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMichigan $126British Columbia $160
Compare Hotels in Michigan and British Columbia
Looking for a hotel in Michigan or British Columbia? 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
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Michigan $30British Columbia $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in British Columbia
Some specific examples of transportation prices in British Columbia:
- Private Departure Transfer to Vancouver Airport (YVR): $32
- Vancouver Airport-Cypress/Grouse Mountain Private Transfer: $38
- Private Transfer from Victoria City Hotels to Nanaimo Cruise Port: $46
- Private Transfer from Nanaimo Cruise Port to Victoria City Hotels: $46
- Vancouver Airport (YVR) to White Rock - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
- White Rock to Vancouver Airport (YVR) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- Canada Place Port to Vancouver Airport(YVR) - Departure Transfer : $55
- Vancouver Airport (YVR) to Canada Place Port - Arrival Transfer: $55
- Mount Washington to Nanaimo Airport (YCD): Departure Transfer: $60
- Calgary Airport Transfer to Canmore, Banff and Lake Louise: $63
- Victoria to Vancouver - Coach Bus Transfer: $74
- Vancouver to Victoria, Coach Bus Transfer: $74
Is it cheaper to fly into Michigan or British Columbia?
Prices for flights to both British Columbia and Michigan 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 dayMichigan $36British Columbia $32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in British Columbia
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in British Columbia.
- Hip & Hidden Chinatown + Old Town Food Tour Victoria: $59
- Victoria Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $73
- Downtown Kelowna Walking Food Tour with 7 Tastings and Drinks: $74
- A Wok Around Food Tour of the Granville Island Public Market: $84
- Kelowna Top 5 Food Tour with Drinks: $89
- Gastown Historic Walking Food Tour: $100
- Vancouver Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $100
- North Vancouver Shipyards Food Tour: $108
- Okanagan Valley Wine Tasting with Sunset Dinner : $133
- Vancouver Authentic Chinese Food Tour: $134
- VIP Granville Island Market Vancouver - Walking Food Tour: $138
- Finer Things Dinner Tour in Whistler: $144
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Michigan $18British Columbia $43
Tours and Activities in British Columbia
Here are a few actual costs in British Columbia for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Self-Guided Smartphone Walking Tour of Gastown: $4.82
- Fort Langley: a Film & Television Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.19
- Victoria Harbour: a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.19
- Discover Stanley Park with a Smartphone Audio Tour: $5.19
- Cycling the Seawall: A Self-Guided Audio Tour Along the Stanley Park Seawall: $5.46
- Sea to Sky Highway: a Smartphone Audio Driving Tour: $6.31
- Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between Kamloops and Vancouver: $6.31
- Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between Kamloops & Revelstoke: $6.33
- Historic Walking Tours of Vancouver with Then & Now Images!: $6.68
- Walking Tour Along Stanley Park's Seawall: $6.68
- Explore The History of People of the Safe Harbour in Walking Tour of Ucluelet: $6.73
- Self-Guided Smartphone Walking Tours of Stanley Park: $7.42
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayMichigan $20British Columbia $12
Sample the Local Flavors in British Columbia
Also in British Columbia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Whistler Distillery Tour & Tasting Experience: $66
- Kelowna Snow E-Biking Adventure with Lunch, Wine Tasting & S'mores: $74
- 3-Hour Street Art & Craft Beer Tour of Victoria, Brewery Tour & Tasting included: $101
- Lake Country Scenic Wine Tour With Wine Tasting Experience: $104
- Kelowna Wine Tour on an E-Bike with Lunch: $111
- Lake Country Half Day Guided Wine Tour With 4 Wineries: $118
- Kelowna or West Kelowna Afternoon Sightseeing Wine Tour: $118
- East Kelowna Half-Day Guided Wine Tour With 4 Wineries: $118
- Sunset Sip Wine Tour : $118
- West Kelowna Half-Day Guided Wine Tour With 4 Wineries : $119
- Victoria, BC: Food & Wine Tour to the Cowichan Valley: $121
- Half-Day Lake Country Wine Tour: $126
When comparing the travel costs between Michigan and British Columbia, we can see that British Columbia is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Michigan Expensive? and Is British Columbia Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, Michigan or British Columbia?
Michigan has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of British Columbia. When comparing the sizes of Michigan and British Columbia, 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.