Which place is cheaper, Jasper National Park or Minneapolis?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Minneapolis or Jasper National Park?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Minneapolis or Jasper National Park, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Minneapolis or Jasper National Park?
Minneapolis
Known as one of the Twin Cities with its neighbor, Saint Paul, the Minneapolis area is the second largest economic center in the Midwest, behind Chicago. Originally a city of lumber and flour milling, the city has grown to prosper in commerce, rail and trucking, health care, industry, education, publishing, milling, and food processing amongst others. In addition to housing the headquarters for five Fortune 500 Companies, Minneapolis is a city of thriving culture. From visual arts, music, and theater to sporting events and award-winning restaurants, the entertainment is never lacking.
Jasper National Park
An UNESCO World Heritage Site, Jasper National Park, located in Canada's Alberta Province, is one of a few national and provincial parks that showcase the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America, The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Luxury Tours to Canada, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMinneapolis $206Jasper National Park $82
The average daily cost (per person) in Minneapolis is $206, while the average daily cost in Jasper National Park is $82. 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 Minneapolis and Jasper National Park in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMinneapolis $110Jasper National Park $45
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMinneapolis $220Jasper National Park $90
Compare Hotels in Minneapolis and Jasper National Park
Looking for a hotel in Minneapolis or Jasper National Park? 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: Minneapolis Hotel Prices and Jasper National Park Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Minneapolis $43Jasper National Park $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Minneapolis
Also for Minneapolis, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Minneapolis Airport (MSP) to Minneapolis - Arrival Private Transfer: $69
- Minneapolis Airport (MSP) to Minneapolis - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $138
- Private Arrival Transfer from Minneapolis Airport MSP: $88
- Private Departure Transfer to Minneapolis Airport MSP: $88
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Jasper National Park
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Jasper National Park are as follows:
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Park Pass$14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jasper National Park
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Jasper National Park:
- Jasper Thermal to Edmonton Airport (YEG) Departure Transfer: $170
- Jasper Thermal Resorts to Calgary Airport YYC Departure Transfer: $170
Is it cheaper to fly into Minneapolis or Jasper National Park?
Prices for flights to both Jasper National Park and Minneapolis 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 dayMinneapolis $40Jasper National Park $23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Minneapolis
For Minneapolis, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Minneapolis Food Tour - Walking: $115
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jasper National Park
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Jasper National Park.
- Half-Day Jasper Culture Food Tour: $107
- Peak Nic - A hike and an outdoor cooking lesson: $119
- 4-Hours E-Bike Food Tour : $201
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Minneapolis $27Jasper National Park $7.75
Tours and Activities in Minneapolis
For Minneapolis, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- In the Footsteps of Prince: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Downtown Minneapolis: $7.99
- Mighty Mississippi Self Guided Minneapolis Riverside Tour: $7.99
- Minnehaha Falls: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Minneapolis: $7.99
- Minnehaha Falls: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Minneapolis: $7.99
- Mighty Mississippi: A Self-Guided Riverside Walking Tour: $7.99
- In the Footsteps of Prince: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Saint Paul by Operation City Quest: $10
- A Self-Guided Audio Tour of the Riverfront: $11
- Minnesota Twins Baseball Game Ticket at Target Field: $14
- St. Paul Historic Cave Tour: $15
- Experience the season with a scavenger hunt in Minneapolis with Holly Jolly Hunt: $20
- Lost Souls Tour: $20
Tours and Activities in Jasper National Park
Here are a few actual costs in Jasper National Park for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 5.5-Hour Jasper Wildlife and Waterfalls Tour with Maligne Lake Cruise from Jasper: $131
- Canadian Rockies Tour by Chauffeured Sidecar from Jasper: $118
- Class 3 Sunwapta River Rafting Adventure in Jasper: $94
- Columbia Icefield Tour with Glacier Skywalk from Jasper: $222
- Explore Jasper Tour: $122
- Explore Jasper Tour with Maligne Lake Cruise: $179
- From Jasper: Jasper National Park Wildlife Discovery Tour: $53
- Icefields Parkway Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $17
- Jasper Evening Wildlife Tour: $64
- Jasper Ice Climbing Experience: $176
- Jasper National Park Tour: Maligne Valley, Medicine Lake and Spirit Island: $64
- Jasper Rock Climbing Experience: $108
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMinneapolis $24Jasper National Park $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Minneapolis
Also in Minneapolis, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- History and 4-Bar Crawl Guided Walking Tour: $69
- All-Inclusive Minneapolis Craft Brewery Tour: $85
- 3-Hour Craft Brewery Tour: $100
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Minneapolis and Jasper National Park, we can see that Minneapolis is more expensive. And not only is Jasper National Park much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Jasper National Park would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Jasper National Park 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 Minneapolis would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Minneapolis than you might in Jasper National Park.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Minneapolis Expensive? and Is Jasper National Park Expensive?.
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.